Can I buy a car in Northern Ireland and bring it to the Republic of Ireland?

Need a new vehicle and wondering: can I buy a car in Northern Ireland and bring it to Ireland?

The short answer is yes - but if you’re thinking of buying a car from Northern Ireland you’ll need to make sure you understand the costs of importing and registering your new vehicle. This guide looks at the process to follow, some key considerations, and important questions like how much is VRT on a car from Northern Ireland?

We’ll also touch on how Wise can help you cut the costs of sending money from EUR to GBP to buy your vehicle in Northern Ireland.

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Is it worth importing a car from Northern Ireland? 🤔

In many cases, cars in Northern Ireland can be cheaper to buy compared to the same vehicle in the Republic. But if you’re thinking of buying a car from Northern Ireland, you’ll need to decide - is it worth importing a car from Northern Ireland, taking into consideration the extra hassle that may be involved?

If you’re considering importing a car from Northern Ireland to the Republic, you’ll need to weigh up both the costs and the paperwork needed to manage this. You may find that importing a car from Northern Ireland after Brexit is more complicated, if the specific vehicle you want was previously registered or used in Great Britain before being moved to Northern Ireland.

Because the import rules are different for vehicles which are imported from Northern Ireland compared to from Great Britain¹, whether or not it’s worth doing may depend on the specific vehicle and its history.

How to import a car from Northern Ireland to the Republic?

Let’s take a look at buying a car from Northern Ireland step by step. Bear in mind that the exact process can be a bit different depending on the vehicle’s history, and whether or not you import it directly or through an agent. The basic steps are likely to include:

1. Make a customs declaration if your vehicle originated in Great Britain, or obtain documents to show it has been in private ownership in Northern Ireland if not
2. Pay any customs charge required when your vehicle enters Ireland
3. Pay VAT on the vehicle if required - this is usually payable if you’re importing a new car
4. Register your vehicle at a National Car Test (NCT) centre within 30 days
5. Pay VRT, and ensure your vehicle is properly insured and taxed.

Documents needed to import a car from Northern Ireland

Depending on the exact situation, you’ll need a suite of paperwork to support your import. It’s well worth checking out the specific documents needed based on the car you’re buying and its history - but the types of paperwork you may need can include:

For new vehicles purchased from Northern Ireland

• Proof the vehicle was imported according to the Windsor framework

For vehicles which were in private ownership in Northern Ireland

• MOT certificate
• V5C logbook showing the registered owner in Northern Ireland

If you are claiming VAT relief due to meeting specific conditions - usually when you import your own car from overseas upon relocating to Ireland - you’ll need to provide different documents. Check with the authorities based on your personal situation.

When you register your vehicle and pay VRT

• A completed Vehicle Purchase Details form
• Your V5C logbook
• A certificate of conformity for new vehicles
• An invoice showing the date of purchase
• Your ID and proof of address and PPS number

If you are claiming an exemption from VRT you need to provide an exemption certificate issued by Revenue.

How much does it cost to import a car from Northern Ireland? 💰

The costs of importing a car from Northern Ireland to the Republic vary enormously depending on the value of the car, where it was made and registered, if it’s new or used, and other factors.

If you’re importing a vehicle which has been in private ownership in Northern Ireland for a reasonable period of time, you may not need to pay VAT and customs duty². However, if the vehicle was previously registered in Great Britain, or imported directly from there, these fees are likely to apply. Always make sure you check the legalities of your import decision well in advance so you don’t face any surprise fees.

Because you’ll need to know in advance which types of fee will apply, you may decide to use a dealer or agent to help you import your vehicle, which makes the process of calculating the costs far easier.

The key costs you’re likely to face are customs duty, VAT and VRT. VRT applies on all cars registered in Ireland, while the other costs might vary depending on the history of the vehicle itself. Here’s a summary:

*Details correct at time of research - 21st March 2025

Fees and costs: How much is VRT on a car from Northern Ireland?

Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is the tax you pay to first register your vehicle when you import it to Ireland.

This is one of the key costs of importing a car from Northern Ireland, and is assessed by and paid to the National Car Test Centre.

The cost of VRT is based on the Open Market Selling Price of the vehicle, decided looking at factors like:

• Market value of the vehicle
• The engine size
• The vehicle’s year of manufacture
• The make and model
• The roadworthiness and condition of the vehicle.

Send money to Northern Ireland with Wise

Check out Wise to help you cut the costs of sending money from EUR to GBP to buy your vehicle in Northern Ireland.

Use Wise for international transfers with the mid-market rate, which allow you to send money in a flash to bank accounts around the world, including in GBP. This can help you save money both on the costs of your transfer and the exchange fees which are usually included, bringing down the overall amount you need to pay to buy your car in Northern Ireland.

Need more? For ways to manage your money across currencies, why not also take a look at the Wise Account which lets you manage currencies in the account, spend and withdraw around the world conveniently.

Hold and exchange 40+ currencies in a Wise account, and get a Wise card to tap and pay - and to make mobile payments with a wallet like Apple Pay.

You’ll get the mid-market rate (the same you normally see on Google) whenever you need to convert currencies, with no markups on the currency exchange. Plus, You can also use your Wise card to make cash withdrawals globally, with 2 free withdrawals up to 200 EUR a month before any Wise fee begins.³

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Keeping down the costs of buying a car in Northern Ireland

If you’re thinking of buying a car in Northern Ireland you’ll want to make sure you get as good a deal as possible. Shopping around different dealerships is obviously an excellent place to start, as long as you make sure the businesses you consider are reputable and will be able to provide you with all the vehicle’s documents.

It also helps to remember that UK license plates are issued twice annually, in March and September. As dealerships need to accommodate new cars to maximize the profits possible by selling the new license plates, they can offer great deals on older cars during this period.

Finally, don’t underestimate the costs of buying a car in a foreign currency. Choosing a smart way to convert your Euros to Pounds can help you save as much as possible - and make sure you don’t simply end up handing over the money you save to your bank instead.

Look at companies like Wise which can help you send payments overseas with low fees and great exchange rates, to get the best bargain on your vehicle. More on that next.

Sources used:

1. Citizens Information - importing a vehicle
2. Revenue Ireland - importing a car from the UK
3. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Sources last checked on date: 24-Mar-2024