You cannot apply online for  the recognition certificate, as the original or certified true copy of the out-of-state roadworthiness certificate must be included with the application. 

We can’t process an application for a roadworthiness recognition certificate without the original or certified true copy of the out-of-state roadworthiness certificate. If you don’t have a copy, you should contact the seller of the vehicle and ask them to send the original out-of-state certificate to you.

When we receive your application we will:

If your application does not meet any of the criteria listed above, we’ll return it to you outlining the reasons why your application was unsuccessful. 

 

If your application is successful, we’ll send an Irish EU recognition certificate by post to the current registered owner of the vehicle. 

 

Your EU recognition certificate has a detachable disc that you are legally obliged to display on your vehicle as evidence that the EU roadworthiness certificate for the vehicle concerned has been recognised in Ireland. The disc must be displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle, or in the case of a goods trailer as close as possible to the registration plate or where it can be easily inspected.

 

When you receive your certificate you should also note its expiry date, as this is now your vehicle test due date. You will be required to present your vehicle for its first roadworthiness test in Ireland on or before this date.

See below for an example of what an EU recognition certificate looks like. 

It is important to note that an EU recognition certificate is not the same as a CRW. A recognition certificate is simply a certificate which recognises the unexpired portion of a roadworthiness certificate from another member state. It means that your vehicle’s roadworthiness test was conducted in the EU member state from which it was imported and not by an authorised commercial vehicle testing centre in Ireland. 

 

A CRW or an EU recognition certificate should never be regarded as a warranty for your vehicle. Therefore, should you be considering purchasing a used commercial vehicle​, either in Ireland or from another EU member state, you should have it independently checked by a qualified mechanic before you purchase it. This should provide some assurance that it is roadworthy at the time of purchase.