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Import Car to Ireland

Car Import to Ireland Guide

Importing Your Car to Ireland? Car Import from the USA to Ireland starts at a cost of $1,495 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 4-6 weeks, depending on the make and model of the car, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about importing your car to Ireland in our 2024 guide.

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Request a free online quote –Quotes are available online with a guaranteed response within 24 hours for car import and moving services to Ireland.

Please do not hesitate to call or email us anytime with any questions about car import to Ireland. Contact our shipping experts for more information. We are always just a phone call away!

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Want more information on car import services to Ireland from the USA?

Read on below for our US to Ireland Vehicle Importing Checklist, Vehicle Import Options, US to Ireland Car Importing Costs & Time Frame, US to Ireland Vehicle Importing Options, Ports Served in the US & Ireland, and other details on our Ireland vehicle import service.

Importing a Car to Ireland: Checklist

Importing a car from the United States to Ireland can be relatively easy if you carefully prepare and choose a reliable and trustworthy shipping company.

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your car overseas to Ireland.
  • Gather all necessary vehicle documentation, including:

    • Sales Contract / Bill of Sale
    • Vehicle Title Documentation
    • Proof of Ownership of the vehicle
    • Car Registration

  • Make sure that you understand all of the typical shipping costs associated with auto shipping to Ireland, including:

    • Freight and insurance charges when shipping your vehicle
    • Wharf, transport, storage, and delivery charges after your vehicle arrives
    • Duties, taxes, and fees, including customs duty
    • Cleaning your car of any biosafety concerns, such as foreign soil
    • Registration and insurance requirements in the relevant Irish State or Territory
    • Other charges such as import processing, customs brokers, and logistics service provider charges

  • Select an international car shipping company and preferred auto shipping method to transport your vehicle from the United States to Ireland
  • Determine your vehicle’s departure and destination ports
  • Confirm the vehicle’s undercarriage is clean and free of foreign soil

More information on the process of importing a vehicle to Ireland can be found here.

Online Quotes - Guaranteed Response within 24 Hours!

Quotes are available online for domestic and international vehicle shipping services. Depend on us for reliable and expedited vehicle relocation services - Our dedicated team of shipping specialists are always a phone call away to answer any questions you may have.

Vehicle Import Options

As you engage in the process of importing your car to Ireland, some of the most important questions to consider include:

  • Whether you plan to permanently keep the automobile in Ireland or if it’s just a temporary move,
  • Whether you have been the owner of the car for at least 6 months.
  • Whether you’re importing a new or used vehicle.

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for Ireland import. Your actual tax rate is based on these details.

When importing cars, you should never assume your international shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s. Importing classic cars or used cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for importing new cars into Ireland.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Ireland, fill out our free quick quote form.

Vehicle Import Approval

Upon arrival of your auto shipment to Ireland, the shipped vehicle must be declared in Customs.

You’ll need the following documentation:

  • Purchase Invoice / Bill of Sale
  • Proof of Vehicle Ownership
  • Certificate of Registration
  • Proof of Payment of Sales Tax
  • Proof of Residency in Ireland
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Shipping Documentation for Personal belongings
  • Irish Customs Form

Things to Consider

  • All vehicles shipped to Ireland must comply with all the legal and technical requirements stipulated by the Irish government.
  • You must have valid motor insurance in place before driving in Ireland.

Importing a Car to Ireland: Costs & Time Frame

Using a baseline of a compact car being shipped using the roll-on/roll-off method from the Port of Los Angeles to the Port of Dublin, our estimate for Car Import from the USA to Ireland starts at a cost of $1,495 USD.

However, the cost to ship a car to Ireland from the United States depends on a number of factors such as the model and make of your automobile, your current location, the nearest departure port in the USA, your shipping method of choice, availability of your chosen services, your destination port, and your final destination. Additionally, you’ll need to consider costs related to importing cars, such as storage, cleaning, other vendor fees, and Irish taxes & duties, such as Ireland’s value-added tax (VAT).

