Get your VRT statistical code in 60 seconds
Enter your UK or NI registration plate in the calculator on the right. You'll get the official 8-digit code, the OMSP Revenue will apply, and a full VRT estimate (CO₂ + NOx) — pulled from the Revenue valuations database, with no signup and no email required.
Use it before you buy. Use it before your NCTS appointment. Use it to challenge a Revenue valuation that looks too high. Most importers run two or three plates here before deciding which car to bring home.
68K+
Plates Looked Up
€47M+
VRT Estimated
98.4%
Match Rate
What Is a VRT Statistical Code?
A VRT statistical code is the unique 8-digit reference Revenue uses to identify your specific vehicle inside its valuation database. The code captures everything that affects the price of the car on the Irish market: make, model, body type, transmission, engine capacity, fuel type, version and trim variant. Each combination gets its own code, which is why two cars that look identical in a dealer's window can carry different statistical codes — and therefore different VRT bills.
The code is assigned by the Revenue Commissioners and is not something you create yourself. It is generated by the official ROS calculator when you enter your vehicle details, and it is the same code Revenue staff will use when you present the vehicle for registration. Approved third-party calculators read from the same database and return the same code.
Without the correct code, Revenue cannot apply the right OMSP, and the figure you are quoted at the NCTS centre may differ significantly from any estimate you obtained beforehand. This is the root cause of the well-known horror stories of online estimates being revised upward at registration.
Anatomy of an 8-Digit VRT Code
Most codes returned by the database look like 40287323. The numeric structure is internal to Revenue and is not designed to be human-readable, but each block of digits carries information about the vehicle category, manufacturer, model series and variant. You don't need to decode the digits yourself; you only need to make sure the code matches the exact specification of the car you are importing.
Why this matters: if your import is a 2.0 TDI but you accidentally select the 1.6 TDI variant in the calculator, the code returned will be wrong, the OMSP will be wrong, and the VRT estimate will be wrong. Selecting the wrong variant is one of the most common reasons a Revenue figure at NCTS comes back higher than the online estimate.
4 Ways to Find Your VRT Statistical Code
Three methods are free and instant. The fourth is reserved for vehicles that fall outside the standard Revenue database. Use the table to pick yours, then jump to the matching section for the procedure.
| Method | Source | Free | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROS official calculator | Revenue.ie / ROS.ie | ~2 min | Standard cars already in the Revenue database | |
| Third-party calculators | VRT.ie, MotorCheck.ie, MyVehicle.ie | ~30 sec | Quick estimates from a UK/NI plate | |
| Direct contact with Revenue | revenue.ie/contact | 5–10 days | Vehicles not in the online database | |
| Form VRT Estimate (PDF) | Revenue download form | 7–14 days | Rare, prestige or pre-2000 models requiring manual valuation |
Method 1 — ROS Official Calculator (Step by Step)
The Revenue calculator at ros.ie/evrt-enquiry is the authoritative source. Procedure:
- Open the calculator (no login required).
- Select the year and month of first registration in any jurisdiction.
- Choose the EU classification, make, model, version, transmission, body type, number of doors and engine type from the cascading dropdowns.
- Enter the engine capacity, WLTP CO₂ emissions and NOx emissions in mg/km.
- Submit. The 8-digit code, OMSP and estimated VRT due will be displayed and can be printed.
If you can't complete every dropdown because the exact variant isn't listed, switch to Method 3 or Method 4. Don't select the closest match — this is precisely how incorrect codes are generated.
Method 2 — Third-Party VRT Calculators
Operators including VRT.ie, MotorCheck.ie and MyVehicle.ie present a faster, plate-driven interface. You enter a UK or NI registration number and a current mileage; the tool decodes the vehicle automatically and returns the code, the OMSP and the VRT estimate within seconds. Useful when you're still shopping and want to compare several candidate cars without manually re-entering specifications each time. The conversion of plate into specification removes the most common source of user error.
Method 3 — Contact Revenue Directly
If your vehicle isn't listed in the calculator, request a manual valuation from your local Central Vehicle Office. Revenue will research the make and model using UK and Irish trade guides, manufacturer data and comparable advertisements, then issue a bespoke code. The full procedure is set out in the Revenue VRT Procedures Manual. This route is appropriate for vehicles you have already imported but not yet registered.
Method 4 — Form VRT Estimate for Special Vehicles
Revenue publishes a downloadable Form VRT Estimate (PDF) for makes that aren't commonly distributed in Ireland. Complete it with the vehicle specification, supporting documents and your contact details, then submit it to the Central Vehicle Office. This is the right path if you're considering an unusual import and want an indicative figure before you commit to the purchase.
Vehicles Excluded From the Online Database
Several categories are deliberately excluded from the auto-valuation system because they require individual assessment:
For all of these, your only options are Method 3 or Method 4 above. Revenue staff will not provide an estimate over the phone or by email beforehand. If you need a working figure for budgeting, base it on a similar vehicle that is in the database, with a margin of error of plus or minus 15%.
How the Code Translates Into a Final VRT Bill
Once you have the correct code, the rest is mechanical. Revenue applies a CO₂-based percentage to the OMSP and adds a separate NOx levy. CO₂ component + NOx levy = total VRT due.
The CO₂ percentage is determined by your vehicle's WLTP-rated emissions and ranges from 7% (≤50 g/km) to 41% (>190 g/km), spread across 20 bands. The NOx levy is calculated on a banded scale: €5 per mg/km for the first 40 mg, €15 per mg for the next 40 mg (41–80), and €25 per mg above 80. Both tables are published on revenue.ie and reviewed in each Finance Act.
