Import a Car from Poland to Ireland
VRT, customs duty and VAT guide for Poland imports
Calculate Import VRT →Poland Import VRT Calculator
Estimate VRT for a vehicle imported from Poland.
Importing from Poland to Ireland
EU member, 0% customs duty. VRT and 23% VAT apply.
The VRT itself is the same CO2-based calculation used for every Irish import. What changes with Poland is the customs duty and the currency conversion (prices are typically quoted in EUR). Always budget for VRT plus customs duty plus 23% VAT when calculating your total landed cost.
Step-by-step Poland 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 (0% (EU member)) 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.
Poland 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 0% (EU member) on the value and 23% Irish VAT on the combined figure. Use the calculator above to model your specific vehicle.
Poland as a Budget Import Source
Poland has become one of Europe's fastest-growing used car markets. As an EU member, there's 0% customs duty, and car prices are significantly lower than in Ireland or Germany. Polish garages and dealerships sell a wide range of vehicles — Volkswagen, Opel, Skoda, and Ford are the most popular brands. The currency is the Polish Zloty (PLN), which is weaker than the euro, making Polish cars an attractive buy. A 2020 VW Golf can be found for PLN 60,000–80,000 (roughly €13,000–€17,000).
Shipping from Gdansk or Gdynia to Dublin takes 4–6 days by RoRo ferry, with costs of approximately €500–€800. Poland drives on the right (left-hand drive), which is standard for Irish imports. Polish vehicles come with EU-standard documentation, though check the Certificate of Conformity carefully — some older vehicles may have NEDC-tested CO2 figures rather than WLTP. Our VRT bands page explains which figures Revenue accepts.
Poland Import FAQs
What customs duty applies to Poland imports?
Customs duty from Poland is 0% (EU member). It is charged on the vehicle value before Irish VAT.
How is VRT calculated for a Poland 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 Poland import?
Yes. Irish VAT at 23% applies to the vehicle value plus any customs duty. This is separate from VRT.