How Importing to Ireland Works
Your step by step guide to compliant car importing
Expert help for your import journey
Importing your car doesn’t have to be stressful.
Our expert team will guide you through the entire process — whether you drive your car to Ireland yourself or let us handle the import for you.
Step by Step Import Process
This step-by-step import process guides you through the necessary elements for VAT qualifying cars and margin cars to ensure a fully compliant import to Ireland.
Choosing the correct import route
A vehicle’s VAT status and import route determine the way the car must be imported from the UK to Ireland.
Thetwo import routes depend on whether the car was originally:
VAT Qualifying, or
A Margin Scheme vehicle
Both import routes fully compliant with the Irish import process but have different tax and transport structures.
Car Import Process to Ireland
Both import routes fully compliant with the Irish import process but have different tax and transport structures.
Option A:
VAT Qualifying Vehicles
Vehicle purchased in Great Britain.
Vehicle transported or collected and brought to Ireland.
Customs import completed in Ireland.
VAT (23%) and any duty paid.
Vehicle presented for VRT registration within 30 days.
Option B:
Margin Scheme Vehicles via Northern Ireland
Vehicle sourced in Great Britain.
Vehicle transported to Northern Ireland.
Customs clearance and VAT paid in Northern Ireland (20%).
Vehicle supplied to the Republic of Ireland.
Customer only needs to complete VRT registration in Ireland.
UK Car Buying Consultation
It all starts with finding your car. You don’t need to choose a VAT qualifying car, just the car your heart is set on.
Choose your UK car & share it with us.
We will share quotes for the cars you’re considering and help you to understand your import options based on all the variables.
Once you have made a decision, we buy the car on your behalf and sell it to you.
We then manage you import for you or allow you to collect your car to import it yourself. (T&Cs apply)
Benefit from the most cost-effective method to import whilst being fully compliant.
Transport and Shipping Options
Vehicles can be transported in several ways depending on the scenario:
Customer collection from Great Britain (VAT qualifying vehicles only) Terms & Conditions apply.
Our professional vehicle transport services
-Multi-car transporter
-Single vehicle transporter
Collection from our Belfast office
Delivery directly to the Republic of Ireland
This is our most popular service. Your car is delivered to your home customs cleared and ready for registration & VRT.
VAT
VAT treatment depends on how the vehicle enters Ireland.
Option B – Margin Scheme Vehicles via Northern Ireland
Suitable for retail car imports from Belfast. For many private buyers, this route simplifies the process because VAT is already accounted for before the vehicle arrives in Ireland.
VAT is paid in Northern Ireland at 20%.
23% VAT is not payable when the vehicle enters Ireland as UK VAT has been paid.
Option A – VAT Qualifying Vehicles
Most suitable option if you are collecting the car yourself from GB or are a VAT registered Irish business and can reclaim the VAT yourself.
We will Sell to you net of UK VAT and 23% VAT is payable in Ireland.
VAT is paid in Ireland at 23% during import.
Import Duty
Leave the paperwork to us. Our team will secure the required documentation to support vehicles that qualify for import duty exemption.
Import duty depends on the origin of the vehicle.
Vehicles manufactured in the UK or EU may qualify for Preferential Origin, meaning 0% duty.
Vehicles manufactured outside the UK/EU may be subject to approximately 10% import duty.
In some cases Returned Goods Relief (RGR) may apply if the vehicle previously originated from the EU.
Duty is handled either:
During the Irish import process, or
During the Northern Ireland customs clearance, depending on the route.
We handle the duty exemption of all cars transported by our team. If you are importing the car yourself, we will connect you to our customs clearing partners who will guide you through the customs clearing process.
VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax)
We advise all clients on the VRT process and provide firm VRT estimates. However you are required to register and pay the VRT on arrival in Ireland.
All vehicles imported into the Republic of Ireland must be registered with Revenue.
Key points:
The vehicle must be presented at an NCTS VRT centre.
VRT must be paid within 30 days of the vehicle entering Ireland.
Once VRT is paid, the vehicle receives its Irish registration number.
Now your car is registered in Ireland, the process is complete.
Ready to Import Your Car?
Choosing the right route could save you thousands in VAT, duty and transport costs.
Our team will guide you through the most cost-effective and compliant way to import your car into Ireland.
Simply get in touch for your personalised import quote