Worked Example — 2019 BMW 320d M Sport Imported From the UK
A real importer scenario we frequently see. The figures below apply the official Revenue rates in force (Category A CO₂ table since 1 January 2022; NOx schedule current at April 2026) to a representative 2019 BMW 320d M Sport imported from England.
Vehicle inputs
| Make / model | BMW 320d M Sport (G20) |
| First registration | March 2019, United Kingdom |
| Body / transmission | 4-door saloon, automatic |
| OMSP determined by Revenue | €19,200 |
| WLTP CO₂ | 142 g/km |
| NOx | 38 mg/km |
Calculation
| CO₂ band: >140 up to 145 g/km | 21.5% |
| CO₂ component: 21.5% × €19,200 | €4,128 |
| NOx levy: 38 mg × €5 (first band) | €190 |
| Total VRT due | €4,318 |
Reading the result. The CO₂ component dominates — just over 95% of the total bill — which is typical for any diesel sitting between 130 and 150 g/km. Push the same car one band higher (above 145 g/km) and the rate jumps from 21.5% to 25%, adding roughly €670 to the bill on this OMSP. This is exactly why the variant matters: an M Sport with larger wheels can cross the band threshold versus the standard SE specification.
Cross-check on your own car. Run your registration through the calculator above to get your real OMSP and emissions, then plug them into the same formula: (CO₂ band % × OMSP) + (NOx mg × applicable band rate) = total VRT. For a NOx figure above 40 mg/km, split the calculation across the bands — for example 90 mg/km is calculated as (40 × €5) + (40 × €15) + (10 × €25) = €1,050.
If your real registration figure differs from this method by more than 5–10%, the variance almost always traces back to the wrong CO₂ figure (NEDC submitted instead of WLTP), unrecorded chargeable enhancements, or a wrong variant selection in the calculator.
Common Mistakes That Cost Importers Hundreds of Euro
Most VRT surprises at the NCTS counter are not the result of Revenue overcharging — they are avoidable mistakes made during the pre-registration calculation. These five errors account for the majority of disputes.
-
1
Selecting the wrong variant.
The single most expensive mistake. Two cars with the same model name can differ by €1,500–€3,000 in VRT depending on engine size, transmission and trim. Always cross-check the V5C (UK logbook) against the dropdown.
-
2
Ignoring chargeable enhancements.
Factory-fitted options that weren't standard on the Irish-spec equivalent (leather, panoramic roof, larger alloys, premium audio) are added to the OMSP by Revenue. Build a conservative buffer.
-
3
Using NEDC instead of WLTP CO₂.
NEDC figures are systematically lower. For diesels, Revenue applies the conversion (NEDC × 1.1405) + 12.858 to derive the WLTP-equivalent figure used to assign the band. Submit the WLTP value directly from the Certificate of Conformity wherever possible.
-
4
Forgetting the NOx levy.
Shown separately on the calculator output and sometimes overlooked when budgeting. For older diesels above the 80 mg/km bracket it can add several hundred euro on its own.
-
5
Treating the estimate as the final price.
The output is an estimate, not a binding quotation. Revenue only confirms the final figure at physical inspection. Build a 5–10% contingency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about VRT statistical codes and the Revenue valuations database.
Is the VRT statistical code free?
Yes. The ROS calculator and the major third-party tools (VRT.ie, MotorCheck.ie, MyVehicle.ie) all return the code at no cost. You only pay if you choose a premium vehicle history report on top.
Is there a PDF list of all VRT statistical codes?
Revenue does not publish a complete public list. Codes are generated on demand because each one is tied to a specific OMSP that is reviewed regularly. Download our short reference sheet of the 100 most-imported models for a quick lookup.
What if the code I get differs from the one Revenue applies at NCTS?
Ask the Revenue officer to explain the discrepancy on the day. Most cases trace back to a wrong variant selection, or to a database update between your calculation and your appointment.
How often is the Revenue valuations database updated?
On a rolling basis throughout the year, with more substantial revisions following each Finance Act. New makes and models are added as they are presented for registration in Ireland. A code returned today may show a slightly different OMSP a few weeks from now.
Can I appeal the OMSP if I think it's too high?
Yes. You must first pay the VRT amount calculated at registration, then submit an appeal to Revenue with supporting evidence (private sale advertisements, dealer listings of comparable Irish vehicles). If the internal review does not resolve it, the appeal can be escalated to the Tax Appeals Commission.
Will I need the code for insurance or motor tax?
The code itself isn't usually requested by insurers or by the motor tax office, but the underlying CO₂ figure (which the code locks in) feeds directly into your motor tax band. A wrong code today means a wrong motor tax bracket for the life of the car.
How accurate is the final VRT vs the estimate?
For vehicles correctly identified in the database, expect the final figure to land within 3–5% of the estimate. Larger gaps almost always indicate a wrong variant selection, an unaccounted-for option, or NEDC CO₂ submitted in place of WLTP.
Does the calculator work for vehicles still in the UK or NI?
Yes — that's the point. The whole purpose of looking up a code before importing is to know what you'll pay before you commit to the purchase.
In Summary
The VRT statistical code is the 8-digit reference Revenue uses to identify your vehicle in its valuation database. The right code yields the right OMSP, the right CO₂ band, and a VRT estimate within 3–5% of what you'll be charged at the NCTS counter.
Look up your code in the calculator above before you commit to a UK or NI plate. Cross-check the variant against the V5C, use the WLTP CO₂ figure (not NEDC), and don't forget the NOx levy.
For anything outside the standard database — motorhomes, classics, kit cars, low-volume prestige imports — go straight to Method 3 or Method 4 and request a manual valuation from Revenue.