Hi Jack,

You'll need to know/estimate two figures to help you calculate the VRT. The first is the official CO2 emissions rating in g/km. If this is according to the old 'NEDC' cycle then it will be 'uplifted' to an equivalent 'WLTP' figure by Revenue so watch out for that. Once you've got the CO2 figure, you can look up which VRT band the car falls into and the percentage VRT payable. 

The second number you need is the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). This, confusingly, is not the price you pay for the car, but the price that Revenue in Ireland believe the car is worth here. It's difficult to estimate for an older or rare car so do your research as Revenue is unlikely to give you an estimate ahead of the car being inspected on Irish shores.

By way of example, if the car you're looking at has a WLTP CO2 rating of say 137g/km, then it's in Band 14 for VRT at a rate of 20 per cent. If the OMSP is deemed to be €20,000, then the VRT payable would be 20 per cent of that - i.e. €4,000.