How do you import cars from Japan to Ireland, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
To import cars from Japan to Ireland, a Japan-origin car pays 0% customs duty with proof of origin (10% without), 23% import VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax at 7–41% of the Open Market Selling Price by CO2 band, plus a NOx charge. Total tax is roughly 45–85% of CIF. There is no age limit, and the car must be registered within 30 days.
Worked example: a 2017 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid costs about 14,700 to 15,500 EUR (US$16,500 to US$17,300) delivered to Dublin, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Ireland
Ireland drives on the left, so right-hand-drive Japanese cars can be registered without conversion, and there is no age limit for a used import. Since Japan is outside the EU, a car shipped from Japan goes through full customs formalities: a customs declaration, customs duty where it applies and import VAT. The largest cost is Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). Revenue charges it on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), which is its own valuation of what the car would sell for in Ireland, not the price paid in Japan. The rate runs from 7% to 41% by CO2 emissions, and a separate NOx charge is added. For older cars with an NEDC CO2 figure, Revenue converts it to a WLTP-equivalent figure before choosing the band, which often moves a car into a higher band. The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) registers vehicles on behalf of Revenue. The car must be presented within 30 days of arrival with the customs declaration showing duty and VAT paid; otherwise it is liable to seizure.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Ireland?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Ireland drives on the LEFT — RHD Japanese stock fits and is genuinely registrable, with no used-import age limit. Post-Brexit, Japan is a third country: customs duty + import VAT at the border, then VRT + NOx levy at registration (within 30 days).
- Inspection
- Customs (AIS); NCT centre VRT inspection; Revenue registration.
- Special rules
- VRT is assessed on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) Revenue assigns to the model, not on your CIF.
- Entry ports
- Dublin
How do you import a car from Japan to Ireland, step by step?
Estimate VRT before buying
Look up the model on the Revenue VRT calculator, which holds over 25,000 OMSP valuations. If the model is not listed, Revenue sets the OMSP only when the car is presented, so research Irish and UK prices for the same model.
Check the CO2 and NOx figures
VRT depends on CO2 and NOx figures on the car's documents. Without satisfactory evidence, Revenue applies the top 41% CO2 rate and the maximum NOx charge (€600 petrol, €4,850 diesel).
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase the Japanese registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. This foreign registration document is needed at the NCTS registration appointment.
Ship to Dublin
Cars from Japan arrive at Dublin Port, by RoRo vessel or container. The shipping line issues the bill of lading used for the customs declaration.
Lodge the customs declaration and pay duty and VAT
A customs agent lodges the declaration. Duty is 0% with Japan-origin proof and 10% without it, and import VAT is 23% of the value plus duty. The declaration carries a Movement Reference Number (MRN).
Register at an NCTS centre and pay VRT
Book a registration appointment within 30 days of arrival. NCTS inspects the car, checks the foreign registration document and customs declaration, and Revenue charges VRT on the OMSP plus the NOx charge.
Tax and test the car
Once registered, the car receives an Irish registration number and needs motor tax before use. Cars of the relevant age then follow the normal NCT roadworthiness testing cycle.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice
- Original Japanese export certificate (foreign registration document) with English translation
- Proof of Japanese origin for 0% customs duty
- Bill of lading
- Customs declaration with MRN showing customs duty and VAT paid
- Evidence of CO2 and NOx emissions (for VRT)
- NCTS registration appointment and VRT payment
What import duties and taxes does Ireland charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty (EU–Japan EPA) | 0% | CIF value |
| Import VAT (23%) | 23% | CIF + import duty |
| VRT (CO2-banded, estimated from engine size) | 22%–62% by engine size | CIF value |
Import duty (EU–Japan EPA)
Rate: 0%. Charged on: CIF value.
Import VAT (23%)
Rate: 23%. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
VRT (CO2-banded, estimated from engine size)
Rate: 22% up to 1,500 cc; 48% up to 2,500 cc; 62% above 2,500 cc. Charged on: CIF value.
