Electric car motor tax and NCT in Ireland
Contents
An electric car is the cheapest kind of car to tax in Ireland: a battery-electric car (BEV) sits in the lowest motor-tax band at EUR 120 a year. On the test side there is no special treatment, an EV follows exactly the same NCT schedule as any other car. Here is what to budget and when, framed for someone buying a used EV.
Motor tax
A battery-electric car is in the lowest motor-tax band in Ireland, at EUR 120 per year. That is the figure for any BEV, and it includes used cars, so the car you buy second-hand is taxed at the same EUR 120 a year as a new one.
NCT: when your EV is due
The National Car Test (NCT) is the roadworthiness test for cars in Ireland, and an electric car is tested the same as any other car. There is no EV exemption.
The schedule goes by the car's age. A car takes its first NCT once it is 4 years old. From 4 to 10 years old it is retested every 2 years. Once it is 10 to 30 years old it is tested every year.
For a used buyer that matters in a practical way: check the car's age and its last NCT before you buy, so you know whether a test is due soon and when the next one falls. A car just past a fresh NCT and one about to need its next test are not the same proposition.
When the test is due, at a glance
| What | When it applies | Frequency / amount |
|---|---|---|
| First NCT | Once the car is 4 years old | One-off, then follow the schedule below |
| NCT, 4 to 10 years old | Car aged 4 to 10 | Every 2 years |
| NCT, 10 to 30 years old | Car aged 10 to 30 | Every year |
| Motor tax | Any age, any BEV incl. used | EUR 120 per year |
Last verified: 16/06/2026
Motor-tax rates and NCT rules can change. Before you rely on any figure here, confirm the current position on the official pages: the NCTS about the test FAQ and Citizens Information's National Car Test and motor tax rates pages.
Where to go next
Tax and the NCT are only part of the running-cost picture. If you are still shortlisting, the used-EV buyer's checklist walks you through a viewing in the right order, and our guide to used EVs and Irish grants sets out which supports actually apply to a second-hand car. When you are ready to look, you can browse by area, for example used electric cars in Dublin.
Frequently asked questions
How much is motor tax on an electric car in Ireland?
A battery-electric car sits in the lowest motor-tax band at EUR 120 per year. That applies to any BEV, used cars included.
Do electric cars need an NCT?
Yes. An electric car is tested the same as any other car, with no EV exemption. The first NCT is once the car is 4 years old, then every 2 years while it is 4 to 10 years old, then every year once it is 10 to 30 years old.
When is a used EV's first NCT due?
Once the car is 4 years old. Check the car's age and its last NCT before you buy, so you know when the next test is due.