Buying car from Ireland

[Station]

Looking at the possibility of buying a car from Ireland.

I jump on the ferry in Birkenhead (3 miles from me), then get off at Belfast port (sydenham) which is five minutes from the seller's house. What can be simpler?!

Registering it! What do I have to do? It's taxed and mot'd, but is this the same worth as a complaint to the DVLA?

[Cavcraft]

Isn't Belfast Northen Ireland? if so then surely all you have to do is send the log book to DVLA and that's it?

[Guest]

If the car is registered in Eire, there is a bit of hassle. If it's registered in Northern ireland, there is no hassle.

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022583

[Station]

It's a 1990 car though, those two only cover brand new and 'less than 10 years old'

[Guest]

Ask DVLA, but I suspect that, the older the car, the less the hassle may be, because car bureaucracy has increased over time. Anyway, if the car is a Northern Irish car, it's no bother, so long as you look underneath it [/bad taste humour].

 

My Murena was imported from Germany in the 1990s and there was little apparent hassle, as far as I know. For example, my speedometer has bodge mph arrows stuck onto the glass, but has not been converted from kmh.

[Richard]

It's not an import, Northern Ireland is part of the UK. Matters are complicated slightly by NI having their own version of the DVLA but it's just a change of keeper.

[Guest]

I agree. Only if the car has Eire plates will there be any significant faffage.

 

A 1990 car from Eire should have an mph speedo, so that saves one bit of hassle.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yo Gifford! How many fingers am I holding up? (spam test)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yo Gifford! How many fingers am I holding up? (spam test)

[skattrd]

I'm currently thinking about buying a car from Southern Ireland. It was made in 1998, is currently on Irish plates and is road legal over there. The car was previously UK registered, but it's not a std UK car, it's originally a Japanese import. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

I've never imported a car before, so my assumptions are, all thats needed would be to MOT it then apply for UK reg from dvla.

Is the above correct or would it need a VIC or similar or would registration just be a paper exercise at the local office?

 

EDIT: It looks like it may be easier than I thought ...

The previous UK registration comes up with:

 

Date of Liability 01 04 2012

Date of First Registration 28 10 1998

Year of Manufacture 1998

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 713cc

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type PETROL

Export Marker N

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour WHITE

Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

This vehicle can be licensed at a DVLA Local Office without the V5C Registration Certificate

Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle

6 Months Rate £74.25

12 Months Rate £135.00

 

It looks like it wasn't declared as exported, so stick the old UK plates on and apply for V5?

[face]

Must be that Storia?

[skattrd]

Must be that Storia?

Yes it is, I've been in touch with another X4 owner and got a bit of history of the car ... Just need to sort out logistics and if it looks good I'll be selling a few cars to raise cash/clear space.

[face]

It looks an ace motor.

 

Hope you manage to get hold of it.

[R9UKE]

It is literally just a change of keeper. There's no costs or faffing involved. If its still taxed you have to send them the NI tax disc for them to issue a DVLA one in replacement. I live 10 mins from the port, if you need a lift give me a shout.

[ashmicro]

When I did it the other way around (Audi bought in London, brought it home to Belfast) I just kept the GB tax disc and retaxed it when required. I was told this would be OK by County Hall when I notified the change of keeper.