How much is car tax in Ireland?

Annual motor tax runs from €120 for an electric car to €2,400 for the highest-emission petrol or diesel. A typical modern hatchback sits between €180 and €280. The rate depends on when the car was first registered: cars from 2021 onwards use WLTP CO2 bands, cars from July 2008 to 2020 use NEDC bands, and older cars pay by engine size.

Is VRT the same as car tax?

No, and mixing them up is the most expensive mistake people make. Motor tax is the annual charge you pay to keep the car on the road. VRT is a one-off tax paid when a vehicle is first registered in Ireland - so it hits imports. VRT is a percentage of the car's Irish market value plus a NOx levy, and on a typical import it runs into thousands.

How do I pay car tax in Ireland?

Online at motortax.ie with your registration number and PIN, or at a motor tax office. For a first-time tax on an imported car the PIN is the last six characters of the chassis number (VIN), taken from the RF100 form you get after registration.

Can I pay car tax for 3 or 6 months?

Yes, but it costs more per month. The half-year disc is about 55% of the annual rate and the quarterly disc about 28%, so paying for a full year is always cheaper.

What happens if my car tax runs out?

Driving untaxed is a fixed penalty of €60, rising in court to as much as €2,000. Arrears are also charged from the month after the last disc expired, so there is no gain in letting it lapse. If the car is off the road, declare it in advance with form RF150 - you cannot backdate the declaration.

Do electric cars pay car tax in Ireland?

Yes, but the lowest rate: €120 a year regardless of value or power. Battery electric cars also get VRT relief of up to €5,000 when first registered, which usually wipes out the VRT on a car valued under €40,000.

Guide · updated 28 August 2026

Car tax in Ireland: what you actually pay

“Car tax” in Ireland means two completely different things, and the difference is worth thousands. Motor tax is the annual charge for keeping a car on the road. VRT is a one-off tax charged when a car is first registered here - which is what makes importing expensive. Here is how both work in 2026, with the real numbers.

Annual motor tax: three systems at once

Which table applies depends on when the car was first registered anywhere, not when it arrived in Ireland. That catches out importers: a 2019 UK car registered here in 2026 still uses the older NEDC table.

First registered	Charged on	Range
2021 onwards	WLTP CO2, 16 bands	€120 - €2,400
July 2008 - 2020	NEDC CO2, 12 bands	€120 - €2,350
Before July 2008	Engine size (cc)	€199 - €1,809

Work out your own figure below - it uses the same official tables.

The 2026 rates in full

Cars first registered from January 2021, charged on WLTP CO2:

CO2 (WLTP)	Per year
0 g/km	€120
1 - 50 g/km	€140
51 - 80 g/km	€150
81 - 90 g/km	€160
91 - 100 g/km	€170
101 - 110 g/km	€180
111 - 120 g/km	€190
121 - 130 g/km	€200
131 - 140 g/km	€210
141 - 150 g/km	€270
151 - 160 g/km	€280
161 - 170 g/km	€420
171 - 190 g/km	€600
191 - 200 g/km	€790
201 - 225 g/km	€1,250
over 225 g/km	€2,400

Cars first registered July 2008 to December 2020, charged on NEDC CO2:

CO2 (NEDC)	Per year
0 g/km	€120
1 - 80 g/km	€170
81 - 100 g/km	€180
101 - 110 g/km	€190
111 - 120 g/km	€200
121 - 130 g/km	€270
131 - 140 g/km	€280
141 - 155 g/km	€390
156 - 170 g/km	€570
171 - 190 g/km	€750
191 - 225 g/km	€1,200
over 225 g/km	€2,350

VRT: the tax that surprises importers

If you bring a car in from the UK or Japan, motor tax is the small number. VRT is charged once, at registration, as a percentage of the Open Market Selling Price - Revenue’s own valuation of the car in Ireland, not the price you paid. The rate runs from 7% to 41% depending on CO2, and a NOx levy is added on top.

On an ordinary family car that is typically €2,000 to €5,000. Worth knowing before you agree a price: check the VRT for any UK or Japanese car free.

The other costs people forget

NCT: €55 for a standard test, required from 4 years old, then every 2 years until 10 years and annually after that.
VAT and customs on imports: 23% VAT and usually 10% customs on a used car from Great Britain. Add it all up here.
Registration plates: around €20-30 at the NCTS centre or a motor factor, to be displayed within 3 days.
Insurance: required before you can tax the car.

Buying an import? The annual motor tax is predictable - the VRT is not. Check the VRT first, free and in about thirty seconds.

Car tax in Ireland: what you actually pay

Annual motor tax: three systems at once

The 2026 rates in full

VRT: the tax that surprises importers

The other costs people forget

Car tax questions