Expert answer

Hi Ed,

There were several rule changes in the past few years, but it now seems to boil down to the relatively simple matter of whether you can prove the car was used for "as reasonable amount of time" in the North before it was imported. It sounds to me like that would be the case on the Leaf you've found and yes, I believe the official test history from gov.co.uk would suffice.

If in doubt, do contact Revenue directly for yourself.

Expert answer

Hi Conor,

I spoke with a representative of Opel Ireland today and they asked me to apologise to you for the confusion.

The electric version of the Sports Tourer is indeed available, but it's what's called a "special order" model, so it has been removed from the public-facing price list etc. If you contact your local Opel dealer, they should be able to talk you through the process of ordering one. 

Don't forget to read our review of the Opel Astra Electric (though we've not tested the estate model).

Update on 2 Sep 2025: Opel Ireland got in touch to say the online documentation has been updated. You can get the new Opel Astra price list here.

Expert answer

Hi Farrukh,

I'm afraid the only way we know to do this is contact Volvo UK or Ireland with the VIN and request a Certificate of Conformity. There is likely to be a fee involved.

Expert answer

Hi John,

The MOT history should be enough to show that the car was used in the North for a reasonable amount of time, but obtain as much other documentation as possible to support your case, such as service history, V5C logbook details, etc. 

If in any doubt, discuss your situation with Revenue directly.

Expert answer

Hi James,

If the vehicle has been in use in the North for "a reasonable amount of time" (according to Revenue) then there should be no VAT or import duty payable. You will need to obtain proof of that.

Assuming that is the case (and not that the Transit was just imported from England by a dealer in Northern Ireland to just sell on), really it's just VRT, which we believe should only be €200 for the van you've described.

Expert answer

Hi there,

Yes, according to MG Ireland's brochure, AC charging is limited to 7kW. It's the same as is offered in the UK.

Expert answer

Hi Rene,

If the camper was imported into Northern Ireland properly over two years ago and used there - and you can prove that - then you should not be liable for VAT or import duty.

There is no NOx levy on campers, you'll be glad to know, just VRT at 13.3 per cent of what Revenue calls the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP).

Expert answer

Hi Jess,

It's just the document reference number on your logbook (or V5C), found on the top-right corner of the front page, an 11-digit number.

There is nothing unsafe about providing this number to the seller. They may be able to use it to calculate taxes etc. on importing the car. 

Expert answer

Hi Martin,

We'd suggest that a Mercedes dealer would be best, especially given the newness of the vehicle.

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

Based on the information provided, you are only likely to be liable for VRT and the NOx levy. Just the year of the car isn't enough for us to help you estimate all that, however.

First up you need to guess the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), which is the value Revenue reckons the car to be worth after registration in Ireland.

This is not the same as the price you actually paid for the car. A quick look on Carzone.ie reveals 2017 Tiguans ranging in price from about €16,000 to €30,000 so you'll need to compare the one you're looking at buying to a like-for-like model already in Ireland to get a feel for what Revenue might say it's worth.

Once you have a rough idea of the OMSP, you'll also need to know the CO₂ rating for the car you're interested in. We can look that up for you, but we'd need to know the exact spec and engine details etc.

For more information, check out our How Much VRT Is Paid In Ireland? guide.