Import decision support

Import a car to Ireland

An import to Ireland is priced by more than the advert. VRT is charged as a percentage of the OMSP with the rate set by the CO2 band, the NOx levy comes on top, and the route decides VAT and customs: an EU used car normally carries no Irish VAT, while a car from Great Britain usually pays both customs duty and VAT since Brexit. The import makes sense when the landed total still beats the Irish price for the same car.

VRT estimateNOx levyUK and EU routesIrish market comparison

Start Ireland estimate See Ireland pricing

Start with a free preview. Choose a Premium subscription or Pro to keep working with your calculations.

What the Ireland estimate answers first

The first pass should tell you whether the car is worth pursuing: the likely VRT, the route costs, and the local price it has to beat.

VRT estimated from the CO2 band and the OMSP basis, with the minimum charges per band.

The VAT and customs picture for EU, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and outside-EU purchases.

The Irish market context in the full report, where the landed cost lands next to real local prices.

When is this worth it?

The ad price abroad is the starting point. Whether the import works depends on VRT, the levy, the route, and the Irish market.

VRT follows the Irish value, not the foreign price

Category A cars pay 7% to 41% of OMSP depending on the CO2 band. Buying cheap abroad does not reduce the VRT, so the case rests on the gap between the foreign price and the Irish value.

The route can add VAT and customs

A used car from the EU normally carries no Irish VAT. From Great Britain, customs duty and VAT on import usually apply. From Northern Ireland it depends on proof of the vehicle’s status, and a nearly new car (no more than six months old, or 6,000 km or less) pays Irish VAT at 23% on any route.

The Irish market is the benchmark

The import only makes sense when the landed total, including VRT and the levy, still beats what the same car costs in Ireland.

What you'll see in Importcalc

Importcalc works as a VRT calculator and a full import cost check in one: it looks up the vehicle, estimates the OMSP basis, and prices the whole route.

VRT and NOx levy from the official tables

The estimate applies the current CO2 bands, the minimum VRT amounts, and the NOx levy bands, with the statutory fallback when NOx documentation is missing.

The full landed cost

Purchase price, transport, customs duty where required, VAT treatment, VRT, levy and registration fees in one view.

The market comparison

The full report checks Irish asking prices for similar cars and places the landed cost next to them, so the decision is grounded in what the car is actually worth here.

For private and professional use

These pages help you choose the right level of follow-up without overselling the process. Start simple, and move forward when the need is actually there.

Private

For private buyers looking at UK or EU cars

Get the realistic total before you spend money on viewings, transport, or deposits.

Use the first estimate to drop cars where VRT and the route costs eat the saving.
See the CO2 band effect before choosing between engines or model years.
Upgrade when you want to save and compare several candidates.

See plans

Pro

For dealers and import professionals

Screen UK auction lists and EU stock against Irish retail on a gross-cost basis. Estimates model a private buyer: dealer VAT accounting such as the margin scheme or reclaimable import VAT is not included.

Price candidates with one method instead of rebuilding each estimate.
Keep saved cases structured across your pipeline.
Use team features when importing is part of daily operations.

See Pro plans

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to import a car to Ireland?

The total is the purchase price plus transport, VRT (a percentage of OMSP set by the CO2 band), the NOx levy, and VAT and customs where the route requires them. The calculator estimates the full amount for a specific car.

Is it still worth importing from the UK after Brexit?

Sometimes. Customs duty and VAT on import usually apply to cars from Great Britain, which removes part of the old advantage. The estimate shows whether a specific car still beats the Irish price after those costs.

Do I pay Irish VAT on a used car from the EU?

Normally no, when the car is over six months old and has more than 6,000 km. Otherwise it counts as a new means of transport and Irish VAT at 23% applies, including at exactly six months or exactly 6,000 km.

What is OMSP?

The Open Market Selling Price: the value Revenue assigns to the car on the Irish market. It is the base VRT is calculated from, for imported cars as well as new ones.

How accurate is the estimate?

The rates come from the official tables and the OMSP is estimated from the Irish market. Revenue determines the final VRT at the NCTS inspection, so treat the result as a strong estimate for the buying decision.

Calculate your Ireland import

Enter the car and the route, and get VRT, the NOx levy, VAT, customs and fees as one landed cost next to the Irish market.

Try the calculator for free See resources

Estimates support the decision. Revenue sets the final VRT at the NCTS inspection.