Ireland is next door, it drives on the left, and its cars are right-hand drive. So it is easy to assume a car can simply come across on the ferry and carry on. It cannot quite, because Ireland is in the EU and Great Britain is not. The good news is that it is one of the simpler imports we handle, and we do the paperwork.
- Import VAT
- 20%
- Duty
- None if EU or UK-built
- Customs
- Usually cleared same day
- Registration
- Within 10 working days
This guide covers bringing a car from the Republic of Ireland into Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales.
Getting the car across
We bring cars over from Ireland by road and ferry on our own liveried trucks, with enclosed trailers available. We typically plan collections and deliveries in Ireland 1 to 2 weeks ahead, so let us know early and we will fit your car onto the next suitable run.
Driving it over yourself is possible too. If you do, you need insurance that covers the car on UK roads, and GOV.UK is clear that you then have 14 days to tell HMRC it has arrived.
Customs and import tax
Every car coming into Great Britain from Ireland has to be cleared through customs. We are HMRC CDS authorised agents with our own customs staff, and cars driven or transported from the EU can usually be cleared the same day.
The tax depends on where the car was built and how old it is:
- Car built in the EU or UK: 20% import VAT, no duty
- Car built outside the EU, bought in Ireland: 20% VAT and 10% duty
- Car over 30 years old: 5% VAT, no duty
- Moving to the UK under Transfer of Residence: nothing to pay, if you qualify
VAT is worked out on the price you paid plus the cost of transport. If your purchase invoice is more than 3 months old, a valuation is used instead. The import tax calculator will give you a rough figure.
Was the car UK-registered before
Plenty of cars in Ireland started life in the UK. If yours did, it may be able to come back tax free with its UK purchase invoice and a copy of the old V5C logbook. See bringing a UK car back home.
And if you are moving here yourself, having lived outside the UK for 12 months or more and owned the car for 6 months or more, read our guide to Transfer of Residence before the car moves.
NOVA
NOVA is how HMRC is told a car has arrived, and it has to be done within 14 days. Without it the DVLA will reject the registration application. We submit it for you as part of customs clearance.
Testing: which route your car takes
Before it can go on UK plates, the car needs to show it is fit for British roads:
- Under 10 years old: a Certificate of Conformity, which we can source if yours is lost, or an IVA test if one is not available or the car was not built in the EU
- 10 to 40 years old: an MOT
- Over 40 years old: no MOT needed
What usually changes on an Irish car
Less than on most European cars. Because Irish cars are right-hand drive and built for driving on the left, the headlights normally dip the right way already, so the usual headlight work for left-hand drive cars is not needed.
The speedometer is the one to check. Speed limits in Ireland are in km/h, and if your car is under 10 years old at import, its speedometer must read in mph before it can be registered. If it cannot show mph, we change it. On older cars it is not a condition, but we still recommend it.
Check the speedometer early. On a car under 10 years old, mph is a condition of registration. Knowing what yours shows before it travels means no surprises at the test.
Registration
Once the car passes, we complete the V55/5 and apply to the DVLA. Our dealer-level account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days. From you, we need the car's Irish registration document, proof of purchase and photo ID.
Then it is just a case of insuring and taxing it. Our guide to insuring an imported car covers what insurers will ask.
Questions people ask
Do I pay import tax on a car from Ireland?
Usually yes. A car built in the EU or UK pays 20% import VAT and no duty. A car built outside the EU pays 20% VAT and 10% duty. Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT, and Transfer of Residence or a returning UK car can mean nothing to pay.
Do Irish cars need new headlights in the UK?
Normally not. Irish cars are right-hand drive and built for driving on the left, so the headlights already dip the right way. The speedometer is the part to check.
Does an Irish car need an IVA test?
Not usually. A car under 10 years old can normally be registered with a Certificate of Conformity, which we can source. If one is not available, or the car was built outside the EU, it needs an IVA test. Cars 10 to 40 years old need an MOT.
How long does registration take?
Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days once the car has passed its test.
Can I drive the car over myself?
Yes. You will need insurance that covers the car on UK roads, and HMRC must be told within 14 days of it arriving. We can clear it through customs and register it once you land.
Tell us about your car on the quote form and we will price the transport, customs and registration together.
