Caravan VRT Calculator 2026

Caravan VRT € What You Need to Know

If you're thinking about bringing a caravan into Ireland, you'll want to understand how VRT works before you hand over any cash. The good news is that caravans sit in a completely different tax bracket to cars. Revenue treats them as trailers, which means the rates are far more reasonable. Most touring caravans end up with a VRT bill somewhere between €300 and €3,000, depending on weight and features. That's a world away from the €5,000 or €10,000 you might pay for importing a car.

The main thing that drives your VRT cost is the caravan's maximum laden weight. A lightweight two-berth pop-top weighing under 750kg might attract a VRT of just €200 to €400. A large four-berth Bailey Unicorn at 1,500kg will cost more, typically around €1,500 to €2,500. Luxury caravans with full habitation specifications and high gross weights can push that up further, sometimes beyond €4,000.

Age matters too. Revenue applies depreciation to the original market sale price (OMSP), so a five-year-old caravan is taxed on roughly 65% of its original value, while one that's over ten years old might be assessed at just 50%. This is where shopping around for a slightly older model can save you hundreds. A two-year-old caravan bought for €25,000 and a five-year-old version of the same model at €18,000 can have very different VRT outcomes, even though the caravan itself is much the same.

There's also the question of what the caravan is for. If you're buying it for personal holidays and weekend trips, you'll pay the standard rate. But if you're planning to rent it out or use it as a permanent residence, that bumps the rate up by 10% or more. Commercial use adds a layer of cost that catches some people off guard.

Caravan Types and VRT Implications

Touring Caravans

Touring caravans are what most people picture when they think of caravanning in Ireland. You tow them behind your car, set up at a campsite, and head home when the holiday's over. For VRT purposes, touring caravans are straightforward. The rate is based almost entirely on weight, with adjustments for luxury features and age. A standard two-berth touring caravan weighing around 1,000kg will typically land in the €500 to €900 range for VRT. Add a few hundred kilos for a spacious four-berth model and you're looking at €1,200 to €2,000. These are the most popular caravans imported from the UK, and because the second-hand market there is enormous, you can find good deals that keep your overall costs down.

Static Caravans

Static caravans are the ones that sit permanently on a caravan park or holiday site. They're not designed to be towed regularly, so they're wider, heavier, and often more comfortable than touring models. VRT on static caravans works a bit differently. Because they're often treated as a semi-permanent structure rather than a vehicle, some people assume they're exempt from VRT. That's not the case if you're importing one. A static caravan weighing 2,000kg imported from the UK will typically attract VRT of around €1,500 to €2,500, plus the registration fee if it exceeds 750kg. The key difference is that statics are often older when purchased second-hand, which brings the OMSP down and reduces the tax bill. A ten-year-old static bought for €8,000 might only have a VRT of €800 to €1,200.

Motor Caravans

Motor caravans, or campervans, are a different beast entirely. They're self-propelled vehicles, so they fall under the standard vehicle VRT system, not the trailer rates that apply to touring and static caravans. That means a motor caravan imported from the UK will face the same CO2-based VRT bands as a car. A diesel campervan with a 2.0-litre engine could easily attract VRT of €5,000 to €12,000, depending on emissions and age. If you're looking at a motor caravan specifically, you'll want to use the car VRT calculator rather than this one. The rates are notably higher, and the calculation process follows a different set of rules.

Importing a Caravan to Ireland

The vast majority of caravans imported into Ireland come from the UK. The market there is massive, with brands like Bailey, Swift, Elddis, and Lunar all manufactured in Britain. Since Brexit, the process has become a bit more involved, but it's still manageable. The first thing to know is that you'll need to notify Revenue before bringing the caravan into the country. You can do this through the Revenue online service, and you'll get a customs reference number that you'll need for clearance at the port.

When the caravan arrives in Ireland, you have 30 days to complete the VRT process. You'll need to bring the caravan to a designated VRT centre or National Car Test (NCT) centre for inspection. The inspector will verify the caravan's weight, length, and condition against the documentation you provide. Make sure you have the original purchase invoice, any previous registration documents, and a certificate of conformity if it's an EU-made caravan.

