The "D" Reg myth

bbability

Is the "D" reg myth alive and kicking. I know of a few people from Dublin but living in Meath for the last number of years that purposly had their new cars regisitered at Dublin addresses so their cars would carry a "D" reg rather that an"MH" reg. Is it that big a deal??

cjt156

It is to some people; and it works both ways. A former workmate demanded that his company car be registered in his native county specifically so that it wouldn't have a D reg.

On a side note; for resale a D reg is probably the most neutral countrywide - might make a tiny difference.

maidhc

In Cork we always blow at D reg cars before everyone else.

If anything a D reg is less desirable in the forecourt as it means the car may have been bought secondhand in an auction house and is probably clocked.

bbbbb

A car with the same reg as where you live is less obviously second-hand?

cast_iron

maidhc wrote:

If anything a D reg is less desirable in the forecourt as it means the car may have been bought secondhand in an auction house and is probably clocked.

That's some logic - if it a D reg, it's probably clocked.

maidhc

cast_iron wrote:

That's some logic - if it a D reg, it's probably clocked.

Well there is more security in buying a local car that was traded into the dealer from who you are buying and that was always serviced up the road. The same goes for any other reg really, but for obvious reasons the majority of the "non nationals" are D reg!

Seth Brundle

maidhc wrote:

but for obvious reasons the majority of the "non nationals" are D reg!

How do you know tjey are non-nationals?
As for security with a second hand car - if you think a car from one location is safer than another then you are kidding yourself and will sooner or later get burnt!

su_dios

I live in Dublin and I just bought a Dub reg car from Windsor in Cork. It was below the average price for this model and year because it had a 'D' reg in a Cork garage.

It was an 05 demo model with 5000miles. Windsor Rialto got in a few of these cars back in 05 and they were distributed around the country from there so they were all Dub reg. So thats your theory out the window.

Oh but of course the person may just have moved from Dublin down to the country and now wants to sell their 'D' reg car.

Works the same way around really. Grandons in Cork used to be the main distributers for Alfas in Ireland. If you bought from an Alfa garage in Dublin, Grandons may have your model in stock and you end up with a Cork reg.

I thought it would be worse with a country reg in Dublin since their would be more competing models when it goes to sale with the Dub reg being more desirable?

DonJose

cast_iron wrote:

That's some logic - if it a D reg, it's probably clocked.

LOL logic evades the above poster LOL

DonJose

maidhc wrote:

but for obvious reasons the majority of the "non nationals" are D reg!

LOL JAOTY

TomMc

bbability wrote:

Is the "D" reg myth alive and kicking. I know of a few people from Dublin but living in Meath for the last number of years that purposly had their new cars regisitered at Dublin addresses so their cars would carry a "D" reg rather that an"MH" reg. Is it that big a deal??

Well if your born and bred in a particular county and to some degree a GAA person as well, the county reg matters.

"D" Reg ........... Down with that sort of thing.


If I was buying an exotic or uber expensive motor though, I think a D reg would be best. County plates look out of place in the big smoke.


Dublin people tend to label "foreign cars" MH, WH, KE etc as the country cousins.

maidhc

kbannon wrote:

How do you know tjey are non-nationals?
As for security with a second hand car - if you think a car from one location is safer than another then you are kidding yourself and will sooner or later get burnt!

I mean non-national as in car, not person. That is to say a D reg car in Cork.

Of course where the car comes from is only one of many different issues, BUT, a trader with a yard of D reg (or any other reg really) cars does arouse suspicion.

It also tells the world you possibly bought the car secondhand, that matters to some people (albeit not me!)

bazz26

There are two sides to this myth:


1. D reg cars for sale outside the pale are usually worth a small bit less as potential buyers associate them with being stuck in traffic all day meaning harder than normal wear on parts such as clutch and brakes, etc. Not always the case though as alot of companies have Dublin addresses so their fleet cars are registered there but may spend most of the time up and down the country, never to see Dublin.

2. Non D reg cars for sale in the pale are usually worth less and harder to sell as locals have a common perception that they are were owned by country people who drive them on poor bog roads, etc.

zilog_jones

My car has a Dublin reg despite it apparently being originally from Cavanagh's of Charleville (mud flaps, number plate holders and first few services were done there). I'm a bit disappointed because it makes it seem a bit impersonal and boring (too many cars have D reg's), and I would have prefered a more local reg, but I'm not particularly bothered and it didn't exactly stop me from buying the car

Pherekydes

maidhc wrote:

In Cork we always bow at D reg cars before everyone else.

