mister_tortoise

hey lindy,

thanks for the reply. i'll look into that.

ric

tobyallie

Hello, this topic is a popular one!

We have just changed our car in the UK (last month). My husband started working in Ireland 1 month ago and I am now in the process of moving over. I am going back and forth to the UK between now and Chrismtas with the car, when it will then be over 6 months old - thank goodness.

I understand that I can drive the car on my UK registration and insurance for up to 1 year, so long as I keep making trips back to the UK to keep my UK insurance valid (90 days overseas limit).

In a month or so, I am aiming to start work over in Ireland. Therefore, can anyone confirm that I have the right assumptions above plus, that I can continue to drive my car here without any probs up to 1 year although I will then be working in Ireland? The long term, if jobs work out will be to register the car in Ireland.

Has anyone had any experience of this? If you are stopped by the Garda, do you just show your UK license, registration and insurance?

Thanks,

tobyallie

lindy333

Hi

My UK insurance company told me my insurance would be null and void the minute I started working in Ireland, in fact they said because I had an Irish address as well as a Uk address they wouldnt insure me hence my problem now(I need to tax my car and dont have UK insurance).Maybe your insurance broker is different.As for the police my husband as been stopped 4 times by the police and he has shown his Uk licence a couple of times he has been asked why he hasnt got an Irish licence but he as explained he is only working here temporarily and there has been no problems.If you are charged with speeding here you will have to pay the fixed penalty but they cant put points on your licence(just as well for my hubby!!)

Lindy

tobyallie

Thanks for the help Lindy, my insurance is okay so long as I am only visiting - when I start work, I'll try and arrange insurance over here - hopefully in a couple of months.

Mitzyboy

Although the time you can drive a UK plated car seems to vary from country to country, EU law does stipulate that for a car to be legal in the country its being driven in, it must also be road legal in the country of registration. Insurance companies are well aware of this law so please beware. In effect this means that you must have a valid MOT certificate and Road fund licence whilst driving in Ireland.

In Spain for instance you can only keep the car there under tourist circumstances for 6 months, thereafter you are required to register on Spanish plates, but don't know what the law would be there in

Horus

Let's say, theoretically that your UK road tax ran out on 31 May but you've applied to register your car in Ireland and paid for your road tax to be back dated to 1/6 but haven't recieved your documents, tax or new registration number yet (theoretically remember) can you still drive as you've paid for your road tax or should you wait until you get the documents?

Mitzyboy

Well very carefully I guess
In theory, your insurance company could decline any claim on the basis that your car was not road legal. However if you've applied for everything I suppose it would be OK. Again I don't know if its the same there, but we get pulled over here for spot checks on a very regular basis and not having the correct docs in the car with us leads to big fines

marcecie

hi,
I have tenants from UK at present they are here since Oct and still driving their UK reg car. They have been told by police that they can drive it for 1 year(they are not sure if they are staying permanent depends on work) provided it is taxes and insured. He was pulled for speeding and was told if he stays and gets a Irish licence then penalty points wil go on it.

scottie70

Q. I hold a full UK licence and I am now resident in Ireland. Do I have to exchange for an Irish licence?
A. No. You may drive here on your UK licence for the duration of its validity. However, you may apply for exchange, if you wish.

see website

http://www.transport.ie/roads/licens...g=ENG&loc=1838

ukjohn

I will be moving permanently to Ireland soon and i'm not sure yet how long I will be in temporary accomodation before buying a house as a permanent residence. I am at present changing my car so theoretically i will have to pay VRT and also tax and insurance in Ireland. I would love to be able to get round these niggles but whichever way I look at it I'm trapped. Firstly, whilst my UK motor insurance gives me up to 180 days cover in EU countries this is conditional upon my permanent residence being in UK so I need to take Insurance out in Ireland. If I can't show the VRT people that I'm temporarily in Ireland then that will have to be paid and also the car tax. Surely all this thread is about is evasion.

Horus

But you try contacting DVLA and changing your address to one in Ireland. I did and was told I couldn't do that and I would HAVE to apply for an Irish licence

lindy333

Hi Uk John

Your right it is about evasion but I am only here for 9 months and really dont want to pay 7000 euros to register my car when I will be back in the Uk early next year.

scottie70

Is there any other UK address you can use? I use my parents, I've been done for speeding and there was no problems. In fact I got away with the speeding fine, that's another story. Nice loop hole which is currently open.

Horus

lol - nice loophole!

Unfortunately not, I don't have another address I can use so I'm stuck!

jdr

Quote from DVLA....

"Drivers who take up residence in another EC/EEA country no longer have to exchange their driving licence, but may continue to drive using their own national licence for as long as is remains valid. You should however check with the appropriate driving licensing authorities where you are now resident for information on any conditions that the host member state may stipulate.

National licences may only carry an address from the country which issued that licence. We are therefore unable to re-issue your British licence with a foreign address. It is accepted that drivers who move to another part of the EC/EEA could be holding driving licences showing an incorrect address. This is permissible under the terms of the EC Directive on Driving Licences."