Importing Japanese Cars to Ireland: VRT and Registering Your Import

Ireland is a right-hand-drive market, so Japanese cars fit naturally on its roads, but every import must be registered and is subject to Vehicle Registration Tax, usually called VRT. The broad sequence is to bring the car in, present it for a registration appointment, pay the assessed VRT, and receive an Irish registration number.

VRT is generally based on the vehicle's value and its environmental characteristics rather than a flat fee, so two similar cars can attract different amounts. There are also timing expectations around presenting a newly arrived vehicle for registration, and delays can lead to complications, so the process is best started promptly after the car lands.

Customs and VAT treatment depends on where the car is imported from, and a vehicle arriving from outside the customs union is handled differently from one moving within it. Keeping clear documentation of the purchase, shipping, and any export paperwork from Japan helps both the customs and VRT stages go smoothly.

Because the VRT calculation method and registration deadlines are adjusted periodically, get an indicative VRT figure and confirm the current requirements with the Irish revenue and registration authorities, or a specialist agent, before committing to a particular car.