Free VRT Calculator Ireland 2026 — Motorcycles, Cars & EVs
Free VRT estimate for any motorcycle, car or EV import to Ireland.
Pick Motorcycle or Car in the calculator on the right. For motorcycles, just enter the engine cc and year. For cars, select country/make/model/year or enter a UK or NI plate. We'll apply the official Revenue rates and return your VRT in seconds.
86K+
VRT Estimates Run
€214M+
Tax Estimated
±5–10%
vs NCTS Final
Why a Calculator Built for Motorcycles (Not Just Cars)
The dominant Irish VRT calculators (MotorCheck, VRT.ie, Cartell, ROS itself) are built around car logic: OMSP from a Revenue valuations database, WLTP CO₂ band, NOx levy. None of that applies to motorcycles. Motorcycles fall under VRT Category M, which uses a completely different formula based on engine cubic capacity (cc) and age — not on emissions or market value.
Run a motorcycle through a car-focused calculator and you'll either get a refusal (the database has no entry), a wildly wrong figure (the tool tries to apply car bands to a motorcycle), or a confusing screen asking for CO₂ data your motorcycle doesn't even publish.
Our calculator handles the motorcycle formula natively: enter the cc and year of first registration, get the VRT due. For cars, we apply the standard Cat A logic with full plate-decode support.
How VRT Is Calculated for Motorcycles (Category M)
Revenue's formula for motorcycles is one of the simplest in the entire VRT regime. Two steps:
The motorcycle VRT formula
Step 1 — Base VRT = (€2 × first 350 cc) + (€1 × every cc above 350)
Step 2 — Adjusted VRT = Base VRT × (1 − age reduction %)
Step 1 — Base VRT by cubic capacity
Revenue charges €2 for each of the first 350 cc, then €1 for each cc above 350. There is no OMSP, no CO₂ band, no NOx levy.
| Engine size | Base VRT calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 125 cc (e-moped class) | 125 × €2 | €250 |
| 350 cc | 350 × €2 | €700 |
| 600 cc | (350 × €2) + (250 × €1) | €950 |
| 1,000 cc | (350 × €2) + (650 × €1) | €1,350 |
| 1,800 cc (large tourer / cruiser) | (350 × €2) + (1,450 × €1) | €2,150 |
Step 2 — Age reduction
Revenue applies a reduction to the base figure based on the age of the motorcycle at the time of registration in Ireland:
| Age at registration | VRT reduction |
|---|---|
| 3 months to 1 year | 10% |
| 1 to 2 years | 20% |
| 2 to 3 years | 40% |
| 3 to 4 years | 50% |
| 4 to 5 years | 60% |
| 5 to 7 years | 70% |
| 7 to 10 years | 80% |
| 10 to 30 years | 90% |
| Over 30 years | 100% (fully exempt as a vintage vehicle) |
Worked example — 2018 BMW R1250GS (1,254 cc) imported in 2026
Base VRT = (350 × €2) + (904 × €1) = €1,604. Age at registration: 8 years → 80% reduction. Final VRT = €1,604 × 20% = €320.80.
Sample VRT for Popular Motorcycles by Brand
Base VRT for the bikes most commonly imported into Ireland — from 125 cc learner machines through mid-range twins, adventure bikes and full-fat tourers. Apply the age reduction from the previous table to get the final number: a 5-to-7-year-old bike pays 30% of base; a 10-to-30-year-old pays 10%; anything over 30 years is fully exempt.
| Brand | Model (generation) | Engine cc | Base VRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | CBR125R (2011–2017) | 125 cc | €250 |
| Yamaha | MT-03 (2016+) | 321 cc | €642 |
| Royal Enfield | Classic 350 (J-platform, 2021+) | 349 cc | €698 |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 400 (2018+) | 399 cc | €749 |
| Honda | CB500F (2013+) | 471 cc | €821 |
| Suzuki | V-Strom 650 (2004+) | 645 cc | €995 |
| Yamaha | MT-07 (2014+) | 689 cc | €1,039 |
| Triumph | Tiger 900 (2020+) | 888 cc | €1,238 |
| KTM | 890 Adventure (2021+) | 889 cc | €1,239 |
| Ducati | Monster 937 (2021+) | 937 cc | €1,287 |
| Kawasaki | Z900 (2017+) | 948 cc | €1,298 |
| Aprilia | Tuono V4 1100 (2017+) | 1,077 cc | €1,427 |
| Triumph | Bonneville T120 (2016+) | 1,200 cc | €1,550 |
| Harley-Davidson | Sportster S (Revolution Max, 2021+) | 1,252 cc | €1,602 |
| BMW | R1250GS (2019–2023) | 1,254 cc | €1,604 |
| Honda | Gold Wing (current gen, 2018+) | 1,833 cc | €2,183 |
Figures are indicative only. Base VRT is computed from the manufacturer-stated displacement for the generation listed and does not include the age reduction (which can cut the bill by 10% to 100% depending on first-registration date). Earlier generations of the same model name often had different displacements — a pre-2017 Aprilia Tuono V4 was 999 cc, an Evolution-era Harley Sportster was 883 or 1,200 cc. Always cross-check the cc on the V5C or Certificate of Conformity for the specific bike you're importing.
Revenue's binding figure is whatever the NCTS inspector calculates on the day from your paperwork. The numbers here are for budgeting and decision-making before you commit, not for the registration counter.
