Taking a motor vehicle to Ireland couldn't be easier with regular ferrys leaving from Fish Guard, Holyhead, Fleetwood and Stranraer. Once the vehicle arrives in Ireland you will need to make sure you have the following documents :

•  Vehicle Registration Certificate / Export Certificate

•  Current drivers licence

•  Invoice relating to the purchase of the vehicle

•  Sailing ticket or other relevant documents

Next step is to contact the Revenue Vehicle Registration Office ( VRO ) who will arrange to inspect your vehicle and have you fill out a VRT4 form. They will then calculate the amount of Vehicle Registration tax (VRT) you need to pay which must be done within 1 day of the vehicle entering Ireland .

Once the VRT has been paid you will be given a receipt for the VRT payment showing the registration assigned to your vehicle you must then display your new registration number within 3 days an RF100 form must then be completed to apply for your Irish road tax so that you can legally drive on Irish roads. Once this is completed you will receive your new Irish registration certificate.

If you wish to import a vehicle, you have to be a permanent resident or own property in Spain or acquire a rental agreement for a year and hold a Spanish driving license. After 6 months you are considered a resident which requires you to pay import tax and re-register your vehicle.

Import tax differs according to engine cc. However once you become a resident, you can register without paying the 12% registration tax.
Non-residents can keep the vehicle only for six months in a year, with permission renewable yearly. Non-residents from the European Union have to pay 12 % Impuesto Especial if they become residents. They have to get the full national plates. Non-residents from outside the European Union who become residents do not have to pay this Impuesto Especial. A Spanish resident who brings a car with registration from a foreign number plate has to change the status within 30 days.

Spanish Registration

Re-registration of car in Spain can be a very costly exercise due to the fiscal charges. If you register a vehicle in Spain without owning it for 6 months, i.e. your name has not been on the registration document for at least 6 months, you have to pay the following duty:- Up to 2000cc - 7%, Over 2000cc - 12%. As you probably know, if you purchase a Spanish registered car from a private individual you also pay a 4% transfer fee.

To abide by Spanish law car, the car must be registered within 6 months of permanent residency.
If this vehicle is registered in the UK in your personal name and address corresponding to details on your V5 and you have owned the vehicle for a minium of 6 months when relocating to spain you may be able to bring this vehicle in as your personal affects Tax Free (Check with your local registration authorities).

Cyprus

Non-Cypriot citizens who permanent relocate in Cyprus and do not exercise a profession or occupation of any sort are entitled to purchase a duty free car. They are not entitled to motorcycles or other types of motor vehicles.  Those who are entitled to a duty free vehicle, will receive relief on all of the duty, but not the VAT, which is payable.
The applicant must have taken up residence in Cyprus and not exercise a profession or occupation of any sort.  Relief is granted for one vehicle only per person.  The vehicle shall be imported into Cyprus within a reasonable time period from the time that the application is approved.  VAT is paid to Customs according to the value of the motor vehicle at the time of clearance.

Immediately after the vehicle is cleared from customs, the entitled person must register it with the Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles.  The vehicle shall be driven by the entitled person and his/her dependents.  The vehicle cannot be sold, lent, pledged, hired, exported, transferred or disposed of in any other way without the prior approval of the Director of Customs.

Should you wish to bring your car to Cyprus , you will need to contact your local shipping agency to arrange the transportation of your car and clearance from the port.  This process will take anywhere between 12 days to 1 month.  The service runs from Southampton to Limassol If you wish, your car can be transported in a container along with your household goods.

Once your car arrives at Limassol port in Cyprus , your clearing agent will contact you to arrange a suitable time for them to accompany you to the port, to clear the car with all the relevant documents.  These include your passport, driving license, vehicle registration or logbook, a valid tax disc (for at least 6 months), valid insurance (for at least 6 months), the loading list receipt and documents that give proof of your country of normal residence.  Your clearing agent will take care of everything while you wait, for a fee of around CYP 200.00 (includes port and clearance charges).

All cars will be inspected for engine and chassis numbers to ensure that no stolen cars have entered Cyprus .  Before your car is cleared you will be required to sign a declaration in the presence of a customs officer stating that you have resided outside the Republic of Cyprus for 12 consecutive months prior to your move here and that you intend to become permanently established in Cyprus .  In order for Customs and Excise to grant the relief for payment of duty, you will need to have owned and used the vehicle in your place of normal residence for at least 6 months prior to moving to Cyprus .

Each person may transfer only one vehicle, and the person making a transfer must hold a valid driving license. The vehicle may not be sold, placed for sale, hired out or loaned without payment, without the prior approval of the Director of the Department of Customs and Excise.

Once your car has been cleared, the Department of Customs and Excise will issue a C104A form for a temporary period (which can vary) to enable you to then complete the appropriate documents and register your vehicle on Cypriot plates.  The maximum temporary period can be extended to 6 months from date of entry.  All private motor vehicles and motorcycles of EU citizens intending to become established in Cyprus are subject to excise duties when the engine size exceeds 100 cc.  Those retiring to Cyprus , or applying for a permanent residence permit are not required to pay excise duty, provided that the Department of Customs and Excise approves this.  In which case, you will be allowed to extend the grace period until all the relevant paperwork is completed.  Excise duty is calculated on the cc of your engine and approximate costs for a 1400cc engine are CYP 700.00.

After you have paid your excise duty, you should contact the Road Traffic Department for information about the provisions on vehicle registration tax and road tax.  These will vary according to your engine size.  In order to be registered in Cyprus , a vehicle being transferred by a European citizen must be given a technical inspection (MOT) before undergoing a relevant inspection by a state technical inspection centre.  When the vehicle has passed both of the technical inspections it can be registered in accordance with the relevant legislation.  Registration costs vary between 0.1-0.6 cents per cc depending on the size of your engine.


Malta

Your used car may be able to be imported free of duty if imported within six months of your arrival in Malta . In such cases import licences are not required.

One private motor-vehicle may be imported free of duty provided:

• it has been in your possession for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the issue of the said residence permit;
• all charges due thereon have been paid prior to the vehicle's arrival in Malta , and
• it is imported within six months of either your arrival in Malta , or of the issue-date of your residence permit (whichever date is the later)