The short answer: every Irish car-finance lender asks for the same seven things — photo ID, proof of address (under 6 months old), proof of your PPSN, proof of income (payslips or your Revenue Employment Detail Summary), 3 months of bank statements, your driving licence, and proof of your deposit or trade-in. Self-employed? Add 2 years of accounts, your Form 11 and Notice of Assessment. Most of it is on your phone already: the Revenue bits take about 5 minutes in myAccount, and the bank statements take 2.
Sources: AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, Tipperary Credit Union and First Citizen Finance document pages; CCPC; Central Credit Register; Revenue.ie; Central Bank of Ireland — all accessed September 2026. Autoza figures are median asking prices on live listings, September 2026.
Nobody gets refused car finance because they brought too much paperwork. Plenty get delayed a week — or quietly declined — because a statement was missing a month, the utility bill was in a partner's name, or the "proof of PPSN" was a Public Services Card, which no Irish lender can accept. This is the checklist we'd hand a friend before they walked into a dealership or opened the bank app.
If you want the whole approval process, start with our step-by-step guide to getting approved. This article is just the documents: what each lender asks for, what trips people up, and how to get every item today.
What documents do you need for car finance in Ireland?
We compared the published requirements of three banks, a credit union and a dealer finance house. The wording differs; the list doesn't. Here's the master checklist, with what actually counts as "proof".
| Document | What counts | Where to get it | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Current passport, or a current Irish, UK or EU driving licence (PTSB also takes an Irish Government Travel Document) | Your wallet | 0 min |
| Proof of address | Utility bill or bank statement dated within 6 months, in your own name; PTSB also accepts a current Notice of Determination of Tax Credits, or insurance documents under 12 months old | Energy/phone account, bank app | 2 min |
| Proof of PPSN | Payslip, Employment Detail Summary, Statement of Liability, Notice of Tax Credits, a Revenue or DSP letter, medical card, Drug Payment Scheme card or EHIC. Not the Public Services Card | Revenue myAccount, payroll | 5 min |
| Proof of income (PAYE) | 2–3 recent payslips and/or your Revenue Employment Detail Summary — Revenue says you can use it "as verification of your income in dealings with third parties such as financial institutions" | Payroll portal; myAccount > PAYE Services | 5 min |
| Bank statements | 3 months from your main current account (PTSB), showing your wages landing; credit unions may ask depending on the amount | Bank app > Statements > PDF | 2 min |
| Driving licence | Full licence for the test drive, the insurance and the finance proposal | Your wallet | 0 min |
| Deposit / trade-in | Savings visible on a statement, or the VRC (logbook) and NCT cert of the car you're trading in | Bank app; glovebox | 5 min |
Two things the table can't show. First, the lender will also ask questions that need honest numbers: AIB's list includes "your annual income and monthly expenses" and "details of any other loans you have". Second, every lender reserves the right to ask for more — Bank of Ireland's phrasing is "we may need to ask you for more documents based on your situation and reason for the loan". That usually means you're self-employed, on probation, or new to the country.
Why do they need your PPSN?
It's the law, not nosiness. PTSB puts it plainly: "we are obliged under the Credit Reporting Act 2013 to collect and verify your PPSN" — for every credit application of €500 or more. The PPSN is how the lender pulls your Central Credit Register report, and lenders must pull one for any loan of €2,000 or more (CCPC). No PPSN proof, no credit check, no decision.
PAYE, self-employed, contractor or pension: what's your proof of income?
