August 2014
Question
I’m living in
Ireland but I want to buy a second-hand car in the UK. What steps do I have to
take when I bring the car to Ireland?
Answer
Within seven days of bringing the car to Ireland you must
make an appointment to bring the car to your local National Car Testing Service
(NCTS) centre
in order to register it and pay Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). See ncts.ie to book an appointment and for
details of the documents you need to bring with you.
The car will
be examined at the NCTS centre and the details will be used by Revenue to
assess the amount of VRT payable, based on the value of the car. Revenue
provides an online VRT Calculator that you can use to get an estimate of how
much you will have to pay, see revenue.ie.
You pay the VRT to the NCTS. You must complete the registration process within
30 days of the vehicle's arrival in Ireland.
You will get
a receipt for the VRT paid, showing the new registration number for your car. You
must display this number on your car within three days. You can buy
registration number plates at the NCTS centre or at a motor factors.
You will also
get Form RF100, which you will need when you pay motor tax. To pay motor tax,
you will also need to insure the car and have your insurance details. You can
pay motor tax online at motortax.ie or at the Motor
Taxation Office of your local authority.
After you
have paid the motor tax, the Vehicle Registration Certificate will be issued to
you by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
If the car is
four years old or more it must also undergo the National Car Test immediately.
Further
information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.
Know Your Rights has been compiled
by Dungloe Citizens Information Service
which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761075430
Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre, Gweedore Road.
Information is also available online
at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761
07 4000.