Import costs · 18 July 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from India to Ireland?
Importing a car from India to Ireland usually costs the purchase price plus roughly 30%–50% in taxes, shipping and fees, because India is a third country for Irish customs. You pay 10% customs duty, 23% VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), plus a NOx levy on most petrol and diesel cars. On-costs of this size are common for non-EU imports, but the exact figure depends on the car's CIF value (car, shipping and insurance), its emissions, and Revenue's valuation.
The short answer: what an India-to-Ireland car import really costs
A realistic all-in cost ranges from several thousand euro to well over €10,000 on top of the purchase price, depending on the car's value, emissions and shipping. There is no single fixed amount: VRT and the NOx levy move with emissions and Revenue's valuation. As a benchmark, a €20,000 car can carry roughly €4,500–€9,000 in combined tax before shipping (Ireland-facing calculators, 2026).
The taxes you'll pay: customs duty, VAT, VRT and NOx
Revenue applies the charges in a set order — customs value, then duty, then VAT, then VRT — so working through them in sequence is the only reliable way to a figure. Each is a separate Irish charge with its own base.
Customs duty (10%)
Customs duty is 10% of the customs value — the car's price plus shipping and insurance (Citizens Information/Revenue, 2026). Because India has no preferential origin arrangement with the EU, budget for the full 10%.
VAT (23%)
Irish VAT is 23%, charged on the customs value plus the customs duty — never 21% (Citizens Information/Revenue, 2026). If the car is "new" for VAT — under 6 months old or 6,000 km — VAT still applies. Used cars above both thresholds are treated differently, though duty and VRT remain.
Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT)
VRT is based on Revenue's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) and the car's CO₂ band, not the price you paid in India. Rates are commonly cited from 7% to 41% by emissions band (import guides/Revenue, 2026), so bills vary widely between similar cars.
NOx levy
The NOx levy is added on top of VRT and applies to most petrol and diesel imports. Citizens Information notes maximum charges of €4,850 for diesel and €600 for all others where emissions data are not supplied (Citizens Information, 2026).
Shipping a car from India: container freight and landing costs
Sea freight is the largest non-tax cost, and shipping a car from India to Ireland typically runs into the low thousands of euro before duty and VAT are calculated. That freight matters twice: it is a real outlay, and it feeds into the customs value that duty and VAT are charged on. Guide estimates put shipping to Ireland at about €1,500–€2,800 for RoRo or similar services (import guides, 2026). Port handling, transit insurance and pre-delivery checks can add a few hundred euro more (import guides, 2026).
Homologation, Certificate of Conformity and the right-hand-drive question
A car built for the Indian market may not hold EU type-approval, so you may need a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or an Individual Vehicle Approval before it can be registered in Ireland. Most UK-focused guides skip this step, yet it is where an India import can stall. Helpfully, Ireland is right-hand drive, like India, so the driving position is compatible.
Worked example: importing a used car from India
Take a used car bought for €12,000 in India with €2,000 shipping: the customs value is about €14,000, giving €1,400 duty and roughly €3,542 VAT before VRT. The calculation follows Revenue's order (Citizens Information/Revenue, 2026):
| Cost item | Base | Indicative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Customs value (CIF) | car + shipping | €14,000 |
| Customs duty | 10% of CIF | €1,400 |
| VAT | 23% of €15,400 | €3,542 |
| VRT | OMSP + CO₂ band | few hundred to several thousand |
| NOx levy + registration | emissions + NCTS | extra |
Before VRT and the NOx levy the car has already reached about €18,900; adding VRT, a landed cost of €20,000–€24,000 is realistic. Use vetcar's calculator to price the full import bill with your car's actual figures.
Frequently asked questions
A few practical questions come up once the numbers are clear.
Can we import a car from India to Ireland?
Yes. It is legal, but treated as an import from outside the EU, so you clear customs, pay duty, VAT and VRT, then register the car before driving it here.
Does an India-origin car ever qualify for zero customs duty?
Duty depends on the car's qualifying origin, not just where it ships from. Unlike some UK or Northern Ireland cases, an India-origin car has no preferential-origin relief, so there is no zero-duty route.
Can I avoid VRT and VAT with Transfer of Residence relief?
Possibly, if you are moving to Ireland. Transfer of Residence relief can waive VRT and VAT, but you must have lived abroad for at least 12 months and owned and used the vehicle for a qualifying period (Citizens Information, 2026).