Hi everyone. I recently went through the process of importing a used EV from Northern Ireland (down to the ROI) and wanted to share my diary of the experience to help anyone looking to do the same! I have used Ai tools to track my experience and thoughts/comments throughout.

The ROI market was too pricey, so my go-to site was Usedcarsni. Because it’s a used EV, bringing it in from NI with the correct customs paperwork (under the Windsor Framework) means avoiding the 23% VAT trap and availing of the VRT exemption.

Here is the breakdown of my remote import journey.

1. Sourcing & Vetting: The 3 Dealers

I narrowed my search to three cars. I bought a 3-car bundle on vcheck to run the registrations, which completely saved me.

• Dealer 1: Turbo Cars, Newry
  • 🚩 Finance: Vcheck flagged outstanding finance. The dealer claimed it was old and a car "cannot have 2 finance agreements." Finance company has yet to reply.
  • 🚩 Inspection: Dismissed my request for an independent EV inspector, claiming there was "no need" as he is AA approved.
  • 🚩 Customs: Vaguely offered a "North-South waiver." Took a full week to confirm he actually had the required TSS/SAD document. Absolute cowboy stuff.
• Dealer 2: Donnelly Group Motorstore, Dungannon
  • 🚩 Paperwork: Quoted 2 full weeks just to process export documents, despite advertising the car as "Ideal for ROI export."
  • 🚩 Delivery: Flat-out refused to offer delivery down South.
  • 🚩 Battery Health: Admitted they don't do battery checks and seemed clueless about them. Too much hassle and risk.
• Dealer 3: iGen Autos, Magherafelt
  • ✅ Transparency: No pics online initially as car was being prepped, but upon contact, Wes immediately sent pics, videos, and the reg.
  • ✅ Clear History: Background was crystal clear with zero finance.
  • ✅ Knowledgeable: Reassuring about ROI imports. Knew exactly how to handle the UK V5C logbook (giving me the physical book rather than posting it to the DVLA).
  • ✅ Battery Proof: Provided an independent AVILOO battery health cert.
  • ✅ Accommodation: Arranged a flatbed to my driveway in Dublin and gave my inspector full access to their ramp.

2. The Independent Inspection

I wasn't going to blindly transfer £23k across the border, so I rang around for independent vehicle inspectors. Well-known companies like Gillespie and Emerald Assessors were too pricey for my needs.

Inspector	Quote
Clements	£150
Andy McNeice	£220 (Hired)
Leinster	€250
Emerald	£300

Hiring Andy was the best money I spent. He knew exactly what an EV needed:

• The Ramp & Test Drive: Checked the underbody, suspension, and driving dynamics.
• Service Mode: Accessed the computer for hidden fault codes/warnings.
• The Verdict: Mechanically sound, no software faults, and noted the dealer had just put on brand-new tyres and pristine alloys.

The Battery Health: Andy signed off on the mechanicals, and iGen Autos provided the official AVILOO Certificate. It scored a brilliant 92.2% State of Health (SoH) ("GOOD HEALTH - NO ABNORMALITIES DETECTED"). Anxiety completely removed.

3. Payment, Delivery & Insurance

• The Payment Hack: The total was £23,395. Traditional Irish banks will hammer you on exchange rates for a sum that large. I used Revolut to transfer directly to the dealer's UK account. Zero currency exchange fees, just a flat ~£30 transfer fee. Saved hundreds of Euros.
• Insurance: Surprisingly hassle-free. Called my Irish provider with the UK reg, VIN, and model. They instantly issued a 30-day temporary cover note on the UK plates. I was fully insured by 17:30, ready for the truck!
• The Handover Checklist: When the flatbed arrived, I made sure I physically held these documents before the driver left:
  1. The V5C Logbook: UK dealers instinctively post this to the DVLA. Do not let them. They must tear off the export slip for themselves and give YOU the rest. The NCTS will refuse VRT without it.
  2. TSS Customs Document: Needs the MRN and Procedure Code 4000. This is your shield against the 23% VAT border bill.
  3. "Paid in Full" Invoice: Crucial for VRT.

4. The VRT Process (NCTS)

You officially have 7 days to book an appointment once the car enters the State, and 30 days to register. The NCTS portal is notoriously backed up (2+ weeks), but I had unheard-of luck and snagged a same-day appointment!

I braced for bureaucracy, but it was a breeze:

1. The Desk: Handed over my folder (crucially: physical V5C and printed TSS Customs Document).
2. The Inspection: 10 minutes later, the inspector verified the VIN matched the V5C and checked the odometer. No mechanical check.
3. The Payment: Because of the EV VRT relief and correct NI customs paperwork, I owed exactly €0 in VRT or VAT.
4. The Grand Total: Exactly €11.20 for the Environmental Management Cost (tyre recycling fee).

They handed me my receipt with my brand-new Irish Registration Number on the spot. Easy.

Timeline Summary

• Tuesday: Deposit paid to hold car.
• Thursday: Inspection by Andy.
• Friday: Balance paid via Revolut.
• Wednesday: Car delivered on flatbed.
• Thursday: VRT appointment booked and cleared.

Edit: to add this was a GB registered car. So needed either TSS or SAD document depending on when the dealer cleared it for VAT/Customs (point of import or point of sale)