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How to Import a Car from Japan to Ireland

โœ“ No age limit RHD โ€” like Ireland 0% duty if Japanese-made โฑ ~40โ€“60 days at sea

Yes — you can import a car from Japan to Ireland at any age. Japanese-made cars pay 0% customs duty with proof of origin, then 23% VAT — and VRT, which depends on the car's CO2.

Ship direct to Ireland: routing through Great Britain can cost you duty.

Written by Abdur (AZi Champ)Checked against official government pages
Age rule
No age limit
Any age can be imported and registered.
Customs duty
0% if Japanese-made
With proof of origin (EU–Japan agreement). 10% without it.
VAT
23%
On the value + duty + shipping to Ireland.
VRT
7% – 41%
Of the car's Irish market value, by CO2.

โœ… Can you import a car from Japan to Ireland?

Yes — how you ship it and what papers you have decide the cost.

Best route
๐Ÿšข

Ship direct to Ireland

For most buyers
  • Japanese-made cars: 0% duty with proof of origin.
  • Pay 23% VAT, then VRT at the NCTS.
  • Ports: Dublin, Cork and Rosslare.
โš ๏ธ

Through Great Britain

Costs more
  • A Japanese car coming from GB does not get the UK–EU zero rate.
  • Duty and VAT are due again when it reaches Ireland.
๐Ÿ“„

CO2 and NOx papers

Before you buy
  • VRT needs the car's CO2 and NOx figures from Japan.
  • No proof means the highest VRT rate (41%) and up to €4,850 NOx charge for a diesel.
๐ŸšซDeadlines: book the NCTS inspection within 7 days of arrival, and register within 30 days. Late registration means extra VRT.

๐Ÿงฎ How VRT works

VRT is a percentage of the car's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) — Revenue's estimate of what it would sell for in Ireland, not what you paid.

CO2 (WLTP)VRT rate
0–50 g/km7% (lowest band)
In betweenRises band by band
Over 190 g/km41% (highest band)
No CO2 proof41%

Plus a NOx charge per mg/km. Without NOx proof: €4,850 for a diesel, €600 for other cars. Older Japanese CO2 figures are converted to WLTP.

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Ireland?

VRT is usually the biggest extra cost — and it depends on the car's CO2.

Car price in JapanAuction price + exporter fee, delivered to the Japanese port.
You choose
Shipping + marine insuranceShip direct to Dublin, Cork or Rosslare.
Quote
Customs duty0% for cars made in Japan, under the EU–Japan agreement. You need proof of origin. Without it: 10%.
0%
VAT23% of the customs value + duty + transport and insurance to Ireland.
23%
VRT7%–41% of the OMSP, by CO2, plus a NOx charge.
7–41%
NCTS inspectionThe VRT inspection, booked within 7 days of arrival.
Fee
Port and agentPort handling, customs agent and storage if delayed.
Quote
Motor tax + insurancePaid once the car is registered.
Yearly

Worked example: a Japanese-made car

Example figures in EUR. Your own numbers will differ.
Car price in Japan€8,000
Shipping + insurance€2,000
Customs duty (made in Japan, with proof)€0
VAT — 23% of €10,000€2,300
Landed, before VRT€12,300

Then add VRT: a percentage of the OMSP set by the car's CO2 (see the table above). Without proof of origin, the car also pays 10% duty (€1,000) and more VAT.

๐Ÿงฎ Live Landed-Cost Calculator

Estimate the total cost of importing a Japanese car to Ireland โ€” including auction price, shipping, duty & taxes โ€” in your local currency. Live FX rates updated daily.

Cost to import to Ireland
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Quick pick:
ยฅ100kยฅ1Mยฅ3Mยฅ10M
$800$1.5k$2.5k$4k
Auction priceโ€”
Shippingโ€”
Insurance (1.5%)โ€”
CIF subtotalโ€”
VAT 23% (0% duty) โ€” VRT extraโ€”
Total landed cost โ€”
Approx. in EUR โ€”
Vehicle Shipping & insurance Duty & taxes

Estimate only. Actual cost depends on auction fees, current FX, port charges, and customs valuation. Always confirm with a licensed broker before purchase.

๐Ÿค– AI Import Advisor

Tell us the car you're considering and our AI will give you an honest assessment specific to Ireland's rules — whether to import it, what to verify, and what to watch for.

Your inquiry is sent to Google Gemini AI for analysis. Don't include personal information. Free to use, 5 queries per hour.

Reading the auction sheet rulesโ€ฆ
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Why it works
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          AI-generated guidance — not a substitute for a licensed customs broker. Verify auction sheet, current duty rates, and import permits before purchase.

