Advice on insuring UK reg'd car in ROI (Dublin)

[A-AvantGarde]

Hi, my brother has just accepted a job in Dublin, initially it's for a period of 6 months but is likely to become permanent.

Now onto his problem, he'd like to take his Porsche Boxster out there but is finiding it difficult for anyone to insure it beyond 180 days. Most insurance polices do allow European cover for a period, however he would like it to be fully covered whilst he is there.

Anyone know the rules and regulations on using a UK registered car in the Reoublic of Ireland:

Specifically:

1. Insurance
2. The length of time a UK registered car can be kept and used in ROI prior to needing registration there?
3. Import duty - If he needs to register his car there (it's over 3 years old) is this something he needs to worry about? Whate are the current rates etc.

Thanks in advance guys...

 

[Dec]

He would likely cancel his UK insurance and take out insurance from an Irish insurer he should be able to drive in Ireland on his UK insurance and tax for a while but I am not sure of the length of time allowed see also this link about tax /duty, http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/vrt_3.htmhttp://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/vrt_3.htm[/URL] also CURRENT motor tax rates http://www.environ.ie/DOEI/DOEIPol.nsf/0/0a59e3b8f0696d2280256f0f003bc842/$FILE/Rates%20Document4.docAnd for insurance http://www.quinn-direct.com/ ,
and/or http://www.allianzdirect.ie/?m=p&s=a&c=1&Ad=2.1.2

 

[Shude]

He might want to find out what happens to MOT inspections/road tax as well

 

[Dec]

The first link in my last post dosent apply to you and the link that I want to show is not working properly so I have pasted its content below, it appears you are o.k for a period of 12 months but you will still have to deal with the insurance issue.
.................................
Leaflets & Guides


Vehicle Registration Tax

Foreign Registered Vehicles Temporary Exemptions - VRT 2

1. Introduction

This leaflet outlines the circumstances in which a foreign registered motor vehicle may be brought into the Republic of Ireland (the State) on a temporary basis.

The circumstances in which a foreign registered vehicle may be brought into the State vary depending on whether the vehicle is intended for private or commercial use.

PRIVATE USE

2. What Conditions Apply

Any imported vehicle which is owned by or registered in the name of a non-resident person is not required to be registered in Ireland subject to the following conditions :

The vehicle must have been acquired with all the appropriate taxes paid and these must not have been exempted or refunded in any way. The standard registration plates in use in the domestic market of a country are normally accepted as evidence of this.
The vehicle may not in any circumstances be driven by a State resident.
The vehicle may not be disposed of or hired out in the State or lent to a State resident.
The period of time that the vehicle is in the State does not exceed 12 months.
The 12 months time limit will not apply where a person is on a task of definite duration in the State.
3. What is meant by "State resident" and "non-resident" ?

A "State resident" is a person whose normal residence is in the Republic of Ireland and a "non-resident" is anyone whose normal residence is outside this State. "Normal residence" means the place where a person usually lives (for at least 185 days each year) because of personal or occupational ties.

If a person's occupational ties are in a different country from his/her personal ties, then the country of personal ties is taken as the normal residence provided the person returns there regularly.

A person who is normally resident in the State but who lives outside the State primarily for the purpose of attending a school or university is regarded as a State resident.

4. What If I am a foreign student?

If you reside temporarily in the State primarily for the purpose of pursuing a course of studies you may bring a foreign registered Category A vehicle (see definition in paragraph 5) or a motor cycle into the State provided it is registered in the country of your normal residence. The same conditions mentioned in paragraph 2 above apply and the 12 month time limit will be extended until you have completed your course of studies.

5. What is a "Category A Vehicle"

"Category A vehicle" is a motor vehicle for the carriage of people and includes motor cars, minibuses and certain other non-commercial vehicles not exceeding 3 tonnes unladen weight.

6. What must I do if the vehicle ceases to meet the conditions for temporary exemption?

You must immediately either:-

1) permanently remove the vehicle from the State; or

2) apply to register the vehicle in the State and pay any tax due.

