Import a Car from England to Ireland
VRT, customs duty and VAT guide for England imports
Calculate Import VRT →England Import VRT Calculator
Estimate VRT for a vehicle imported from England.
Importing from England to Ireland
Post-Brexit, cars imported from England incur 10% customs duty plus Irish VRT and 23% VAT.
The VRT itself is the same CO2-based calculation used for every Irish import. What changes with England is the customs duty and the currency conversion (prices are typically quoted in GBP). Always budget for VRT plus customs duty plus 23% VAT when calculating your total landed cost.
Step-by-step England import process
- Buy the vehicle and obtain the registration document and proof of purchase.
- Arrange shipping/transport to Ireland.
- Clear customs and pay any duty (10%) and Irish VAT at 23%.
- Book a VRT appointment and present the Certificate of Conformity with CO2 and NOx data.
- Revenue assesses OMSP, charges VRT, and you receive Irish plates.
England Import Cost Example
For a car with an Irish OMSP of EUR 40,000 and CO2 of 140g/km (20% band), the VRT would be EUR 8,000 before age depreciation. Add customs duty of 10% on the value and 23% Irish VAT on the combined figure. Use the calculator above to model your specific vehicle.
Importing from England After Brexit
England remains the single biggest source of car imports to Ireland, even post-Brexit. The reasons are simple: right-hand drive vehicles, similar road conditions, English-language documentation, and a massive used car market with competitive prices. The most popular models coming from England are the Ford Fiesta, VW Golf, BMW 3 Series, and Nissan Qashqai — all models that Irish buyers know and trust.
Since Brexit, imports from England attract a 10% customs duty, which is charged on the vehicle value before Irish VAT. That's a significant change from the pre-2021 era when cars moved freely between Ireland and the UK. The currency is GBP (pounds sterling), and the exchange rate fluctuates — check it daily if you're close to buying. A car priced at £15,000 might cost €17,500 one week and €18,200 the next depending on the rate.
England Import Logistics
Shipping from England is the fastest and cheapest of any import route. RoRo ferries run daily from Holyhead, Liverpool, and Fishguard to Dublin and Rosslare, with crossing times of 3–12 hours. Shipping costs run €300–€600, and you can even drive the car to the port yourself. Alternatively, several Irish import companies offer a full service that handles collection, shipping, customs clearance, and VRT registration for a flat fee of around €800–€1,200. Read our full UK import guide for step-by-step details.
England Import FAQs
What customs duty applies to England imports?
Customs duty from England is 10%. It is charged on the vehicle value before Irish VAT.
How is VRT calculated for a England car?
VRT uses the Irish OMSP and the CO2-based bands, identical to any other import. The country of origin only affects customs duty and VAT, not the VRT rate.
Do I pay VAT on a England import?
Yes. Irish VAT at 23% applies to the vehicle value plus any customs duty. This is separate from VRT.