Importing a car to Ireland: costs, VRT and the 2026 process
How much it costs to import a car to Ireland in 2026: VRT, the NOx levy, VAT and customs by route, deadlines and documents, with two live worked examples.
Articles and guides
Practical guides for people comparing vehicle import cases in this market.
Importing a car from the UK to Ireland: VAT, duty and VRT
What a UK car costs on Irish plates in 2026: customs duty, 23 percent import VAT, VRT and NOx, with a live BMW 330e Touring example and the zero-duty origin case.
VRT on imported cars explained: OMSP, CO2 bands and NOx
How Irish VRT is calculated on an imported car in 2026: OMSP, the 20 CO2 bands, WLTP and NEDC, the NOx levy and EV relief, with three live calculations.
Is it still worth importing a car to Ireland?
Yes, for the right car on the right route. Northern Ireland, Britain, Japan and the EU compared, with three live 2026 calculations priced to Irish plates.
Importing an electric car to Ireland: VRT relief and a live 2026 example
Electric cars registered before 31 December 2026 get up to €5,000 off VRT. Live example: a Northern Ireland Tesla Model 3 at £18,995 lands at €22,149 with accepted proof.