If you transfer residence to the State while your vehicle is temporarily in the State, you should immediately contact any one of the Vehicle Registration Offices listed at the back of this leaflet and apply for exemption from payment of tax.

COMMERCIAL USE

7. What conditions apply?

A motor vehicle which is owned by or registered in the name of a person established outside the State may be brought into the State for commercial purposes for a period not exceeding 12 months. The information contained in paragraphs 2, 3, 5 and 6 above apply to commercial use. However, certain specific rules also apply.

8. What are the rules governing the carriage of passengers?

A vehicle brought temporarily into the State may not be used for the carriage of passengers for reward between places within the State unless duly authorised.

Enquiries in relation to the required authorisations and any other transport regulations should be made to the Department of Transport, Kildare St., Dublin 2, telephone 01- 6707444.

9. What is the position regarding professional equipment?

A vehicle which has been designed or specially adapted as professional equipment may be used by a non- resident provided it is for that person’s use or for use under that person’s supervision. An example of such a vehicle is a mobile TV broadcast unit.

10. Are there any circumstances where a foreign registered vehicle can be hired?

Yes. If a hired Category A vehicle has been brought into the State by a non-resident under a hire contract which expired in the State, then the car-hire firm is allowed to re-hire it once to another non-resident in order to remove it from the State.

11. Can a state resident drive a foreign registered vehicle for business use?

Yes, but in the following circumstances only:-

A State resident who is employed by an employer established in another Member State may, on application to the Revenue Commissioners, be approved to use a Category A vehicle or a motor cycle registered in another Member State (either owned or leased by the employer) for business/private use in the State. However, the vehicle must be used primarily in the other Member State. (Application forms for this temporary exemption are available from Vehicle Registration Offices)

A State resident who is employed by an employer established in another Member State is eligible to use Category B & C vehicles registered in another Member State (either owned or leased by the employer) for business/private use in the State.


A State resident who is an employee of a car-hire firm established outside the State is allowed to drive a vehicle for the purpose of returning it to the firm after the vehicle was left in the State on expiry of a hire contract.
In other circumstances where authorised in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.
GENERAL

12. Are there formalities on arrival?

No. Once the conditions outlined in paragraph 2 above are met there are no formalities when you arrive in the State.

13. What must I do if challenged by a revenue officer or a garda?

You are required to stop your vehicle and allow it to be examined if requested by an Officer of the Revenue Commissioners or the Garda Siochana. You must co - operate in answering questions for the purpose of verifying your status and produce on request all documents relating to the bringing in, ownership and registration of the vehicle.

14. Further information and appeals

Further information in relation to the importation of foreign registered vehicles and the appeals procedure involved in relation to any decision made with which you are aggrieved is available from any one of the Vehicle Registration Offices. Regional VRO Contact Details.

NOTE:

This leaflet does not purport to be a legal interpretation or a comprehensive statement of the law on this subject which is contained in Chapter 4 of the Finance Act 1992 (as amended). The statutory regulations involved are the Temporary Exemption from Registration of Vehicles Regulations 1993.



VRT 2 June 2004 VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX ________________ Foreign Registered Vehicles Temporary Exemptions

Amended 28 June 2006

 

[crockers]

Try Scottish General (part of the NU group) - not sure of their number but when we had a place in Spain they used to insure my wife's Honda and allowed her to take it out of the country for up to 6 months. The rules state that if you have the car out of the country for more than 6 months you need to register the car in that country.

Hope that helps..:bannana:

 

[A-AvantGarde]

]And for insurance http://www.quinn-direct.com/ ,
and/or http://www.allianzdirect.ie/?m=p&s=a&c=1&Ad=2.1.2

Thanks guys. Passed on all of this info to my brother. Apparantly Quinn Direct won't cover Porsche's (or anything over UK Group 18 in ROI). Not sure if he rang them on their UK number or on an Irish number.

Will see if he gets anything from Allianz or Scottish General. His current insurers will cover him for 90 days, however Liverpool Victoria will give him 90 days. He will be UK resident still and will be back almost every other weekend.

 

[SimonsMerc]

If he will be back every other weekend, there is no problem. He is covered for 90 days maximum from the day he leaves the country to the day he returns. If he comes back and leaves again, this time re-starts.

