Guide · updated 28 August 2026
VRT booking: getting an NCTS appointment without losing money
Two deadlines matter and people mix them up: you have 7 days from arrival to book the inspection, and 30 days to complete registration. The penalty for missing the second is 0.1% of the VRT per day, and the car can be seized. The booking itself is free - what costs money is turning up unprepared.
Before the car arrives: know the VRT
The one thing you cannot change at the centre is the tax. Calculate it in advance so the number at the desk is not a surprise, and so you can spot it if the inspector picks the wrong version.
Day of arrival: start the clock
Keep the ferry ticket or shipping document. The arrival date starts both deadlines - 7 days to book, 30 days to register - and it is the first thing Revenue asks about if anything goes wrong.
Within 7 days: book at ncts.ie
You need the VIN. If your local centre is full, widen the search to neighbouring counties: a two-hour drive beats a penalty. Save the confirmation email as proof of when you booked.
Chase a cancellation
Slots free up daily, usually first thing in the morning. Checking ncts.ie at 8am for a few days is the cheapest way to move a three-week wait down to a few days.
Gather the paperwork
Foreign registration certificate, purchase invoice, ID, proof of address, PPS number, VRTVPD2 form, customs reference for GB imports, and the NOx figure in writing. Missing one item means a wasted appointment and a lost slot.
At the centre
The inspector confirms the car matches the declared version, records the mileage, and the VRT is calculated. You pay there, get your registration number, and buy plates on site or from any motor factor.
Within 3 days: plates, then tax and insurance
Display the Irish plates, tax the car at motortax.ie using the RF100 form, update the insurance, and book an NCT if the car is 4 years or older.
The mistake that costs the most
Arriving without written evidence of the NOx figure. Revenue then applies the flat maximum - €600 for a petrol or hybrid car, €4,850 for a diesel - and getting it corrected afterwards means an appeal. The figure is on the V5C at item V.3, on the certificate of conformity, or on the Japanese export certificate. Print it.
Before you book: know what you will be asked to pay. Check the VRT for your car - free, no sign-up. The full process and document list is in our VRT booking page.