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Showing 24 - 33 results (out of a total of 835) found for "Ireland" in Ask Us Anything

What to I pay to bring a classic BMW back to Ireland?

Hi,

I've bought an old BMW (1972) in Northern Ireland, and I want to bring it into the Republic of Ireland. The vehicle was originally registered in the south of Ireland (on Irish plates) and was imported into Northern Ireland in 2016.

Do I have to pay anything to bring it back into Republic of Ireland?

What do I do now?

Noel (Republic Of Ireland )

May 2025 Filed under: classic cars

Expert answer

Hi Noel,

Going on the information you've provided, the only importation costs should be the flat-rate VRT for classic cars (€200). You will need paperwork to prove that the BMW has been registered and used in Northern Ireland. Book the car in for a VRT inspection with the NCTS within seven days of bringing the car south and they will talk you through it all.


Which side does the MG HS PHEV cable plug into?

Which side does the MG HS PHEV cable plug into? I assume the gasoline filler is on the opposite side?

Tad (Murcia International)

May 2025 Filed under: hybrid

Expert answer

Hi Tad,

The cable plugs into the left-hand side of the 2025 HS PHEV above the rear wheel (the passenger side of the car in Ireland) and yes, the petrol filler is on the opposite side. The flaps covering them look identical. 


What taxes are payable importing a business-owned camper?

Hi there,

As far as I understand from the Revenue website the VRT office are looking for three things on the logbook when importing from Northern Ireland:

1. Car was registered to a private owner (cannot be in a company name).

2. The car was registered in Northern Ireland at least three months ago.

3. The address of the previous owner is a Northern Irish address.

From your article it sounds like the first point is not correct.

If I buy a campervan that was used for rental in Northern Ireland (it is registered in Northern Ireland to a rental company), does it need to have been in private ownership to adhere to the Windsor Framework to avoid VAT and customs upon import to the Republic?

Brian (Galway, Ireland)

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Brian,

There is no stipulation that the vehicle must have been privately owned, but it must have been owned and used by someone/a company registered in Northern Ireland for “a reasonable amount of time” (according to Revenue) – and you'll have to prove that if you wish to avoid paying customs duty or VAT.

No matter what, of course, you will still be liable for VRT.


Will a leased Northern Irish car be VAT-free on import?

Hi,

I am thinking of buying a car from a dealership in Belfast. The car I am looking at has been leased by that company to a person in NI for two years. The V5C is listed in the leasing company's name. Do you think that the car will that meet the Windsor agreement threshold for VAT-free import?

Marco Cavalleri (Ennis Co Clare )

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Marco,

Revenue says that it treats every car individually depending on circumstances, but our feeling is that there would be no customs duties or VAT payable on this car so long as you have paperwork to prove all of the above. The key thing here is that the car was used in Northern Ireland already and not just imported there to be sold on.


Any VAT dur on a 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe imported?

Importing a 22/23 Santa Fe from Northern Ireland: 13k miles, two-three years old. Are VRT and VAT due on the import? Or just VRT? My take on it is once the car is over six months old and has more than 6,000km on the clock, the VAT is not due on import, is this correct?

Adam (Dublin)

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Adam,

That's correct so long as the car was actually used in Northern Ireland – and not just imported by a dealer from the rest of the UK for sale. If it's an original Northern Ireland car then it's fine as well. Don't forget about the NOx levy as part of the VRT payment.


Do I have to NCT an imported 2022 Hyundai Tucson?

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a 2022 Hyundai Tucson imported from UK to Northern Ireland. Privately registered, taxed and insured around four months. MOT not due until 2026. Do you still need to MOT vehicle if you want to import to Republic of Ireland.

Thanks

Lorraine (Cavan)

May 2025 Filed under: NCT

Expert answer

Hi Lorraine,

In Ireland, the first NCT (the Irish equivalent of the UK's MOT) is not due until four years after the first date of registration of a car. That duration applies even if the car was first registered in the UK so, in the case of a 2022 Tucson, it is not necessary to put it through an NCT until 2026.


How much VRT on importing a motorhome?

I am trying to import a motorhome from NI, and I have copy of the V5 document. How do I find out how much VRT I will have to pay?