The ID and address rules are the same for everyone. Income proof is where the lists diverge, and it's where most delays start.
| Your situation | Proof of income lenders ask for | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE employee | 2–3 recent payslips (Tipperary Credit Union asks for 3; PTSB "2 recent pay slips" in certain cases), your Employment Detail Summary for last year, 3 months of statements | Wages must be visible arriving in the account you give statements for |
| Self-employed / sole trader | Accounts covering at least 2 years' trading, your Form 11 and Notice of Assessment, 3 months of business-account statements, and (PTSB) a letter from your accountant confirming tax affairs are in order | One year's accounts usually isn't enough; a Revenue payment plan can be a blocker |
| Contractor | Paid through an umbrella company or as an employee: treated as PAYE — payslips plus EDS. Invoicing as a sole trader: treated as self-employed | Some dealer finance houses lend only to those "in full time employment or retired" (First Citizen Finance) — a bank or credit union may suit better |
| Pension | Occupational pension: it's on your Employment Detail Summary, which covers "each of your employments or pensions". State pension: a DSP payment receipt or letter, plus statements showing it landing | Term may be limited by your age at the end of the agreement — ask before you apply |
| Social welfare income | Payment receipts or a DSP letter (credit unions accept these); statements showing the payments | Banks' car loans generally need earned income; credit unions are the realistic route |
Self-employed readers, one honest caveat: your 2025 Form 11 isn't due until 31 October 2026 (18 November 2026 on ROS), so if you apply this autumn your latest filed return may be 2024. Lenders know this. File early if a car loan is coming — the Notice of Assessment arrives fast once the return is in.
Which paperwork mistakes get applications declined or delayed?
Underwriters don't see you; they see a folder. These are the folder problems we see most, and every one of them is avoidable.
- A gap in the statements. "3 months" means three consecutive months up to now. A screenshot of a balance, or months 1 and 3, sends the file back.
- Statements without your name and address. Downloaded PDFs have them; app screenshots usually don't.
- Address mismatch. The utility bill says Mam's house, the application says the flat in Cork. Pick one address and make every document agree.
- The Public Services Card as PPSN proof. Bank of Ireland's FAQ is blunt: "under law we can't use this as proof of PPSN or identity". Use a payslip or your Employment Detail Summary instead.
- Undeclared loans. Your Central Credit Register report lists every loan, PCP, HP and credit card of €500 or more. If the application form says "no other loans" and the report says otherwise, you look either careless or dishonest.
- Gambling and overdraft living. The CCPC's own guidance says lenders review statements for "your ability to meet direct debits and standing orders, whether you use an overdraft facility regularly, and any evidence of excessive online gambling". Three clean months before you apply is the fix.
- Cash wages that never touch the account. If the statements can't show the income, the payslips are just paper.
- Self-employed with one year of accounts. PTSB asks for a minimum of two years. Ask your accountant what they can certify before you apply.
Since 24 March 2026, the Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code 2025 has been in force, and the affordability assessment behind every credit and hire-purchase decision is a regulatory requirement rather than a lender's habit. In practice that means the statements get read properly. Arrive with clean ones.
How do you get each document fast?
- Employment Detail Summary (the old P60): log in to Revenue myAccount > PAYE Services > View your Employment Detail Summary (EDS) documents, pick the year, download the PDF. It's available from January for the previous year, and it doubles as PPSN proof.
- Statement of Liability (the old P21): only exists once you've submitted a PAYE Income Tax Return for that year. Then myAccount > My Documents > year > View PDF. Handy as PPSN proof; not needed if you have the EDS.
- Payslips: your payroll portal, or ask HR for the last three as PDFs. Your employer's name must be on them.
- Bank statements: in the app, Statements > choose the last 3 months > download PDF. Do this for every account your income or deposit lives in.
- Central Credit Register report: request it free (subject to fair usage) at centralcreditregister.ie with proof of ID, proof of address dated within 6 months and proof of PPSN. The CCPC says it arrives within 3 working days as a PDF or by post. Lenders see the most recent 24 months of history and the register "does not score, grade or rate" — read it before they do.
- Form 11 and Notice of Assessment (self-employed): both sit in ROS (or myAccount > My Documents) once the return is filed; accounts and the accountant's letter come from your accountant, so ask early.
- Proof of deposit: a savings statement showing the money, or if you're trading in, the VRC and NCT cert — our free car valuation tells you what that trade-in is worth before the dealer does.
What does the dealer need versus what the lender needs?