Three charges apply. Customs duty is chargeable on new and used vehicles imported from outside the EU: 0% of CIF for a car of Japanese origin with proof of origin under the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, otherwise the standard 10% EU duty. Import VAT of 23% is charged on CIF plus duty. Vehicle Registration Tax is charged by Revenue at registration on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), at 7% to 41% depending on CO2 emissions, with a minimum amount in each band; a NOx charge of €5 per mg/km for the first 40 mg/km, €15 for the next 40 and €25 above 80 is added. Because VRT is based on OMSP rather than CIF, the duty table estimates it as a share of CIF by engine size: 22% up to 1,500 cc, 48% from 1,501 to 2,500 cc and 62% above 2,500 cc. The real figure depends on the OMSP and CO2 band Revenue assigns.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Ireland?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Dublin | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid | US$8,740 | US$10,700 | US$4,80045% of CIF | EUR 14,700 – 15,500US$16,500 – US$17,300 |
| 2017 Toyota Prius 1.8 L hybrid | US$12,800 | US$14,700 | US$10,40071% of CIF | EUR 23,300 – 24,100US$26,100 – US$27,000 |
| 2019 Toyota Alphard 2.5 L hybrid | US$28,900 | US$31,200 | US$22,20071% of CIF | EUR 48,500 – 49,400US$54,300 – US$55,300 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Dublin. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
This market taxes by engine size, age or fuel. Enter all three for a tighter figure.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | RoRo or container | 26–36 | US$1,900 |
A car from Japan routed through Great Britain is still a non-EU import and needs an Irish customs declaration before registration.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Ireland?
- Models and prices
Toyota Aqua
A 1.5-litre hybrid with a low CO2 figure, which puts it in one of the lower VRT bands. It is cheap at auction, so the OMSP is modest.
- Models and prices
Toyota Prius
A 1.8-litre hybrid that is well known in Ireland, so Revenue usually has an OMSP for it. Its CO2 figure keeps VRT lower than for a petrol car of similar size.
- Models and prices
Toyota Alphard
A large people carrier, usually imported in 2.5-litre hybrid form. Its size and value mean a higher VRT bill, so the OMSP is worth checking first.
- Models and prices
Honda Vezel
A compact crossover, sold in Ireland as the HR-V. The hybrid version has a lower CO2 band than the petrol one.
- Models and prices
Toyota Corolla Fielder
A 1.5-litre estate, including a hybrid version. It sits in the lowest engine band of the VRT estimate.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Ireland?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | Dublin | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| Cork | Dublin | US$260 | US$320 | 2 |
| Limerick | Dublin | US$240 | US$300 | 2 |
| Galway | Dublin | US$240 | US$300 | 2 |
| Waterford | Dublin | US$220 | US$280 | 2 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- How much is VRT on a car imported from Japan to Ireland?
- 7% to 41% of the Open Market Selling Price, depending on CO2 emissions, plus a NOx charge. Revenue sets the OMSP, so the VRT is not based on the price paid in Japan.
- Do I pay customs duty on a Japanese car in Ireland?
- 0% if the car is of Japanese origin and proof of origin is provided under the EU–Japan agreement. Otherwise the standard 10% EU duty applies to used cars from outside the EU.
- What is the VAT on an imported car in Ireland?
- 23% of the customs value plus any duty, paid at import with the customs declaration. It is separate from VRT.
- How long do I have to register an imported car in Ireland?
- 30 days from arrival. A car that needs a customs declaration is liable to seizure if it is not declared and registered within 30 days.
- What happens if I have no CO2 figure for a Japanese import?
- Revenue applies the top 41% VRT rate. Without NOx evidence, the maximum NOx charge applies: €600 for petrol and €4,850 for diesel.
- Who registers an imported car in Ireland?
- The National Car Testing Service (NCTS), on behalf of Revenue. It needs the foreign registration document and the customs declaration with its MRN.
- Is there an age limit for importing a car to Ireland?
- No. Ireland has no age limit for used imports. Age affects VRT through the OMSP and the CO2 figure on the car's documents.
- How does Revenue value a car that is not on the VRT calculator?
- Revenue sets the OMSP when the car is presented for registration, using trade guides, advertisements and experts. It does not give estimates before then.
- Do hybrid cars pay the NOx charge in Ireland?
- Yes. The NOx charge applies to all passenger cars except fully electric ones, including hybrids.
Sources
- Revenue — VRT: applying the tax (CO2 bands) — checked 15 October 2026
- Revenue — VRT: calculating the NOx charge — checked 15 October 2026
- Revenue — VRT: VAT and customs duty — checked 15 October 2026
- Revenue — VRT: assessing the value (OMSP) — checked 15 October 2026
- Revenue — Registering imported used vehicles — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Ireland
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.