Importing a UK vehicle to Ireland for hangar runs VRT and paperwork

[Meira Adams]

Stepping slightly off-topic here, but I figured someone in the community might have run into this before and could share some advice on importing a UK-registered vehicle into Ireland for utility use (mainly runs to the hangar and towing a small trailer with parts for the A600 build).
Context: My old Nissan Navara is on its last legs, and the UK market currently offers better deals on light diesel utility vehicles than Ireland (post-Brexit pricing and fleet turnover). I'm looking at a 2021 Ford Ranger from a UK dealer, around £18,000.
I'm trying to get a realistic estimate of the total import cost. As far as I understand, the main expense categories are:

• VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax), calculated based on the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) and vehicle category;
  
• VAT and potentially Customs Duties for UK imports;
  
• NOx levy for diesel engines.
  

Regarding VRT, I initially assumed an N1-registered pickup might qualify for a flat rate, but it seems most light commercial vehicles are actually taxed as a percentage of the OMSP unless they strictly meet specific criteria. The final bill could end up significantly higher depending on how Revenue classifies it.
I know the official figure is only provided after the physical inspection, so I'm being cautious with estimates.
A few questions for anyone who has imported a UK vehicle into Ireland (or elsewhere in the EU):

1. Did you use a customs broker or handle the declarations yourself? Post-Brexit paperwork seems to be the biggest bottleneck.
   
2. How long did it take to get an appointment for the VRT inspection?
   
3. Are there any issues securing (or keeping) the N1 classification for a pickup like the Ranger? Does Revenue inspect seating configurations closely?
   

Any real-world feedback would be greatly appreciated. I'll make sure to document the process here if I go through with it!