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Homologating a non-EU car in Ireland

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA)

A vehicle imported from outside the EU and not covered by a valid EU type approval needs an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) from the NSAI before it can be registered in Ireland: the vehicle is checked against Irish/EU technical requirements at an NSAI-appointed Approved Test Centre (ATC), one VIN at a time, not by type.

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The process, step by step

  1. 1
    Documentation review

    The vehicle's origin and existing paperwork are checked to confirm the IVA route applies.

  2. 2
    Booking an inspection

    An appointment is made at an NSAI-appointed Approved Test Centre (ATC).

  3. 3
    The IVA inspection

    The ATC inspects the vehicle against Irish/EU technical requirements.

  4. 4
    Modifications, if flagged

    Any non-compliant points are corrected and the vehicle is re-presented.

  5. 5
    IVA certificate and registration

    Once passed, NSAI issues the IVA certificate, needed to register the vehicle and pay Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).

Typical timeline

Varies by Approved Test Centre and vehicle. We give you a realistic estimate after reviewing your vehicle.

Cost

Cost is driven by the ATC's inspection fee and any required modifications, on top of VRT (calculated on the vehicle's value plus freight plus insurance). We quote the full picture after reviewing your specific vehicle.

Authority: NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland), with RSA oversight

Frequently asked

Is NSAI's IVA the same scheme as the UK's IVA test?

They share a name and a similar purpose, but they're separate national schemes with separate authorities (NSAI in Ireland, DVSA in the UK), so passing one doesn't automatically satisfy the other.

Does IVA cover Vehicle Registration Tax too?

No. IVA is the technical approval step. VRT is a separate tax, calculated on the vehicle's value plus freight and insurance, paid as part of registering the vehicle once IVA is granted.

Still need to source the vehicle?

HomologateMyCar handles what happens once the car is in Europe. If you haven't sourced it yet, our sister company DriveSino exports vehicles from China to Ireland and has a dedicated import guide for it.

DriveSino's Ireland import guide

Sources