There's no need, honest.

Apropos of nothing, why do some counties have a two letter code and others have just one? Surely logic would dictate that each county has its own two letter code?

Dublin is already split into four administrative areas, Fingal, Dun Laoighre, South Dublin and Dublin City, so why haven't these got their own codes?

This is particularly pertinent when you have Dublin regs going into six figures.

zilog_jones

It's generally cities that have one letter, and counties that have two, e.g. Limerick city is L and Co. Limerick is LK. Cork and Dublin seem to have the same for both city and county though, for reasons unknown.

maidhc

Slow coach wrote:

There's no need, honest.

Apropos of nothing, why do some counties have a two letter code and others have just one? Surely logic would dictate that each county has its own two letter code?

Blow, blow.... oh the shame.

I think the only reason we have L, LK and TS and TN is because of county council turf wars.

Futureman

DonJose wrote:

JAOTY

WTF does that mean?

copacetic

bazz26 wrote:

There are two sides to this myth:


1. D reg cars for sale outside the pale are usually worth a small bit less as potential buyers associate them with being stuck in traffic all day meaning harder than normal wear on parts such as clutch and brakes, etc. Not always the case though as alot of companies have Dublin addresses so their fleet cars are registered there but may spend most of the time up and down the country, never to see Dublin.

2. Non D reg cars for sale in the pale are usually worth less and harder to sell as locals have a common perception that they are were owned by country people who drive them on poor bog roads, etc.

not to be pedantic but there isn't two sides to the 'myth'. You have given two reasonable examples of why this isn't a myth at all, it's a market fact. it's true that some people (both buyers and sellers) prefer to have/not have a D reg and it affects a second hand cars value depending on where it is being sold.

Savman

Jebus. We're discussing the letter on cars now. :rolleyes:

Times are desperate.

Wishbone Ash

bazz26 wrote:

alot of companies have Dublin addresses so their fleet cars are registered there but may spend most of the time up and down the country, never to see Dublin

There is also the misconception in rural Ireland that Dublin is only a city. There are many of us driving Dublin registered cars who reside in County Dublin and encounter traffic conditions similar to provincial Ireland.

zilog_jones wrote:

I'm a bit disappointed ... .... I'm not particularly bothered

Bit of a contradiction zilog

patrickc

which would you rather 2 cars same year mileage etc, 1 a d reg the other a country reg perhaps Roscommon.. The RN car has a towbar the D one doesn't. The RN car could have more wear on it from a farmer or someone towing all day.

maidhc

patrickc2006 wrote:

which would you rather 2 cars same year mileage etc, 1 a d reg the other a country reg perhaps Roscommon.. The RN car has a towbar the D one doesn't. The RN car could have more wear on it from a farmer or someone towing all day.

It is a lucky dip, isn't it. My grandfather always fits a hitch on his car, but has NEVER put on a trailer in 10 years!

G Luxel

Because Dublin has the highest number of cars doesnt mean that everyone in Dublin owns a car. The vast majority of garda cars and other state agencies cars are D reg. Sales reps whoses employers are based in Dublin but who themselves are based outside Dublin may have the car D registered. I once owned a new car that was registered in Dublin as the car was part of a large order that was cancelled. The cars were then offloaded at various dealers in the country so technically the car was new but registered in Dublin.

dingding

Savman wrote:

Jebus. We're discussing the letter on cars now. :rolleyes:

Times are desperate.

We are reading discussions on car numbers times are very desperate. :eek:

macroman

can't remeber the last time my family had a D reg car...we've lived their all our lives

Wishbone Ash

As has been said before, most top end marques are Dublin registered as it makes resale easier. I don't think I've ever seen a Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Rolls etc. without a Dublin reg. Although I have seen a few Bentleys and Astons on WW plates but that's kind of acceptable (playground of the rich etc.).

I occasionally see a yellow BMW M3 with Leitrim plates but I suspect the owner gave a Leitrim address to get the great reg XX L M3.

sgthighway

In Galway if a Clamper was walking up the street and saw 5 cars illegally parked he is going to clamp the non Galway reg cars before the Galway ones if he doesn't have enough clamps. (I know a Clamper (not my friend))

The GAA Fan always wants a Reg from his/her own county.

