Calculating Vehicle Registration Tax
Electric and hybrid vehicles
Different levels of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) reductions apply to these vehicle types:
- Hybrid electric on first registration: a vehicle powered from a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor
- Plug-in hybrid electric on first registration: a hybrid with a battery that can be charged by being plugged in to the electricity grid
- Electric vehicles, including motorcycles: vehicles that are powered exclusively from a battery.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid
Up until 31 December 2019 the following qualify for a remission or repayment of VRT:
- Passenger cars or commercials (VRT categories A and B) that are hybrid electric vehicles
- Passenger cars or commercials (VRT categories A and B) that are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
To qualify, it must be the first Irish registration and the vehicle must be part of a series.
The following table sets out the remission or repayment amount based on the age of the vehicle being first registered.
Remission or repayment amount based on the age of the vehicle being first registered
| Age of hybrid electric vehicle | Maximum amount which may be remitted or repaid (hybrid electric) | Maximum amount which may be remitted or repaid (plug-in hybrid electric) |
|---|
| New vehicle, first registration |
€1,500 |
€2,500 |
| Not a new vehicle, but less than 2 years |
€1,350 |
€2,250 |
| 2 years or over, but less than 3 years |
€1,200 |
€2,000 |
| 3 years or over, but less than 4 years |
€1,050 |
€1,750 |
| 4 years or over, but less than 5 years |
€900 |
€1,500 |
| 5 years or over, but less than 6 years |
€750 |
€1,250 |
| 6 years or over, but less than 7 years |
€600 |
€1,000 |
| 7 years or over, but less than 8 years |
€450 |
€750 |
| 8 years or over, but less than 9 years |
€300 |
€500 |
| 9 years or over, but less than 10 years |
€150 |
€250 |
| 10 years or over |
Nil |
Nil |
Electric vehicles and motorcycles
Series production passenger cars or commercial vehicles (VRT categories A and B) that are:
- powered only by an electric motor
- and
- registered before 31 December 2021
are eligible for relief from VRT up to a maximum amount of €5,000.
Series production electric motorcycles are exempt from VRT until 31 December 2021.