Buying through a dealer, you deal with two parties. The dealer is a credit intermediary: they key your details into the finance house's system and the underwriter decides, often within hours — First Citizen Finance promises a decision "within four business hours" if the information is complete. The dealer's own list is shorter.
| The dealer needs | The lender needs | |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Driving licence (test drive) and a copy of your ID for the proposal | Photo ID, proof of address, proof of PPSN |
| Money | Deposit — First Citizen says "a minimum deposit of 10% may be required"; CCPC puts typical PCP deposits at 10%–30% | Payslips/EDS, 3 months of statements, details of existing loans |
| Trade-in | VRC, NCT cert, service history, both keys | Nothing — it's just your deposit |
| To hand over the car | Signed agreement, insurance in place, direct-debit mandate (IBAN and BIC) | Signed agreement; sometimes the insurance confirmation |
Two dealer-finance rules people don't expect. Finance houses cap the car's age — First Citizen lends on passenger cars "seven years old or younger" and from €4,000 upwards — so a 2016 car on a 4-year HP may be refused on age alone, while a bank loan or credit union doesn't care what you buy. And there are fees: First Citizen lists a documentation fee of €75 and a completion fee of €50. Bank car loans generally don't charge these; credit unions can't charge more than 12% (12.68% APR) by law, and many rebate interest at year end.
For scale: the median asking price on Autoza in September 2026 is about €18,900, so a 10% deposit is roughly €1,900 and a 30% PCP deposit about €5,700. Run your own numbers on the finance calculator before you decide which route to walk in with.
Verdict: pack the folder before you pick the car
Bank rates in September 2026 run from 6.40% to 8.95% APR at AIB and 6.5% to 8.9% APR at Bank of Ireland, depending on the amount and whether the car qualifies for a green rate — and both banks now decide online applications in hours for existing customers. That speed only works if the seven documents are already sitting in a folder on your phone. Do the Revenue and bank downloads tonight, request your Central Credit Register report, and walk in with a decision already half made.
Then spend the saved energy on the car itself: our used car buying checklist covers the 25 things to check on the forecourt, and used car prices in Ireland 2026 shows what the median buyer is paying by fuel and brand. If a lender has already said no, read what to do after a car-finance decline.
Honest caveat: document lists change, and PTSB, AIB and Bank of Ireland each say extra items may be requested case by case. If a lender asks for something not on this page, that's normal — ask what it's for and send it the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents do I need for car finance in Ireland?
Photo ID, proof of address under 6 months old, proof of PPSN, proof of income (2–3 payslips or your Revenue Employment Detail Summary), 3 months of bank statements, your driving licence and proof of deposit. Self-employed applicants add 2 years of accounts, Form 11 and a Notice of Assessment.
Do I need payslips if my wages already show on my bank statements?
Usually yes — PTSB wants 3 months of statements and "in certain circumstances" 2 payslips, while Tipperary Credit Union asks for 3 payslips. Bring both; a downloaded Employment Detail Summary covers a missing payslip.
Can I get car finance if I'm self-employed in Ireland?
Yes, with more paperwork: accounts covering at least 2 years' trading, your Form 11 and Notice of Assessment, 3 months of business statements and, at PTSB, an accountant's letter confirming your tax affairs are in order. Banks and credit unions are more flexible than some dealer finance houses.
How many months of bank statements do car-finance lenders want?
Three consecutive months from your main current account is the standard ask in 2026. Credit unions may waive them on smaller loans; a first loan or a larger amount usually needs them.
Is the Public Services Card accepted as proof of PPSN or ID?
No. Bank of Ireland and PTSB both state they cannot accept it under law. Use a payslip, your Employment Detail Summary, a Revenue or DSP letter, or a medical card that shows the full number.
How long does a Central Credit Register report take?
About 3 working days, according to the CCPC, and it's free subject to fair usage. You need proof of ID, proof of address dated within 6 months and proof of PPSN to request it.
Paperwork sorted? Search used vehicles on Autoza and find the car that's worth the folder.
