EU Import VRT Calculator 2026

EU Import Advantages for Irish Buyers

There's a reason so many Irish people look to the continent when buying their next car. Since Ireland joined the EEC back in 1973, we've benefited from the free movement of goods across EU member states. That means no customs duties on vehicles purchased from any EU country, which is a massive saving compared to importing from non-EU nations.

When you buy a car from Germany, France, or the Netherlands, you pay exactly the same VRT rates as someone importing from the UK. The difference is you skip the customs declaration process entirely. There's no need to file a customs entry, no need for a customs broker, and no surprise tariffs hitting your budget at the last minute. Your total import cost stays predictable from start to finish.

Another practical advantage is the Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Every vehicle sold within the EU comes with this document, which proves the car meets EU type-approval standards. Revenue.ie accepts the CoC as valid proof of vehicle specifications, so you don't need to go through additional testing or certification in most cases. If you're importing a standard passenger car that was originally sold new in the EU, the CoC handles the paperwork side of things.

Consumer protections also work in your favour. EU Directive 1999/44/EC gives you a minimum two-year guarantee on used goods purchased from dealers. So if you buy a two-year-old VW Golf from a dealership in Munich and something goes wrong within that guarantee period, you have legal recourse under EU law. That's not something you get when buying privately from the UK or importing from further afield.

Popular EU Sources for Car Imports

Germany

Germany is far and away the most popular source for EU car imports to Ireland, and for good reason. German dealers maintain meticulous service histories, often recorded digitally through the manufacturer's system. A BMW with full dealer stamps from its entire life in Bavaria tells you exactly what you're getting. The TÜV inspection system also means cars on the road have passed strict annual safety and emissions tests, so you're not buying something that's been neglected.

Transport from Germany typically runs between €700 and €1,000 depending on where the car is located. Southern Germany near Munich or Stuttgart costs a bit more than northern cities like Hamburg or Berlin because of the ferry routing. Most transport companies offer door-to-door service, collecting from the dealer and delivering to your nearest NCT centre or home address.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a brilliant option if you want a low-mileage vehicle. The country is small and flat, which means annual mileage tends to be lower than in larger countries. A three-year-old Peugeot 308 from Amsterdam might have 30,000km on it where an equivalent car from rural Germany could easily have 60,000km. Dutch dealers also tend to be very straightforward to deal with, and English proficiency is excellent across the country.

Transport from the Netherlands costs around €600 to €800. The ferry crossing from the Hook of Holland to Harwich, or the Eurotunnel from Calais, keeps costs reasonable. Several Irish transport companies run regular routes from the Randstad area, which covers Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.

France

France is worth a look, particularly for French-made cars. ACitroën C5 or Renault Megane bought in France will often come with a full Contrôle Technique (their version of the NCT) and a detailed service record. Pricing on French cars in France is also noticeably lower than in Ireland, partly because the market is much larger and more competitive.

One thing to watch with French imports: Paris region dealers charge a premium. If you're willing to look at cars from Normandy, Brittany, or the Loire Valley, you'll often save €1,000 to €2,000 on the purchase price compared to Paris. Transport from France runs about €700 to €900, with regular ferry services from Roscoff, Cherbourg, or Caen to Irish ports.

EU Import Process - Step by Step

Bringing an EU car into Ireland is more straightforward than most people expect. Here's what actually happens, in order.

Week 1: Find and agree a price. You search online platforms like mobile.de, autoscout24.nl, or leboncoin.fr. Once you find the right car, negotiate the price and agree terms. Pay a deposit if required, typically 10-20% of the purchase price. The seller should provide you with the Certificate of Conformity, the vehicle registration document (Fahrzeugbrief in Germany, carte grise in France), and proof of the last technical inspection.

Week 2: Arrange transport. Book a vehicle transport company. Door-to-door services from Germany or the Netherlands typically take 3-5 working days. The car is collected from the seller, loaded onto a trailer, and shipped to Ireland via ferry. You'll need to arrange insurance for the journey, though most transport companies include basic coverage in their price.

Week 3: Customs clearance and registration. Once the car arrives in Ireland, you notify Revenue within 7 days. For EU imports, this is a simple customs declaration - no duties to pay, no complex paperwork. You complete the VRT registration form (form VRT.1), provide the Certificate of Conformity, proof of purchase, and proof of insurance. Revenue calculates your VRT based on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) and CO2 emissions, and you pay the VRT plus 23% VAT on the purchase price plus transport costs.

Week 3-4: NCT and plates. Book an NCT test if the car is over four years old. Once it passes, you can get your Irish registration plates fitted. The whole process from purchase to driving on Irish roads takes roughly 3-4 weeks if everything goes smoothly. Some people have done it in under two weeks when documents are ready and transport is arranged quickly.

EU Import VRT Cost Examples

Here are three real-world examples to give you a clear picture of total costs. These use the calculator logic above with current VRT rates and the 23% VAT rate.

Example 1: 2022 Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI from Germany. Purchase price €22,000. CO2 emissions 130 g/km. Petrol engine, 2-4 years old. Transport cost €800. OMSP after age adjustment (0.8 multiplier): €17,600. VRT at 16%: €2,816. VAT on €22,800 (price plus transport): €5,244. Registration and processing fees: €475. Total import cost: €31,335. That's roughly what you'd pay for a similar car bought in Ireland, but you get a German-spec vehicle with full service history.

