Buying a car from Republic of Ireland

[kenc]

I am considering buying a used car from the Republic of Ireland, the car has Irish tax and registration. The DVLA website indicates that a UK citizen cannot drive a non UK registered car in the UK and it must be registered and taxed in the UK to be driven legally. As I read it however the car must have a valid UK MOT before registration and taxation. Can I legally drive the car from the ferryport where it comes into the UK directly to the MOT garage nearest my home for a pre-booked test, a distance of about 100 miles. I will have insurance.

[oddjobbob]

BE CAREFUL.... loads of cars from the UK get sent from Holyhead to Dublin every day.

 

The reason is that the Irish LIKE UK cars because a 60,000m UK car has loads of life left in ti whereas a 60000m IRISH car will be worn out.

 

The reason being that their roads are generally b****y awful!

 

So be prepared for the suspension and steering to be worn out.

 

TBQH unless the car you're buying is really really really cheap I'd leave it. If its a Japanese grey import you'll be ok though (probably) ie a car bought directly at auction in Japan and shipped to Eire

 

Registration is not normally a problem, you can insure it for now on the chassis number then tke it for MOT which they will also do onthe chassis number, you take the Irish V5 + MOT + anything else you've got to your local DVLA office, some of them in there have 'NO' as a middle name but if you get a decent one you'll come out with yuor car registered that day.

 

It's a load of effort for not much return, you're better off with a UK car everytime I reckon.

[jimjim5]

I think your crazy, I have lived in Ireland for years. No 1 Irish roads are dire and the cars will usually have lots of problems as a result. No 2 Irish cars are usually serviced by someone down the road and the last time they will have seen a main dealer is the day they were sold. No 3 Irish insurance repair most cars and its near on impossible to check for write offs. No 4. You will get a lot more car for your money here.

[kenc]

Many thanks for your reply, the car I have in mind is a restored classic car in excellent condition, I'm just wondering if I can legally save myself a few hundred pounds in transportation costs by driving the car directly from the docks 150 miles to my local MOT garage for a pre-booked test. The DVLA guideline are a little vague - you are allowed to drive an unregistered car to a pre-booked MOT but would the circumstances I have described be acceptable.

[oddjobbob]

It's Extremely unlikely that you'll have a problem as long as its insured on the chassis number

[oddjobbob]

and the MOT is prebooked.... the traffic police (if they stop you) won't be SURE of the law in any case and are bound to let you go for a prebooked MOT.

[oddjobbob]

And leave the irish plates on it for now. If the police do spot yoy theyll think you're a visitor from Ireland... and they've got enough to do!

[ScarletPimpernel]

If the police do spot yoy theyll think you're a visitor from Ireland...

 

Especially if you drive the car as if it was a tractor, and act surprised at roundabouts...