Of course, check with the specific insurer that this is the way it works. But I am 100% certain that this works with at least some insurers - I have a number of friends who have taken their UK registered cars to Poland for long periods of time and have been given exactly this kind of stipulation, that they need to "touch base" in the UK at least once every X days (I remember one company had 28 days).

Of course, in this day of no passport stamps, it's very difficult to prove that you've been back in the country. You can ask for stamps though (I have friends who do). Conversely, it's also very difficult to prove that you have not been back in the country...

-simon

 

[GSBellew]

In relation to import duty, its a bollox in Ireland, but depending on how long he has owned the car he may be exempt from paying any.

Have a look on www.revenue.ie

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/services/bus_cust5.htm

https://www.ros.ie/VRTEnquiryServlet/showVRT

 

[MBManInKen]

If he will be back every other weekend, there is no problem. He is covered for 90 days maximum from the day he leaves the country to the day he returns.

But all insurances that I know about also put a cap on the total numbers of days you are allowed to spend abroad.

 

[SimonsMerc]

But all insurances that I know about also put a cap on the total numbers of days you are allowed to spend abroad.

Hrm. I've never been told about that, although perhaps I've just not asked the right questions. As I say, always best to check with your own insurer!

-simon

 

[crockers]

Hrm. I've never been told about that, although perhaps I've just not asked the right questions. As I say, always best to check with your own insurer!

-simon

Couldn't agree more -- and it is the number of days the car is abroad and not the person...what if the car is stolen when you've returned for the weekend.

 

[MBManInKen]

and it is the number of days the car is abroad and not the person...

But it is worth remembering that most UK insurances require you to be a permanent UK resident in order for the insurance to be valid. I'm not sure there is a single definition of what constitutes permanent residence, but it's probably best to check with your insurer.

 

[crockers]

My wife had Spanish residence and the car was registered in her name. The rules are that the car must not be in the foreign country for more than 6 months or else you need to register it in that country. We were ok as we had houses here in UK as well as our Spanish one.
So if the guy working in Eire has a UK address to which his car is registered there isnt a problem. If he is moving totally to Eire for the 6 months there may be but he did say he is returning every weekend so from that I am assuming he has somewhere to stay.
BUT I reitterate it is the car that can only be abroad for up to 6 months and not the person for the reason I gave earlier.
There are insurers who will insure you for more than 6 months - as you can be touring Europe and moving from country to country. I think you would have to hunt something out in Gibralatar or similar. BUT if the car stays in Eire for more than 6 months then the Irish authorities will expect you to register it in Irish plates etc...

Hope that helps -- but I take no legal responsibility for any of this information...lol

 

[Stratman]

I have many relatives in Ireland (I'm only English 'cause me Mammy caught the ferry in time ) and from what they tell me if he insures his car he will be in the minority! It's so expensive over there that anyone under 25 finds it prohibitive, and many take the 'cheap' option, especially outside the big cities.

Good luck!

 

[MBManInKen]

and many take the 'cheap' option, especially outside the big cities

I don't think anyone should be encouraged to drive without car insurance... What others do is their business and it's not because many people do silly things that it is the best thing to do.

 

[hennessy]

britton insurance http://www.brittoninsurance.com/ is probably ur best bet for insuring a uk registered car in Ireland

as for registration i wouldnt bother you can get away without for as long as you want as long the gardai dont report you to customs,which very rarely happens.

 

[Stratman]

I don't think anyone should be encouraged to drive without car insurance... What others do is their business and it's not because many people do silly things that it is the best thing to do.

I seem to have been misinterpreted. I was in no way condoning driving without insurance, just reporting that it is widespread in Ireland. My "good luck" wishes were as a result of having driven there on many an occasion. The standard leaves something to be desired.

 

[MBManInKen]

I seem to have been misinterpreted. I was in no way condoning driving without insurance, just reporting that it is widespread in Ireland. My "good luck" wishes were as a result of having driven there on many an occasion. The standard leaves something to be desired.

I apologise if I gave the impression that you were encouraging this . I just thought it worthwhile to make the point .