UK Import Car Check Ireland

Is an imported car a bad buy?

No. Importing from the UK is common in Ireland, and an import isn't a fault in itself. Many imported cars are well looked after and good value. An import simply means part of the car's story happened somewhere else, so it's worth a closer look.

What's different about imports

Irish records may not include everything that happened to the car before it arrived. Service history, past keepers and earlier problems may be recorded in the UK rather than here. That makes checking the records that are available even more worthwhile.

How to spot an imported car

• The registration year doesn't match how old the car looks
• The odometer reads in miles rather than kilometres
• The service book or stamps come from UK garages
• Our free check shows an import marker

Things to ask the seller

• "When did the car come into Ireland, and who imported it?"
• "Do you have the UK service history and paperwork?"
• "Was VRT paid when it was registered here?"
• "Is the odometer in miles or kilometres?"

Mileage on imported cars

Because UK cars usually show miles and Irish cars show kilometres, readings can look odd when they're compared. Make sure you know which unit each reading uses before deciding whether something is wrong.

How to check a UK import

Enter the registration above. The free check confirms the car's identity and shows if it's marked as imported. The full report for €29.99 then shows available finance, write-off and mileage records.