Import a Car from Ireland to the UK

Ireland is the easiest country to import a car from — right-hand drive, a drive-home ferry, and a short timeline. EU-origin cars qualify for 0% duty under TCA, and Returned Goods Relief can cut the cost to near zero for cars previously registered in the UK.

• Many cars sold in Ireland were built outside the EU (Japanese/Korean) — those still attract 10% duty.
• NI vs ROI rules differ; cars moving within the CTA may follow different notification rules.
• Returned Goods Relief applies only to vehicles previously registered in the UK.
• Irish deregistration cert (RF105) must be sent with the V55/5.

Do I pay customs duty importing a car from Ireland to the UK?

Cars manufactured in the EU qualify for 0% customs duty under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). However, many cars sold in Ireland were built outside the EU — a Japanese-built Toyota or Korean-built Hyundai generally attracts 10% duty. 20% VAT applies on the landed cost either way, unless the vehicle qualifies for Returned Goods Relief.

Is bringing a Northern Ireland car to England, Scotland or Wales an import?

No. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so an NI-registered vehicle is already a UK vehicle. Moving it to Great Britain is a re-registration, not an import — no customs declaration, normally no NOVA, and no V55/5. You update the registration with DVLA using the vehicle's existing V5C logbook.

What is Returned Goods Relief for cars from Ireland?

Many cars in Ireland started life as UK cars. If a vehicle was previously registered in the UK and is re-imported within 3 years of export, it may qualify for Returned Goods Relief — relief from both customs duty and import VAT. Eligibility conditions apply, so check with HMRC and keep evidence of the vehicle's UK history.

Do I need NOVA for a car from Ireland?

For a Republic of Ireland (ROI) registered car, yes — you must notify HMRC via the NOVA service within 14 days of the vehicle arriving in Great Britain, or face a £5 per day late penalty. NOVA is not normally needed for NI-registered vehicles moving to GB, though there are caveats — check the gov.uk NOVA guidance.

Is an Irish NCT valid in the UK?

No. The Irish National Car Test (NCT) is not accepted as a substitute for a UK MOT. Any imported car over 3 years old needs a UK MOT (maximum fee £54.85) before DVLA will register and tax it, regardless of its NCT status.

How much does it cost to import a car from Ireland to the UK?

For a typical €15,000 EU-origin ROI car, expect roughly £2,900-3,300 on top of the purchase price: 20% VAT (~£2,600), ferry (£150-300), MOT (£54.85), DVLA registration (£55), plus paperwork costs. If the car qualifies for Returned Goods Relief, added costs can fall to a few hundred pounds. NI-registered cars cost almost nothing to move — just the ferry and a free V5C update.

Primary sources

This guide maps to official GOV.UK guidance. Always check the current source for the latest rules before you submit your V55/5.

• Register a used vehicle for the first time (V55/5 form & V355/5 guidance) — GOV.UK
• Importing vehicles into the UK (NOVA, duty, VAT) — GOV.UK
• Vehicle approval: Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) — GOV.UK
• Register an imported vehicle (registration and tax) — GOV.UK

v55-5.com is an independent service and is not affiliated with the DVLA, HMRC, or any government body.