Trim or equipment variants within the same generation (R1250GS vs. R1250GS Adventure, Gold Wing vs. Gold Wing Tour) share the same cc and therefore the same base VRT — Cat M doesn't care about heated grips, panniers or quickshifters. The only number that moves is the age reduction at registration.
Electric Motorcycles & E-Mopeds — Verify Status Before Importing
Series production electric motorcycles, including e-mopeds (Category L1 sub-class), were exempt from VRT until 31 December 2025 under the published Revenue rate sheet. As of April 2026, no formal extension is reflected on revenue.ie — verify the current status before importing. If extended, you pay €0 VRT regardless of cc and age. If lapsed, the standard Cat M formula above applies as if the motorcycle were petrol-powered.
This is a separate scheme from the car EV reliefs (different eligibility, different expiry) — don't assume one covers the other.
VRT Categories at a Glance
For context, here is where motorcycles sit in Revenue's full VRT regime:
| Category | Vehicle type | Rate basis |
|---|---|---|
| A | Passenger cars, SUVs, minibuses ≤8 seats | CO₂ band (% of OMSP) + NOx levy |
| B | Vans ≤3.5 tonnes (N1) and motor caravans | 8% or 13.3% of OMSP based on CO₂ |
| C | Larger commercials, agricultural tractors, buses, vehicles 30+ years old | Flat €200 |
| D | Refuse carts, sweepers, fire engines, road rollers | Exempt |
| M | Motorcycles and e-mopeds (L1 to L7) | €2/cc up to 350, €1/cc beyond + age reduction |
If you're importing anything other than a motorcycle, our calculator handles it via the appropriate category logic. The motorcycle path is the one you came here for.
A Word on Cars (Category A) — Still Free, Still Here
Most VRT calculators in Ireland focus on cars. Ours does too. For cars, we apply the same official Revenue logic everyone else does — country of import (UK/NI/Japan/EU), OMSP from the Revenue valuations database, CO₂ band (7% to 41%), NOx levy on a 3-tier scale (€5/€15/€25 per mg/km).
The car VRT formula
Total VRT = (CO₂ band % × OMSP) + NOx levy
Use the Car mode in the calculator above. If you have a UK or NI plate, plate-decode mode is the most accurate. For early-stage shopping without a specific car in mind, switch to make/model/year mode. Customs duty (10%) and Irish VAT (23%) for UK and Japan imports are flagged separately so you see your full landed cost, not just the VRT.
Common Mistakes That Distort the Estimate
For motorcycles specifically:
-
1
Wrong age band selected
Revenue uses the age at the date of registration in Ireland, not the date of purchase abroad. A motorbike bought at 4.5 years and registered at 5 years 1 month moves into the next reduction band — worth checking before booking your NCTS appointment.
-
2
Vintage classification confusion
A motorbike over 30 years is fully exempt from VRT under Category M, but it still requires Irish registration through NCTS. Exempt does not mean no paperwork.
-
3
Cubic capacity rounding errors
Revenue uses the manufacturer's stated displacement to the exact cc — a 1,254 cc engine is taxed on 1,254 cc, not on a rounded 1,250. Get the exact figure from the V5C or Certificate of Conformity.
For cars, the recurring traps are the standard ones: NEDC vs WLTP CO₂ confusion (Revenue applies a published conversion at registration — for diesels, (NEDC × 1.1405) + 12.858), wrong variant selected from a manual form, and forgetting that VAT and customs duty are on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is motorcycle VRT so much lower than car VRT?
Motorcycles use Category M, based purely on engine cc and age — not on OMSP or emissions. A 600 cc motorbike pays €950 base VRT before age reduction; a typical car attracts several thousand euro because the OMSP and CO₂ band drive the calculation upward.
Does Revenue treat large displacement bikes (Harley, Goldwing) any differently?
No special treatment — the standard Cat M formula applies. For a 1,800 cc cruiser, base VRT = (350 × €2) + (1,450 × €1) = €2,150, then the age reduction. A 10-year-old example pays €430.
My motorcycle's cc isn't a round number — does Revenue round it?
No. The exact figure on the V5C or Certificate of Conformity is used. A bike rated at 1,254 cc is calculated on 1,254 cc.
Can I import a motorcycle from the UK or NI like a car?
Yes. The customs and VAT rules are the same as for cars: NI imports under the Windsor Framework are exempt from customs duty if the bike qualifies, GB imports attract 10% customs duty plus 23% VAT on top of the VRT.
Will Revenue accept my calculator printout at NCTS?
No online estimate is binding on Revenue. The figure shown is for budgeting and decision-making before purchase. The final VRT is confirmed at the NCTS inspection.
Can I save my calculation or compare two bikes?
Yes. Each estimate produces a shareable link — useful when comparing a 750 cc 2018 model against a 1,000 cc 2020 model before bidding at auction.
Do I need specific paperwork for a motorcycle?
Motorcycles register through the same NCTS process as cars and use the standard VRT registration forms — the vehicle details section captures cc, age and other Cat M-relevant data instead of CO₂ and OMSP. Confirm the current form on revenue.ie before your appointment.
What about quad bikes and trikes?
Three-wheeled motorcycles and quadricycles are also Category M (sub-classes L5 and L7) and follow the same cc + age formula. Off-road quads not used on public roads may not require VRT registration depending on use — check directly with Revenue.