UK vs Ireland Car Tax Calculator

Compare the annual road tax cost of keeping a car in the UK (VED) against running it in Ireland (motor tax) — the recurring cost side of the import decision.

This Covers Road Tax Only

This tool compares recurring annual road tax (UK VED vs Irish motor tax) — not the once-off cost of importing. For VRT, customs duty and VAT, see our Customs, VAT & VRT Calculator.

Annual Road Tax: UK vs Ireland

£

Used for the UK expensive-car supplement threshold.

Figures shown in native currency (GBP/EUR) — not converted, since a currency conversion would add an exchange-rate assumption on top of the tax figures. This compares recurring annual road tax only; VRT, customs duty and VAT on import are separate — see our Customs, VAT & VRT Calculator for those.

How Each System Works

🇬🇧 UK VED (cars registered 2017+)

  • High first-year rate based on CO₂ (£10 to £5,690)
  • Flat £200/year standard rate from year 2
  • +£440/year supplement, years 2-6, if list price exceeds £40,000 (£50,000 for EVs)

🇮🇪 Irish Motor Tax

  • Same CO₂ band rate charged every year (€120 to €2,400)
  • No first-year premium, no flat-rate simplification
  • No list-price-based supplement

UK VED figures sourced from gov.uk vehicle tax rate tables. Irish motor tax figures per our Motor Tax Calculator. Confirm exact figures for your vehicle on gov.uk and motortax.ie.

Related Calculators

Customs, VAT & VRT Calculator

The once-off cost of importing a car from the UK.

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Import Car VRT Calculator

Full import scenarios: UK, EU and Japan.

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Motor Tax Calculator

Irish annual motor tax by cc or CO2 band.

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UK Car Import VRT Guide

Post-Brexit rules for importing UK vehicles.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between UK VED and Irish motor tax?

Both are recurring annual road taxes, but they're structured differently. UK VED has a high first-year rate based on CO2, then a flat standard rate (plus a supplement for cars over £40,000) from year two. Irish motor tax uses a CO2 band table every year, with no flat-rate simplification and no price-based supplement.

Does this calculator include VRT or import costs?

No — this tool compares only the recurring annual road tax (UK VED vs Irish motor tax). VRT (the once-off Irish registration tax) and UK-side customs duty/VAT on import are separate costs, covered by our Customs, VAT & VRT Calculator and Import Car VRT Calculator.

What is the UK's 'expensive car supplement'?

Cars with a list price over £40,000 (petrol/diesel) or £50,000 (electric) pay an extra £440 per year on top of the standard VED rate, for the first 5 years after the car's first year of registration.

Do electric cars still pay UK VED?

As of April 2025, electric vehicles registered from 1 April 2025 onward no longer receive the previous VED exemption and pay the same rates as other vehicles (the lowest first-year band, then the standard rate). Electric vehicles registered before that date may still be exempt — check your specific registration date.

Why are the figures shown in different currencies instead of converted?

Converting GBP to EUR would add a live exchange-rate assumption on top of the tax figures, which drifts out of date immediately. We show each country's tax in its own currency so the numbers stay accurate regardless of exchange rate movement.

Why does Irish motor tax not change after year one, but UK VED does?

UK VED intentionally front-loads cost into the first year to price in emissions at the point of registration, then flattens out. Irish motor tax charges the same CO2-based rate every single year for the life of the car — there's no year-one premium or later flat rate.