Bringing a car into Ireland - Moving to Ireland

IMPORTING A CAR INTO IRELAND

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All cars/vehicles brought into Ireland (apart from temporary visits of less than 12 months) are subject to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners. The tax rates vary depending on engine size - but are around 25 % of the expected selling price.
People who have owned their vehicles abroad for more than 6 months and who are moving permanently to Ireland are exempt from VRT. But if you sell it within 12 months of arriving - you have to pay the tax.

Details of VRT rates in Ireland

Officially you have to register the car within 1 day of bringing it into Ireland. But there is some discretion that can be applied - i.e. in cases where a person might not have decided to stay permanently until they had been in Ireland for several months.
You will be required to provide proof of ownership, proof of living abroad - i.e bank statements, proof of address and date of arrival in Ireland. You will need proof of insurance abroad going back 6 months and proof of date of purchase.

See our Car Insurance page for details of car insurance.

Irish Driving Licence: If you are moving from an EU country - you can exchange your current licence for an Irish one - for a small fee. You don't have to - but it makes sense to do so - if only because you shouldn't really continue with your old driving licence with your old address on.
If you have moved from a "non recognised" country - such as the U.S. - you need to apply for a driving licence in Ireland. You must first you must complete a driver theory test, apply for a provisional driving licence and complete your driving test in Ireland. If you pass your driving test, you will be issued with a full driving licence for use in Ireland.