Costs beyond VRT include customs duty at 6.5% for non-EU goods (this applies to UK caravans post-Brexit), plus VAT at 23% on top of the customs value. So if you buy a caravan in the UK for €10,000 and the customs value works out at roughly €11,500, you're looking at around €750 in customs duty and €3,200 in VAT before you even get to VRT. The total import costs can add up, which is why it's worth running the numbers carefully before committing to a UK purchase. Some people find that buying within the Irish market, despite higher prices, works out cheaper once you factor in all the import charges.

Caravan VRT Cost Examples

Example 1: Lightweight Touring Caravan

You spot a 2021 Bailey Pagent Sprite 2 for €12,000 from a dealer in Bristol. It weighs 980kg when fully loaded, sleeps two, and has basic facilities. The OMSP after three years of depreciation comes to around €7,800. At a VRT rate of 6%, that gives you a VRT of roughly €468. Add the €75 processing fee and you're at about €543 total for VRT and fees. The caravan itself cost €12,000, so your all-in cost to get it on the road in Ireland is approximately €12,543. Not bad for a tidy little tourer that'll do weekends in Kerry and Connemara.

Example 2: Family Touring Caravan

You're buying a 2020 Swift Challenger 580 for €22,000. It's a four-berth with an onboard toilet and shower, weighing 1,530kg. After four years of depreciation, the OMSP sits at around €14,300. The base VRT rate for this weight class is 8%, which gives €1,144. But it's a well-equipped caravan with standard facilities, so we apply a small adjustment and land at about €1,300 for VRT. The registration fee of €400 applies because it's over 750kg, plus the €75 processing fee and a €55 inspection charge. Total additional costs come to €530. Add that to the €22,000 purchase price and you're looking at roughly €22,830 to get this caravan registered and ready for Irish roads.

Example 3: Imported Static Caravan

You've found a 2015 ABI Ashdale static caravan for €7,500. It's ten years old, weighs 1,800kg, and has all the usual features including a full kitchen and central heating. The OMSP after ten years works out to about €3,750. At an 8% VRT rate, that's €300. Static caravans attract a 20% uplift though, bringing the VRT to around €360. The registration fee is €400, processing is €75, and inspection is €55, so additional costs total €530. The full cost to import and register this static caravan is approximately €8,390. Compare that to buying a new static in Ireland for €35,000 to €50,000, and you can see why the second-hand UK market remains popular.

Caravan Registration and Documentation

Getting a caravan registered in Ireland involves a few steps that are worth understanding before you start. If the caravan weighs under 750kg, you don't need to register it separately. It's treated as an unbraked trailer and can be towed behind your car without its own number plate. Most lightweight touring caravans and pop-tops fall into this category, which keeps the paperwork to a minimum.

For caravans over 750kg, separate registration is mandatory. You'll need to apply to Revenue for a VRT assessment, and once that's paid, you'll receive a registration certificate. This certificate is what allows you to get number plates made up. The plates need to display the caravan's registration number, and they should be fitted to the rear of the caravan in a visible position. You can get plates made at any authorised number plate supplier, and they typically cost between €20 and €40.

The documentation you'll need includes the original purchase invoice or bill of sale, any previous registration documents from the UK or other countries, proof of identity, and proof of address. If you're buying from a UK dealer, they should provide a V5C registration document or equivalent. For private sales, make sure you get a written receipt with the seller's details, the caravan's make and model, the price paid, and the date of sale. It's also worth getting a copy of the caravan's CRIS (Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme) record if it's a UK-registered touring caravan, as this shows the ownership history and whether there's any finance outstanding on it.

Insurance is another thing to sort early. You'll need cover in place before you tow the caravan into Ireland, and most insurers will ask for the VRT registration as a condition of the policy. Some people arrange temporary cover for the journey and then switch to a permanent policy once the caravan is registered. It's a small detail, but getting caught without insurance on a newly imported caravan can cause problems at customs and during the VRT inspection.