Not sure how this applies to yours? Get a quote for my motorhome import and we will tell you before you spend anything.
Is a motorhome from Ireland right hand drive?
Usually, but check the one in the advert. The Road Safety Authority tells visitors that traffic in Ireland drives on the left, and it also has a page on left hand drive vehicles, so some left hand drive motorhomes are on Irish roads. A motorhome that was bought on the continent and registered in Ireland can be either.
Why it matters here: gov.uk says a vehicle registered in the EU needs a European Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer, and "if it's a left-hand drive vehicle, you'll also need a certificate of GB conversion Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA)". The £100 certificate is tied to left hand drive in that wording. What the VCA accepts for a particular right hand drive motorhome is a case by case question, so send us the model and we will ask before you pay.
What papers do you need from the seller?
Two things. DVLA asks for "the original foreign registration certificate to show when the vehicle was manufactured", and you will not get it back, so photograph both sides before it goes. Then the invoice or signed bill of sale showing the price. HMRC asks for it if you bought the motorhome in the last 6 months. If you bought it earlier, HMRC asks instead for a current valuation carried out in person in the UK by a garage, dealership or other recognised business.
The date of first registration on the certificate decides three things: whether the motorhome is over 10 years old for approval, over 3 years old for the MOT, and over 30 years old if you hope it counts as a historic vehicle.
Send us the details before you pay. We tell you what the import involves, then handle the customs, the NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.
What tax do you pay on a motorhome from Ireland?
UK import VAT is 20%, charged on the total cost of the motorhome plus accessories bought with it, delivery and extra charges, and customs duty. It is due whatever VAT was charged in Ireland: our guide on VAT already paid abroad explains why. Duty is 0% only with proof that the motorhome was made in the EU, and 10% otherwise. Where it was built decides this, not where you bought it: see our origin and duty guide. A motorhome sold in Ireland may well have been built elsewhere in Europe, so the proof of origin is worth asking for before you pay.
An Irish price is in euros, so it is converted to pounds at the exchange rate HMRC publishes each month. For October 2026 that rate is £1 = €1.1665.
Worked example: a €45,000 motorhome from Ireland with £800 transport (October 2026 rate)
| Motorhome | Duty | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| EU-made, origin proved | £0 | £7,875.39 |
| No proof of EU origin | £3,937.69 | £8,662.93 |
That is £7,875.39 of tax with proof of EU origin, and £12,600.62 without it. €45,000 is £38,576.94, and with the transport the value is £39,376.94. The £800 transport is an example, not a typical price. On top come the DVLA's £55 registration fee, the first vehicle tax and an MOT if one is needed.
Does a motorhome from Ireland need vehicle approval?
Yes if it is under 10 years old: a European Certificate of Conformity, plus the GB conversion IVA if it is left hand drive. A motorhome first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago might not need approval. Our guide to the motorhome Certificate of Conformity explains what the CoC is, and the left hand drive guide covers the conversion. We obtain the CoC for you if you need one.
Does it need an MOT?
If it is over 3 years old, yes: a test from the country you bought it in does not replace the UK MOT. Motor caravans are MOT class 4, with a maximum fee of £54.85 on gov.uk, and a motorhome built or first registered more than 40 years ago with no substantial changes is exempt. The test can be done before the motorhome has UK plates, if you drive it only to a test booked in advance.
What about Northern Ireland?
Different rules. gov.uk says you do not need an import declaration to bring a vehicle into Northern Ireland from the EU, and if you imported to Northern Ireland from the EU as a private individual you pay HMRC before you can register. That is a separate route from the one in this guide, which is about taking the motorhome to England, Scotland or Wales. If your plan involves Northern Ireland, ask us before you buy.
How is it registered once it is in the UK?
Registration comes last: the import declaration with the VAT and any duty paid, NOVA within 14 days of arrival, then approval and an MOT where the motorhome needs them. Only then does the V55/5 go to DVLA, with the original registration certificate, the £55 fee and the first vehicle tax. Allow up to 6 weeks for the V5C, which you need before number plates can be made. Using the motorhome on a public road before these steps can lead to prosecution, according to gov.uk, except on the way to an MOT or approval test booked in advance. The V55/5 guide walks through the form.
What we do for you
Send us the advert, a photo of the registration certificate and the invoice before any money changes hands, and we explain the UK side for that motorhome. Our part is the customs import declaration, the VAT and duty worked out and paid, the NOVA notification and every DVLA form prepared for you to sign and post. If the motorhome needs a Certificate of Conformity we obtain it, and we organise transport from Ireland if you want us to. Testing and modifying are not our work: a garage handles any changes and the test station carries out the test.
Quick answers
Is Ireland treated as the EU for import duty?
Yes, the Republic of Ireland is in the EU, so 0% duty is possible with proof the motorhome was made in the EU. Without proof the standard 10% applies.
Do I pay UK VAT if I paid Irish VAT?
Yes. UK import VAT of 20% is charged when the motorhome is imported, on the price plus delivery, extra charges and any duty.
Do I need the £100 GB conversion IVA for an Irish motorhome?
gov.uk asks for it for left hand drive vehicles registered in the EU. For a right hand drive motorhome, ask us before you pay, as it is decided case by case.
What exchange rate is used for a price in euros?
The monthly rate HMRC publishes, unless the contract fixes one. For October 2026 it is £1 = €1.1665.
Official sources, checked on 10 October 2026: gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/getting-vehicle-approval; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-vehicle; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/paying-vat-and-duty; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/telling-hmrc; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/making-an-import-declaration; gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees; gov.uk/historic-vehicles/vehicles-exempt-from-mot; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk; trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/8703; trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/exchange_rates.