Transfer of Residence relief (your car)
If you qualify, you can register your car in Ireland without paying Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), which can run to thousands.
Last checked June 2026
What it is
Bring your car home and register it without paying Vehicle Registration Tax, if you lived abroad and owned and used the car for at least six months before moving back, and bring it in within 12 months.
Who can get it
- You are moving your permanent home to Ireland after living abroad (normally 185 or more days a year there).
- The car was your personal property, in your possession and used by you for at least six months before you moved.
- You bring the car into Ireland within 12 months of moving.
- Apply to Revenue within seven days of the car arriving, and register it within 30 days. Apply before registering if you can, so you do not pay the VRT upfront.
- If you sell or dispose of the car within 12 months of registering it, the full VRT becomes payable.
- If you were abroad for a fixed-term task and already got this relief on a vehicle in the previous five years, you will not qualify again.
How to apply
Applications go through Revenue. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 10 June 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
Do I have to pay VRT on my car when I move to Ireland?
Not if you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief. You need to have lived abroad, owned and used the car for at least six months before you moved, and bring it into Ireland within 12 months.
How long do I have to bring my car into Ireland?
Within 12 months of moving your permanent home to Ireland.
What happens if I sell the car soon after registering it?
If you sell or dispose of the car within 12 months of registering it, the full VRT becomes payable.
Related guides
- Returning to Ireland guide
- Safe Home Ireland
- Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project
- Transfer of Residence relief (your belongings)
- Split-Year Treatment
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