Import a Car from South Africa to Ireland
VRT, customs duty and VAT guide for South Africa imports
Calculate Import VRT →South Africa Import VRT Calculator
Estimate VRT for a vehicle imported from South Africa.
Importing from South Africa to Ireland
No FTA for cars, 10% customs duty, VRT, and 23% VAT apply.
The VRT itself is the same CO2-based calculation used for every Irish import. What changes with South Africa is the customs duty and the currency conversion (prices are typically quoted in ZAR). Always budget for VRT plus customs duty plus 23% VAT when calculating your total landed cost.
Step-by-step South Africa 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.
South Africa 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.
South African Vehicle Imports
South Africa is a right-hand drive market — like Ireland — which makes it one of the easiest sources for Irish imports. The country has a strong automotive manufacturing sector, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Toyota all producing vehicles locally. BMW's Rosslyn plant builds the 3 Series for export, and many of these are available in the used market at 2–4 years old with moderate mileage. The South African Rand (ZAR) is weak against the euro, making prices attractive.
A 2021 BMW 3 Series can be found for ZAR 450,000–600,000 (roughly €22,000–€30,000), often less than half the Irish price. However, 10% customs duty plus 23% VAT and shipping costs narrow the gap. Shipping from Durban or Cape Town to Dublin takes 3–5 weeks via container, costing approximately €1,600–€2,200. South African vehicles are right-hand drive with no conversion needed. The main challenge is documentation — South Africa doesn't issue EU-standard Certificates of Conformity, so you'll need an independent emissions test to provide CO2 and NOx data to Revenue. Budget extra time for this process. Read our VRT meaning page for background on how the tax works.
South Africa Import FAQs
What customs duty applies to South Africa imports?
Customs duty from South Africa is 10%. It is charged on the vehicle value before Irish VAT.
How is VRT calculated for a South Africa 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 South Africa import?
Yes. Irish VAT at 23% applies to the vehicle value plus any customs duty. This is separate from VRT.