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What to do if you are taking a vehicle into Ireland temporarily
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If you don't live in Ireland then https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/guide-to-vrt/reliefs-and-exemptions/temporary-exemption.aspx can grant your vehicle from the requirement to register in Ireland if the vehicle is:
- both taxed and registered abroad
- owned or registered abroad by a person established outside the State
- not disposed of or hired out or lent to a person established in the State
- not driven by a person established in the State except with the permission of Revenue
- not used for the carriage of person for reward within the State, in cases of a passenger car or motorcycle
and
- not used to transport goods for business purposes, in cases of a passenger car or motorcycle
If you qualify, you do not need to apply for a temporary exemption that does not exceed 12 months.
But you need to carry the documents that show you qualify with you in the vehicle. These must be presented if requested by a Revenue official at a checkpoint.
If you intend to avail of exemption for over 12 months you must apply at a Revenue office.
However, this does not apply to a passenger car or motorcycle:
- if you are student studying in an Irish college or university
or
- if you permanently live outside of Ireland and only travel to and from work in the State.
A car or motorcycle belonging to a car rental company established outside the State may:
Vehicles driven by Irish residents are generally required to be registered. However, you may apply for temporary exemption if you are:
- employed by an employer established and trading in another member s
or
- self-employed and you have a business that is principally trading in another Member State.