Example 2: 2023 Tesla Model 3 from Netherlands. Purchase price €38,000. CO2 emissions 0 g/km. Electric vehicle. Transport cost €600. OMSP after age adjustment (0.92 multiplier): €34,960. VRT rate for electric vehicles: 0% (VRT exempt). VAT on €38,600: €8,878. Registration and processing fees: €475. Total import cost: €47,953. The VRT exemption on electric vehicles makes a genuine difference here, saving you thousands compared to an equivalent petrol car.

Example 3: 2020 Renault Clio 1.0 TCe from France. Purchase price €14,500. CO2 emissions 118 g/km. Petrol engine, 4-7 years old. Transport cost €700. OMSP after age adjustment (0.65 multiplier): €9,425. VRT at 14%: €1,319.50. VAT on €15,200: €3,496. Registration and processing fees: €475. Total import cost: €19,495.50. Older cars like this benefit from notable age depreciation, which lowers the OMSP and therefore the VRT bill. A similar Clio on the Irish market would likely cost you more.

EU vs UK Imports - Which Is Cheaper?

Since Brexit, importing from the UK has become more expensive and more complicated. Here's how the two options stack up across the main cost categories.

For a car worth €25,000, the customs duty alone adds €1,625 to your UK import bill. On top of that, VAT is calculated on a higher base because duty gets included. A UK import of a €25,000 car ends up costing roughly €2,000 to €3,000 more than an equivalent EU import once you factor in customs duty, the extra VAT, and broker fees. The only real advantage of UK imports is shorter and cheaper transport, since the UK is physically closer and the ferry crossing is quicker. But that saving rarely makes up for the customs costs.

If the car you want is available in both the UK and an EU country, the EU import will almost always work out cheaper and simpler. The paperwork is lighter, there are no customs surprises, and the total cost is easier to predict before you commit to the purchase.

EU Certificate of Conformity and Documentation

The Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is one of the most important documents when importing a car from an EU country. This document, issued by the vehicle manufacturer, certifies that the vehicle meets all EU type-approval standards at the time of manufacture. For Irish VRT purposes, the CoC can simplify the registration process notably because it provides Revenue with all the technical specifications they need without requiring additional inspections or testing in most cases.

Every new vehicle sold within the EU comes with a CoC as standard. For used cars, the CoC may still be available from the manufacturer, though you may need to request it from the dealership or manufacturer's local representative. Some manufacturers charge a fee for issuing a duplicate CoC, typically between €50 and €200. The CoC includes critical information such as the vehicle's exact CO2 emissions (WLTP or NEDC values), maximum power output, noise levels, and safety specifications. This information directly affects your VRT calculation.

In addition to the CoC, you need the original vehicle registration document from the country of origin. This is called different names in different countries: the Fahrzeugbrief in Germany, the carte grise in France, the kentekenbewijs in the Netherlands, and the libretto di circolazione in Italy. Each of these documents serves the same purpose - proving ownership and registration history. Make sure the seller provides you with the original document, not a copy, because Revenue requires the original for Irish registration.

If the vehicle registration document is in a language other than English or Irish, you may need a certified translation. Some EU countries issue bilingual documents that include English sections, which can save you the translation cost. Translation services typically charge €20 to €50 per page, and you should use a certified translator recognised by Revenue to ensure the translation is accepted.

Transport Options from EU Countries to Ireland

Transporting a car from mainland Europe to Ireland requires careful planning, as the distance and logistics vary notably depending on the country of origin. The most common approach is to use a professional vehicle transport company that specialises in European car movements. These companies handle everything from collection at the seller's location to delivery at your door in Ireland, including all ferry crossings and customs paperwork for non-EU transit points.

From Germany, the cost typically ranges from €700 to €1,200 depending on the city of collection. Cars from southern Germany (Munich, Stuttgart) cost more because of the longer road distance to the ferry ports. From the Netherlands and Belgium, costs are lower at €500 to €800 because these countries are closer to the Channel ports. French imports vary widely - a car from Calais might cost only €400 to transport, while one from Nice or Marseille could cost €1,000 or more. Italian imports are the most expensive at €1,200 to €1,800 due to the distance and the need to cross multiple borders.

An alternative to professional transport is to drive the car yourself. This is only practical if you have valid insurance that covers driving in EU countries and if you can take the time off work for the journey. Driving yourself saves you the transport fee but adds costs for fuel, tolls, accommodation, and meals. From Frankfurt to Dublin via the ferry, a self-drive trip costs roughly €300 to €500 in fuel and tolls plus the ferry fare of €150 to €300. You also need to factor in your own time, which can be 2-3 days of driving.

Container shipping is another option, particularly for high-value vehicles. A container provides better protection during transit and allows you to ship personal items with the car. Container costs from mainland Europe range from €800 to €2,000 depending on the departure port and whether you share the container with other vehicles. Container shipping takes longer than roll-on roll-off ferry transport, typically adding 3-5 days to the transit time.