Importing a car from China to Ireland / EU: full landed-cost guide 2026
Duties, VAT, who can import, what gets in, shipping — and the DDP price of 28 popular Chinese models in Ireland / EU, computed by our rules engine with sources and verification dates.
Who can import and what gets in
- ⛔ Right-hand drive only: China-market LHD cars cannot be imported — needs the RHD version
- • Who can import: Individuals and companies may import; companies need an EORI number for customs; book the NCTS appointment within 7 days of arrival and register within 30 days
- • Right-hand-drive country: left-hand-drive cars can be registered and driven (recognised by the RSA; headlamps must be converted for driving on the left), but insurance and resale are harder than for RHD
- • A China-spec car without an EU CoC needs individual approval and a technical inspection before registration
- • EU duty is 10%; new China-built BEVs and range-extender cars also carry the EU countervailing duty, used cars (registered over 6 months and over 6,000 km) do not
Tax rules and sources
- Category A VRT = OMSP × CO2 rate (20 WLTP bands 7%–41% with minima: 0–50 g 7% / min EUR 140; 136–140 g 20%) + NOx charge ↗ official 2026-10-03
- BEV VRT relief: series-production BEVs registered before 31 Dec 2026 get up to EUR 5,000; full relief at OMSP ≤ EUR 40,000, tapering between 40,000 and 50,000 (minus EUR 0.5 per EUR over 40,000), none at ≥ 50,000; applied automatically at NCTS ↗ official 2026-10-03
- NOx charge: EUR 5 per mg/km for the first 40 mg, EUR 15 for the next 40, EUR 25 above 80; without evidence EUR 4,850 diesel / EUR 600 other; BEVs exempt ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Cars from outside the EU must clear customs and pay duty and 23% VAT before VRT registration ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Book NCTS within 7 days and register within 30; from 5 July 2026 new M/N vehicles use the EUCARIS / VIN process ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Left-hand-drive vehicles may be registered and driven in Ireland; headlamps must be changed or adjusted for driving on the left ↗ official 2026-10-04
- EU common customs tariff: passenger cars (8703) from third countries 10% ↗ official 2026-10-03
- EU countervailing duty on new China-built BEVs (7.8%–35.3% by producer, 35.3% without the invoice declaration); used cars outside scope ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Import VAT base = customs value + duty + other import charges (incl. CVD) + costs to first destination ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Cars without an EU CoC need individual approval before registration ↗ official 2026-10-03
Ireland drives on the left: a China-spec left-hand-drive car can be registered and driven (recognised by the RSA; headlamps must be converted for driving on the left), but insurance and resale are harder than for RHD, so check with the buyer before quoting. EU duty 10% + VAT 23%, plus VRT: Revenue's Irish open-market selling price (OMSP, not the invoice) times the CO2 rate; BEVs pay 7%, so a BEV at OMSP EUR 30,000 = EUR 2,100, and series-production BEVs registered before 31 Dec 2026 get up to EUR 5,000 relief (full below OMSP EUR 40,000, none above 50,000), which brings it to 0; from 2027, unless extended, approx. EUR 2,100 (estimate). A petrol car at WLTP 140 g falls in the 20% band, approx. EUR 6,000 plus the NOx charge (approx. EUR 150–350 with evidence, EUR 600 without). New China-built BEVs and range-extender cars carry the EU countervailing duty: 35.3% unless a listed manufacturer issues the invoice with the required declaration; used cars (registered over 6 months and driven over 6,000 km) are outside it. China-spec cars without an EU CoC need single-vehicle approval (cost estimated). Book NCTS within 7 days of arrival and register within 30; freight to Dublin usually transships via Rotterdam / Southampton.
Popular models: DDP price in Ireland / EU
| Model | Ex-works | DDP |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Seal 05 DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc | $10,710 | $26,103 |
| BYD Song Plus DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc | $14,790 | $31,645 |
| BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $15,096 | $41,144 |
| BYD Seal EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $21,420 | $52,492 |
| BYD Atto 2 (Yuan Up)Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Smart Drive 1098 · Battery electric | $14,178 | $37,625 |
| BYD DolphinQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1098 · Battery electric | $14,617 | $40,282 |
| BYD Sealion 7Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $22,950 | $55,237 |
| BYD Han EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $22,440 | $54,322 |
| BYD Seal U (Sealion 6)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $17,850 | $46,086 |
| BYD Tang EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $30,600 | $68,964 |
| Geely CoolrayQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 668 MT · Petrol/diesel · 1,500 cc | $7,589 | $21,861 |
| Geely Xingyue L (Monjaro)Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,969 cc | $17,340 | $35,109 |
| Zeekr 001Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $33,660 | $74,454 |
| Chery Tiggo 8 ProExample configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,598 cc | $15,300 | $32,338 |
| Changan CS75 PlusQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Smart Champion Edition 1089 · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown | $11,730 | $27,486 |
| GWM Haval H6Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,998 cc | $13,770 | $30,260 |
| XPeng G6Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EV 625 Max Tech Edition · Battery electric | $24,888 | $57,243 |
| MG4 EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $18,360 | $47,001 |
| Tesla Model Y (Shanghai-built)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $30,600 | $68,964 |
| XPeng G9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · 625 Max · Battery electric | $34,578 | $74,630 |
| XPeng X9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EV 665 Max · Battery electric | $42,738 | $89,272 |
| XPeng MONA M03Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 540 Long Range Plus · Battery electric | $17,136 | $43,333 |
| AITO M7Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · 新M7 EREV Pro+ · Range extender · 1,499 cc | $39,282 | $84,539 |
| AITO M9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EREV Max+ 5-seat Edition · Range extender · Displacement unknown | $67,362 | $134,924 |
| MG5Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Mexico Edition · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown | $6,375 | $18,797 |
| MG7Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1379 · Petrol/diesel · 1,988 cc | $16,074 | $33,387 |
| Changan UNI-VQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2025 · 2nd gen 新蓝鲸 1169 · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown | $11,220 | $26,794 |
| Changan Nevo Q05Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1019 · Powertrain unknown · Displacement unknown | $14,280 | $30,950 |
Available to order now
Cars you can order now: same-day quotes by model with maker photos. Sign up free to see every trim and the price to your own country.
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LandedCar ✓
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LandedCar ✓
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ICE
LandedCar ✓
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Indicative only: rates, freight and rules change. Every rule shows its source; verify before you commit.