Car imports from Dubai and the UAE
Importing a car from Dubai to Ireland
C&L Declarations, an Irish customs brokerage, clears cars shipped from Dubai and the rest of the UAE into Ireland: we file an import declaration for each car, split shared container freight across the cars, work out the duty and VAT, and deal with Revenue if the entry is checked. Most cars from the UAE come by container, and we clear them at any Irish port, such as Cork or Dublin.
Talk to our team
Send us the invoice and the route. We reply the same working day.
WhatsApp or call: 086 846 1240
Email: service@cldeclarations.com
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm
What duty and VAT do you pay on a car from Dubai?
Usually 10% customs duty and 23% import VAT. Duty depends on where the car was made, not where you bought it; the EU has no trade agreement with the UAE. Cars built in Japan, South Korea or the US can qualify for 0%, but only with valid proof of origin and if the rules for that country are met. Duty is charged on the price plus shipping and insurance to the EU. VAT is charged on that plus the duty.
How is freight split when cars share a container?
Each car's customs value must include its share of the shipping and insurance, so the container freight is divided between the cars. We normally split it in proportion to each car's value, show you the working, and put each car's share on its own declaration. One declaration per car also means each car has its own paperwork for VRT.
Are classic cars from Dubai treated differently?
They can be. A classic car of historical interest can be declared as a collectors' item if it's in original condition; cars under 30 years old generally don't qualify. Collectors' items pay no customs duty, and import VAT is 13.5% instead of 23%. A car over 30 years old at registration also pays a flat VRT charge. Revenue can ask for evidence, so keep photos, the car's history and proof it hasn't been modified.
What documents do you need for a car from Dubai?
✓ Seller's invoice Showing the price, the date and the currency.
✓ UAE registration or export certificate For each car.
✓ Bill of lading With the container number.
✓ Freight and insurance invoice For the whole container.
✓ List of cars in the container With each car's price, if the container is shared.
✓ CO2 and NOx figures For example a certificate of conformity or a manufacturer's document.
✓ For a classic Photos and evidence of its history and originality.
✓ No ID in the first message We ask for personal details only when you go ahead.
How do we clear a car from Dubai?
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Before it sails
Send the invoice, export papers and shipping details. We check the duty and VAT, confirm the documents, and quote our fee.
Declaration
We lodge a declaration for each car on Revenue's AIS, with its freight share, its VIN and the document codes the EU tariff requires.
Checks and release
If Revenue selects the entry for documents or an inspection, we answer it until release. We can pay the duty and VAT through our Revenue account.
VRT
You get each car's declaration and MRN for the NCTS. Book within 7 days of arrival and register within 30 days.
Questions we get asked
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay Irish VAT on a car from Dubai if I paid tax there?
Yes. Irish import VAT is charged on cars imported from outside the EU, whatever tax was paid in the UAE. It's 23% of the customs value plus duty, or 13.5% if the car qualifies as a collectors' item. Dealers registered for VAT and for Customs and Excise can use postponed accounting instead of paying at import.
Why does shipping count towards the duty on my car?
Because the customs value includes the cost of transport and insurance to the point where the car enters the EU. Duty and VAT are worked out on the price plus that freight. When several cars share a container, each car carries its share, so we split the freight and show you how.
What happens if Revenue rejects or checks the declaration?
We fix it and send it again. Revenue's system checks every declaration, and a rejection often means a detail such as an address or a document code needs correcting. If the entry is selected for a document check or an inspection, we send Revenue what it asks for and stay with it until the car is released.
Can I get the CO2 figures for a car bought in Dubai?
Check before you buy. VRT depends on the car's CO2 and NOx figures, and Revenue needs acceptable evidence, such as a certificate of conformity, a manufacturer's document or a document from the authorities in the country of origin, with an English translation. Without a CO2 figure, Revenue charges the highest VRT rate.
I'm moving from Dubai to Ireland. Can I bring my car tax-free?
Possibly, under transfer of residence relief. You must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and owned and used the car for at least 6 months before the move, and selling, lending or hiring it out within 12 months makes the taxes payable. The claim should reach Revenue at least two weeks before the car arrives. We'll check whether you qualify.
Shipping a car from Dubai? Send us the invoice first.
WhatsApp or call 086 846 1240, or send the quote form. We reply the same working day, Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00, and you get a clear quote before anything is filed.
Or email service@cldeclarations.com · Replies the same working day