An advertised UK campervan can look cheaper than an Irish-registered equivalent, but the sticker-price gap is not the saving. VRT, import VAT, possible Customs Duty, transport, inspection, documentation risk and the time before Irish registration all belong in the comparison. This guide was checked against Revenue guidance on 29 August 2026 and shows how to compare an exact vehicle's landed cost without assuming an import will be cheaper.
Start with the purchase price, then add transport, import VAT, any Customs Duty, VRT, registration costs and a contingency for documentation or valuation issues.
A GB-origin vehicle may attract import VAT and Customs Duty. An NI purchase avoids those charges only where the vehicle's history meets Revenue's conditions and the evidence is available.
Vehicle Registration Tax is charged on all vehicles registered in Ireland for the first time. Based on OMSP (Revenue's own valuation), not what you paid. Motor caravans have a specific VRT rate structure.
UK vehicles are right-hand drive — correctly oriented for Irish roads (left-hand traffic). No steering conversion needed. Minor overtaking visibility limitation on rural single-lane roads.
The price gap
There is no dependable generic percentage saving. Asking prices, condition, conversion quality, exchange rate, transport, tax treatment and Revenue's OMSP assessment can move the result in either direction. Compare a real Irish alternative and the exact imported vehicle on the same written cost sheet.
Use the seller's registration number, VIN, foreign registration document, purchase price and location. Then price transport, customs declaration, import VAT or duty where applicable, VRT, registration charges, insurance and an evidence contingency. Do this before sending a deposit.
Get the registration number, run the Revenue VRT estimator, ask for a photo of the V5C category, and check whether the seller can document any conversion work. Then compare the seller's detail against the fields used on our sample listings. If the paperwork is vague at the shortlist stage, it usually gets worse when money is involved.
What drives the Irish premium
The Irish market commands a premium for several structural reasons:
- VRT already paid: Irish-registered vehicles have already been through the VRT process. The seller's asking price incorporates this sunk cost — and sellers typically factor their original VRT payment into the price.
- Smaller supply: The Irish used campervan market is significantly smaller than the UK's, which means less price competition between sellers and a higher floor on asking prices.
- Strong demand: Campervanning as a recreational activity has grown substantially in Ireland since 2020. Demand for used conversion campervans consistently outstrips supply on the Irish market.
- Currency and exchange risk: When sterling is weak against the euro, UK imports become better value; when sterling is strong, the gap narrows. Exchange rate movements affect the economics of any specific import.
VRT — the biggest import cost
VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) is the most significant cost in importing a campervan to Ireland from the UK. It is calculated based on Revenue's own valuation of the vehicle — the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) — not what you actually paid. Revenue determines this independently, using their own database of market values.
Motor caravans are within VRT Category B only when the exact vehicle meets Revenue's classification. Revenue says Category B is calculated by CO2 emissions since 1 July 2025. Check the current classification and rate for the exact vehicle; see our full VRT guide for the evidence checklist.
Key points:
- Use the Revenue VRT estimator (vrt.revenue.ie) before committing to any UK purchase. Enter the UK registration plate and get Revenue's estimated VRT liability. This is an estimate, not a guarantee — the final assessment at the NCTS appointment may differ — but it's a reliable guide to ballpark cost.
- The OMSP may not match what you paid. If you buy a T5 campervan in the UK for £20,000 and Revenue's OMSP for a comparable vehicle is £24,000, VRT is calculated on the £24,000 figure. You can contest the OMSP assessment, but this takes time.
- Motor caravan vs panel van classification matters. A converted T5 that Revenue classifies as a panel van (commercial vehicle) will attract different VRT rates than one classified as a motor caravan. The classification depends on how the vehicle is documented — see the VRT guide for the full detail.
Post-Brexit customs duty
Since 1 January 2021, vehicles imported from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are imports from outside the EU. Revenue's current guidance says private imports are subject to import VAT at the standard rate on the customs value, and Customs Duty may also apply. Revenue's worked guidance notes that 10% duty applies to most vehicles imported from the UK, but origin and the vehicle's exact treatment can change the result.
Zero-duty treatment can depend on preferential origin and the evidence supplied. Do not infer origin from the seller's location, registration plate or brand. Ask a customs agent or Revenue to confirm the likely treatment from the VIN, manufacturing origin and supporting paperwork before you buy.
Northern Ireland to Ireland: Do not assume every NI sale is free of import VAT and Customs Duty. Revenue says no additional import VAT or duty is due where the vehicle was in NI before 1 January 2021 and remained there, or was imported to NI in accordance with the Windsor Framework. A vehicle with earlier GB history needs evidence; without it, Revenue may treat the registration like a GB import. VRT still applies on first registration in the State.
Always verify current duty rates and Rules of Origin rules with Revenue.ie directly, as these can change.
Right-hand drive in Ireland
Ireland drives on the left, the same as the UK. This means a UK right-hand drive (RHD) vehicle is correctly configured for Irish roads — the driver sits on the side closer to the centreline, which is correct for left-hand traffic. No steering conversion is required or typically desirable.
The one practical disadvantage of RHD on Irish roads: overtaking on narrow single-lane country roads (the N-road level and below) requires more judgement because the driver's sightline to oncoming traffic is slightly less clear than in a left-hand drive vehicle. For most drivers on most roads, this is a minor consideration. For drivers who regularly use very narrow rural roads — common on scenic routes like Beara, Dingle, and parts of Connemara — it's worth being aware of.
Insurance impact
Ask an insurer for a quote before you buy and disclose the vehicle's import and conversion history. Cover, valuation, evidence requirements and exclusions are insurer- and vehicle-specific.
- Declare the history: provide the insurer with the registration, prior country, conversion information and intended use.
- Keep the evidence: retain the V5C or equivalent, invoices, import declaration, VRT documents and service history.
- Compare like for like: assess excess, agreed value, breakdown cover and modification exclusions as well as the premium.
| Factor | Irish-registered | UK import (from GB) | UK import (from NI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Compare a current equivalent | Compare the exact vehicle and exchange rate | Compare the exact vehicle and provenance |
| VRT on import | Already paid (in price) | Payable on registration | Payable on registration |
| Import VAT / Customs Duty | N/A | Import VAT applies to private GB imports; duty may apply, commonly 10% for vehicles unless origin relief is established | May be avoided only when Revenue's NI-history conditions and evidence are satisfied |
| NCTS inspection | N/A (if already NCT'd) | Required before Irish registration | Required before Irish registration |
| Steering orientation | RHD or LHD depending on origin | RHD (correct for Irish roads) | RHD (correct for Irish roads) |
| Insurance | Standard | May have import loading from some insurers | May have import loading from some insurers |
Verdict — when importing makes sense
When the written landed-cost sheet is favourable: importing can make sense when the exact vehicle's confirmed total, documentation and registration timetable compare well with a genuine Irish equivalent. Do not substitute a generic percentage saving for that calculation.
Specific specification that's rare on the Irish market: If you're looking for a particular spec, year, colour, or conversion type that has limited availability in Ireland, the UK's larger market gives you far more options.
Patience for the process: Importing takes time — typically 4–8 weeks from UK purchase to Irish plates. If you need a vehicle immediately, buy Irish-registered.
When importing is not worth it: where tax treatment or provenance is uncertain, the landed-cost sheet is not clearly favourable, the registration timetable does not suit, or the seller cannot supply vehicle-specific evidence. Northern Ireland status needs proof; it is not established by the seller's address alone.
Read Revenue's GB and NI import guidance, its GB registration requirements and its NCTS procedure before buying. This is an independent planning guide, not tax, customs or legal advice.