Thanking you

Eamonn Madden (Cavan)

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Eamonn,

It doesn't matter where the motorhome is coming from for VRT purposes as it is calculated as 13.3 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price - i.e. the value Revenue believe the vehicle to be worth in Ireland) regardless.

You need to book an appointment with the NCTS for its inspection and then you will be informed of the VRT payable.


Looking to import a 2022 Kia EV6 from the North...

Hi,

I am trying to gather information on purchasing an EV (Kia EV6 to be exact) from the North and bringing it into Ireland. I am looking at a second hand 2022 or 2023 model.

Would this car be liable for VRT and import duty or is it exempt? For instance, there is a specific car at £24,000, a 2022 Kia EV6 2022 - what exact VRT and customs duty would apply in this case?

Sorry if it's an obvious question; I'm just finding it hard to gather any info on this type of purchase. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Jason Kirrane (Kildare)

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Jason,

For a 2022 Kia EV6, regardless of its origin, there is likely to be full VRT relief on importation. That's because the relief applies to EVs worth up to €40,000 in Revenue's eyes (that value is called the Open Market Selling Price - or OMSP) and taking a look at Irish classifieds now, no 2022 EV6 exceeds that value.

Whether import/customs duty is payable – and indeed VAT at 23 per cent – is not so clear cut, and that will depend on the specific vehicle.

I suggest you read our Guide to importing a car from Northern Ireland feature to familiarise yourself with some of the rules, but distilled down, if the car you're importing from Northern Ireland has been used by someone living there for “a reasonable amount of time” (Revenue's words) then no VAT or customs duty should be payable when importing it south of the border.

You will need to be able to prove that about the car.

If you're buying from a dealer in the North, you need to talk to them and ask if the car has been imported according to the Windsor Framework, and if so, if they'll supply proof to you of that.

Without proof, you could be slapped with a VAT and customs duty bill when importing the car.

Hopefully that has been of help, but don't hesitate to come back to us if you need more assistance.


Looking to import an ex-police converted Ford Kuga...

Hi,

I have purchased a Ford Kuga. It is an ex-police 'K9' dog unit converted from a car to a two-seat commercial. It came with a five-seat car v5, though, so can this unit be classified as a commercial in Ireland?

What issues will there be with registering the vehicle? And where can I get an engineer's report on the conversion done by UK police?

Nicholas Walsh (Wexford)

May 2025 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Expert answer

Hi Nicholas,

When the vehicle is presented at an NCT centre for inspection, on importation, it doesn't matter what the UK registration document says. If the vehicle has been converted to a two-seat commercial with a bulkhead and no rear seats, then it is likely to be treated as such.

Assuming there is no paperwork relating to the conversion; however, it may be advisable to get an engineer's report beforehand. The NSAI has a list of Approved Test Centres here that should be able to help with that. https://www.nsai.ie/certification/automotive/national-type-approva/atc/

You are supposed to book the vehicle in for an inspection with the NCTS within seven days of its arrival and have it re-registered within 30 days, so keep all that in mind when you're booking appointments.

Do let us know how you get on.


Looking to import an EV from the North...

Hi there,

I am interested in a 2024 electric car that is registered in England and for sale in Newry. The mileage is 3,432 miles. What will it cost me to import it?

Thanks a million

Jane (Co Louth )

May 2025 Filed under: importing

Expert answer

Hi Jane,

If the Open Market Selling Price of the car (the OMSP is the value Revenue in Ireland believes it is worth after importation) is less than €40,000 then you'll have no VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) to pay. If the OMSP is between €40,000 and €50,000 then there's tapered VRT relief, and no relief at all for cars deemed to be worth more than €50,000.

The above applies no matter what the 'customs state' of the car.

What you need to look out for is whether you'll be liable for customs duty - at 10 per cent of the customs value (purchase price, plus transportation costs, plus insurance) - and VAT. The latter is 23 per cent of the customs value plus the customs duty.

Now, if the car has been in use in Northern Ireland for, as Revenue calls it, “a reasonable amount of time”, then VAT and customs duty are unlikely to be payable. You will need proof of that, however. If the car is being bought from a dealer that imported it from England for sale, then ask them for proof of importing according to the Windsor Framework.


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