Import a Car from the USA to Ireland
A complete overview of the process, costs, and VRT considerations for US car imports.
Here is a complete overview of the process, costs, and VRT considerations for importing a car from the USA to Ireland.
Import Process Overview
Importing a vehicle from the United States involves several steps that are quite different from importing within the EU. First, you need to source the vehicle and arrange for it to be shipped to an Irish port, typically Dublin or Cork. The most common shipping methods are roll-on/roll-on (RoRo) for standard vehicles and container shipping for high-value or classic cars. Shipping typically takes two to three weeks depending on the departure port on the US East Coast. Before the vehicle arrives, you will need to arrange customs clearance with Revenue and ensure all documentation is in order.
Key Requirements
Every vehicle imported from the USA must meet several requirements before it can be registered in Ireland. The vehicle must comply with EU emissions standards or have an individual vehicle approval (IVA). You will need the original US title (similar to an Irish logbook), a bill of sale, and proof of ownership. If the vehicle has been previously registered abroad, you need the deregistration documents from that country. For vehicles less than ten years old, a Certificate of Conformity or equivalent is required. Vehicles over ten years old follow a simplified process but still need to pass an NCTS inspection.
VRT Considerations for US Imports
Because the USA is outside the EU, you will pay customs duty of 10% on the vehicle value, plus 23.5% VAT on the combined value plus duty. VRT is then calculated separately on the Open Market Selling Price that Revenue assigns based on what the same vehicle sells for in the Irish market. This means your total import cost can be significantly higher than the original purchase price. US cars also tend to have higher emissions than European equivalents, which can push them into higher VRT bands. Use our free VRT calculator to estimate the VRT portion before you commit to the purchase, and factor in customs and VAT on top of that.
Popular US Imports
Common vehicles imported from the USA include Ford Mustangs, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, RAM trucks, Chevrolet Camaros, and various Japanese-market vehicles that were originally sold in the US. Electric vehicles from the US market may qualify for the €5,000 VRT relief if the OMSP is under €40,000, making them potentially cost-effective despite the shipping and customs costs.