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          ๐Ÿ—‚ How to import a car from Japan to Ireland, step by step

          1
          Check the CO2 and NOx papers. Without them, VRT is charged at the highest rates.
          2
          Check the car before you pay. Get the original Japanese auction sheet — grade, real mileage, damage and rust — and get it translated.
          3
          Get proof of origin. Only Japanese-made cars get 0% duty.
          4
          Ship it direct. To Dublin, Cork or Rosslare. Direct sailings take about 40–60 days.
          5
          Clear customs. Lodge the customs declaration and pay duty and VAT.
          6
          Book the NCTS. Within 7 days of the car arriving.
          7
          Inspection and VRT. Bring the papers to the NCTS and pay the VRT.
          8
          Register within 30 days. Late registration means extra VRT.
          9
          Motor tax and insurance. Then the car is ready for the road.

          ๐Ÿ“‹ Documents you need

          ๐Ÿ“„Japanese Export Certificate — original (the NCTS keeps it)
          ๐Ÿ“„CO2 and NOx figures from the Japanese authorities, with certified translations
          ๐Ÿ“„Proof of Japanese origin — for 0% duty
          ๐Ÿ“„Customs declaration (MRN) and invoice
          ๐Ÿ“„ID, PPSN and proof of address
          ๐Ÿ“„Proof of the date the car arrived

          ๐Ÿงพ VRT and NCTS rules

          ๐Ÿ“… 7 and 30 daysBook the NCTS within 7 days of arrival and register within 30 days.
          ๐ŸŒซ๏ธ CO2 and NOxThe figures must come from the Japanese authorities and match the export certificate.
          ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Not through GBA Japanese-made car coming from Great Britain pays duty and VAT again in Ireland.
          ๐Ÿ’ถ OMSP, not your priceVRT is based on Revenue's Irish market value for the car, not what you paid.

          ๐Ÿ” Check the auction sheet before you buy

          Most Japanese cars for Ireland come from auctions in Japan. These marks on the sheet cost you money after import:

          S ยท C
          Rust and corrosionUnderbody rust means repair bills. Common on cars from snowy areas of Japan.
          ๅ† ๆฐด
          Flood damageA flooded car is a bad buy anywhere. This note is written in Japanese, so get it translated.
          โ˜… / ?
          Mileage doubtThe real mileage is unknown. Japanese sheets show kilometres, not miles.
          R / RA
          Repaired accidentBoth mean the same thing — the auction house picks the letter. Check what was repaired.
          XX ยท W
          Replaced or repaired panelsOne is normal. Several on one side, or near a pillar, point to a bigger past impact.
          0 ยท 1
          Grade 0, 1 or "as-is"Major problems, or not graded at all. Only buy with a full translation and a repair quote.
          ๐Ÿ“– How to read an auction sheet ๐Ÿ”ค Every damage code ๐ŸŒ Sheet translation

          โš ๏ธ Common mistakes

          ๐Ÿ†• Recent rule changes

          Oct 2026Budget 2027 announced a 1% VRT rise on most CO2 bands from 1 January 2027. Check Revenue for the final rates.

          โ“ Questions buyers ask

          Can I import a car from Japan to Ireland?
          Yes, at any age. You pay VAT and VRT, and duty if the car is not Japanese-made or you have no proof of origin.
          Is there duty on Japanese cars in Ireland?
          Not for cars made in Japan, with proof of origin — the EU–Japan agreement removed the 10% duty. Without proof, you pay 10%.
          How is VRT calculated?
          As a percentage of the car's Irish market value (OMSP), from 7% to 41% depending on CO2, plus a NOx charge.
          What if my car has no CO2 figure?
          Revenue charges the highest VRT rate (41%), and a NOx charge of €4,850 for a diesel or €600 for other cars.
          Should I ship through the UK?
          No. A Japanese car coming from Great Britain pays duty and VAT again in Ireland. Ship direct.
          How long do I have to register the car?
          Book the NCTS within 7 days of arrival and register within 30 days.
          What is OMSP?
          Open Market Selling Price — Revenue's estimate of what the car would sell for in Ireland. VRT is a percentage of it.
          Do I need a customs agent?
          It is not required, but most first-time importers use one for the customs declaration.

          ๐Ÿ“š Official sources

          Every rule above comes from these official pages. Rules change — confirm with your customs broker before you ship.

          Toyota Aqua Honda Fit Nissan Note Toyota Prius Toyota Yaris Hybrid

          Verify the auction sheet before you import

          Confirm grade, mileage and accident history before shipping to Ireland. Original record from Japan's auction database. From $8.

          Verify Auction Sheet โ†’

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          Useful resources for Ireland importers

          Tools and guides to make your Japanese car import successful

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          Verify Auction Sheet
          Check car history before buying
          ๐Ÿงฎ
          Import Calculator
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          ๐Ÿ’ฐ
          Car Value Calculator
          What is your car worth?
          ๐Ÿ“
          Sheet Translation
          Japanese to English in 1-12 hrs
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          How to Read a Sheet
          Grades & damage codes explained
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