Imports vs Irish-Registered Campervans

UK campervan prices are often 15–30% cheaper than equivalent Irish-registered vehicles. Even after paying VRT and post-Brexit customs duty, importing from the UK can represent a significant saving. But it's not straightforward, and there are cases where it doesn't make sense. This guide gives you the honest picture.

The price gap

The UK used campervan market is approximately ten times larger than the Irish market by volume. More supply, more competition between sellers, and a broader range of price points means that equivalent vehicles are usually cheaper in the UK than in Ireland. For a T5 campervan conversion, the gap is typically 15–30% in the UK's favour at comparable spec and mileage.

Some concrete examples of the gap (approximate, based on market research at time of writing — always verify current prices yourself):

• A 2013 VW T5 LWB with a mid-quality professional conversion, 120,000 km: Irish market asking price ~€32,000–€38,000. UK AutoTrader equivalent: ~£22,000–£26,000 (~€26,000–€31,000 at current exchange rates before import costs).
• A 2015 T5.1 with a high-spec conversion, 90,000 km: Irish market ~€40,000–€48,000. UK equivalent: ~£28,000–£33,000 (~€33,000–€39,000).

These gaps narrow when you add import costs, but for higher-value vehicles the absolute saving can still be substantial even after all costs.

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.

For motor caravans specifically, the VRT rate structure is distinct from the standard passenger car VRT (which is based on CO2 emissions). The motor caravan rate applies only if the vehicle is correctly categorised as a motor caravan — a point that matters enormously and is covered in our full VRT guide.

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, Wales) to Ireland may be subject to customs duty under EU import rules. The applicable rate is 6.5% of the vehicle's customs value (broadly: what you paid).

However, this depends on Rules of Origin under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and EU. A vehicle manufactured in the UK (or with sufficient UK content) may qualify as originating in the UK under the TCA and therefore attract 0% customs duty. VW Transporters built in Germany — which is the majority of the T5 production run — do not qualify for this 0% rate and are subject to the 6.5% duty.

Northern Ireland to Ireland: No customs duty applies. Northern Ireland remains within the EU Single Market for goods under the Windsor Framework arrangements. A vehicle imported from a Northern Irish seller to the Republic of Ireland does not cross a customs border and does not attract customs duty. Note: VRT still applies on first Irish registration.

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

UK imports are fully insurable in Ireland. The fact that a vehicle was originally registered in the UK does not prevent Irish insurers from covering it once it has an Irish registration plate. That said, there are some practical considerations:

• Some insurers add a loading for UK imports. Not all, and not all specialist campervan insurers do this, but it's worth declaring the import history when getting quotes and comparing with an equivalent Irish-registered vehicle.
• Service history in UK spec: Service records from a UK garage in miles rather than kilometres, and using UK part numbers, are entirely valid for Irish insurance purposes. There's no requirement for Irish-language or Irish-format service records.
• Specialist insurers are comfortable with imports. The Irish-facing campervan insurance brokers (who deal with the specialist end of the market) are accustomed to UK-imported campervans and generally comfortable insuring them. The issue is more likely to arise with a standard private motor insurer who isn't used to the category.

Verdict — when importing makes sense