How to check if your car has an open recall in Ireland
Vehicle recalls are common — and the repair is always free. Here's how to find out if your car, van or motorbike is affected.
1. Browse recalls for your car's make
Start with our vehicle recalls list — we track every recall published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), covering cars, vans, motorbikes and commercial vehicles sold in Ireland. You can browse by brand — for example Toyota, Volvo or BMW — or search your model directly.
2. Check the affected build dates or VIN range
Vehicle recalls specify affected production periods or VIN ranges. Your VIN (a 17-character vehicle identification number) is on your Vehicle Registration Certificate, at the base of the windscreen, or on the driver's door frame. Compare it against the recall notice.
3. Ring your dealer with the registration or VIN
The definitive check: any franchised dealer for your car's make can run your VIN against the manufacturer's recall database in minutes and tell you about any outstanding recall work. Many manufacturers also offer an online VIN checker on their Irish or UK websites.
4. Get the work done — it's free
Recall repairs are always carried out free of chargeby an authorised dealer, regardless of the car's age or how many owners it has had. The distributor writes to registered owners, but if you bought the car second-hand or imported it, the letter may never reach you — which is exactly why checking yourself matters.
Buying a used car?
Make the recall check part of your pre-purchase routine: ask the seller whether recall work has been completed, and verify with a dealer using the VIN. An unrepaired safety recall is free to fix, but you want to know before you buy.