An estimated timeframe to ship a car to Ireland measures the duration of a port-to-port service. Typically, the timeframe to ship a car to Ireland from the USA will take between 4-6 weeks, depending on your port of departure, destination port, and method of service. This is provided all the required documents are submitted to us in a timely manner, the vehicle is prepared to depart and all other vehicles to fill the car shipment have been secured.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Ireland, fill out our free quick quote form.

Taxes & Duties for Ireland Car Import

Prior to car import to Ireland from the USA, verify your vehicle’s specifications and compliance with Irish requirements.

If you are importing a vehicle to Ireland from the USA, you will be required to pay customs duty, motor tax, vehicle registration tax, and VAT at a rate of 23%.

If your vehicle is over 4 years old, you must have a National Car Test performed by the National Car Testing Service.

The amount of tax and import duties payable when importing a car to Ireland from the US will vary depending on the individual details of your shipment.

When importing your car into Ireland from outside of the European Union (EU), you may be exempt from paying customs duties and taxes if you meet the following criteria:

  • You declare your vehicle as part of your household and personal effects.
  • You must have lived in a non EU country for at least the previous 12 months;
  • You must have purchased the car outside the EU;
  • You must have driven the car for at least 6 months prior to importing it into Ireland;
  • You must have already paid the ‘sales tax’ or equivalent fee in another country.

When claiming exemption from customs duties and tax, you must agree to keep your vehicle purely for personal use after importing it into Ireland.

Online Quotes - Guaranteed Response within 24 Hours!

Quotes are available online for domestic and international vehicle shipping services. Depend on us for reliable and expedited vehicle relocation services - Our dedicated team of shipping specialists are always a phone call away to answer any questions you may have.

Importing a Car to Ireland: Options

Car Import from USA to Ireland can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.

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Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) –Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. This international car shipping option tends to be cheaper as other than the shipping charge, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.

Transits tend to be faster than with the shared container service as the vessels depart on a weekly basis.

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Shared container service – This method for car import to Ireland requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one shipping container. While there are more fees involved to ship a car from the USA to Ireland with shared container service than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various clients who are using the container. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance, and charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.

One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your vehicle departs, as the container must have a full load before import to Ireland.

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Full container load – You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.

Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered when importing cars with dedicated container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly, but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails that other shipping companies use, which can damage your vehicle.

After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our clients to pack and transport other items inside the vehicle. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

Once your vehicle reaches its destination in Ireland, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition, and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the import process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.

Compared to our roll-on/roll-off shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure when importing to Ireland, but much faster due to frequent departures each week.

Additional Services

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Sourcing vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.

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Other services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Ports Served in the Ireland

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of car import to Ireland, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and which services the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations from which we can ship cars from the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah, and more.

Destination Ports – Ireland

Here are the entry ports in Ireland that we can ship a car to.

  • Dublin
  • Galway
  • Shannon Foynes
  • Bantry Bay
  • Cork
  • Drogheda
  • Waterford

Cleaning Your Vehicle’s Undercarriage

Before import to Ireland, the undercarriage of your car must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement before car import to Ireland. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient prior to car transport.

Plating Your Vehicle in Ireland

Once you have received customs clearance, you will need to register your newly imported vehicle. The registration process must be completed within 30 days of the vehicle’s arrival in Ireland. If required, you must book an appointment with the National Car Testing Service within 7 days of your car’s arrival in Ireland.

In order to register your car in Ireland, you should have:

  • A copy of the Customs Declaration
  • A Certificate of Conformity
  • A Personal Public Service Number (PPS)
  • Proof of Identity (such as an Identity Card or Passport)
  • Foreign Registration Certificate

Once the vehicle has been registered and you have paid the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), you will be assigned a new registration number which must be displayed in your car within 3 days. Before you are able to pay motor tax, you will need to make sure that you have valid motor insurance in place.

Other Ireland/US Shipping Options

Online Quotes - Guaranteed Response within 24 Hours!

Quotes are available online for domestic and international vehicle shipping services. Depend on us for reliable and expedited vehicle relocation services - Our dedicated team of shipping specialists are always a phone call away to answer any questions you may have.

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