I would buy a car registered in my own county because there is always a better chance of finding out the true history of the car. This is down to population.

If I ever buy a DB9; I might consider registering it in Dublin.

maidhc

sgthighway wrote:

If I ever buy a DB9; I might consider registering it in Dublin.

I think there is an 06 D 69 in Cork... and it is an Aston

Wishbone Ash

maidhc wrote:

I think there is an 06 D 69 in Cork... and it is an Aston

And here's a Wickla DB7 Vantage complete with Wicklow dirt.

what_car

daveym wrote:

not to be pedantic but there isn't two sides to the 'myth'. You have given two reasonable examples of why this isn't a myth at all, it's a market fact. it's true that some people (both buyers and sellers) prefer to have/not have a D reg and it affects a second hand cars value depending on where it is being sold.

i think its so sad, that ppl who moved from dub now living in Meath / Louth / Cavan when they buy a new car go and get it registered at mammys address or a relations address.............


if i was to buy a nice car like an S320, i would get it in my local reg. i wouldnt drive a D reg car even if i got it free.......


the common thought bout D reg cars:
stuck in traffic, heating up, extra wear on clutch...and brakes.
the D reg devalues cars imo..........................

cast_iron

what_car wrote:

i wouldnt drive a D reg car even if i got it free.......

I think you've got issues...

lugnut

D reg is the business no matter what county you live in - It's kinda like a universal plate.... If you have a C reg car you're from Cork, if you have an L reg car you're from Limerick, if you have a D reg car you're Irish
I'm from Cork so wouldn't like to drive anything but a C or D reg car.... I've found that certain reg plates down here are less desireable than others - try to sell a Corkman a KY or CE reg car and they'll need convincing and a serious discount

Wishbone Ash

lugnut wrote:

D reg is the business no matter what county you live in - It's kinda like a universal plate.... If you have a C reg car you're from Cork, if you have an L reg car you're from Limerick, if you have a D reg car you're Irish

This probably sounds ridiculous but I'll drive a D, C, L, LK, DL or WW but nothing else. I can't explain why!

copacetic

what_car wrote:

the common thought bout D reg cars:
stuck in traffic, heating up, extra wear on clutch...and brakes.
the D reg devalues cars imo..........................

but thats what I am saying, you wouln't drive a D reg.

Common thoughts about non D reg cars:
farmers, bad roads, high mileage (due to commute to dublin!),
not looked after, possibly used for towing, spend there life
in fields, sheep in back seat etc etc.

not saying either set of opinions are valid, just that they are what
they are and not 'myths'

copacetic

maidhc wrote:

I think there is an 06 D 69 in Cork... and it is an Aston

there is a 05 D89 driving around dublin too...

patrickc

my last car was a D reg now ive a MO reg im not fussy at all

ninty9er

A local Lexus salesman told my mam when she was car shopping that they register the fleet in Dublin even though their HQ is in Clare because Limerick and Galway people have an intolerance for CE reg's in particular...myself....if it's D or W....steer clear...especially if it's manual and especially if it's a Punto....much higer probability some yank has the clutch almost burnt out

We get a lot of TN, L & LK (obviously) C and KY reg's in Limerick...but fewer CEs.....

I think IrishCarRentals register their cars in Limerick though....as HQ is here...so you have to be careful really....but if you're from the area, you know what cars not to buy from a particular dealer (i.e. It' will more than likely have been a hire-drive)

Funxy

ninty9er wrote:

if it's D or W....steer clear...

Why W?

dingding

dingding wrote:

We are reading discussions on car numbers times are very desperate. :eek:

I am reading a critism of a discussion on car numbers.
Times are desperate.
:eek:

TomMc

Funxy wrote:

Why W?

Bolands and their sister garages in Waterford, Wexford (so WX as well) are a very large supplier to the major car hire firms nationwide.

DubTony

Sometimes a "bogger" reg can be an advantage, especially if the car isn't too old. I sometimes drives the wife's W reg car and have found that when I'm in the "wrong" lane I have a better chance of being allowed in than if I'm driving my D reg. Obviously a case of "ah look at the thick culchie - better let him in". On the M50 I can tear down the outside lane and make that last minute dash for the exit (JUST AROUND WHERE THE EXIT SIGN IS) and the blowing of horns is minimal. It also helps to have a wellie in the car, or a trilbee style hat, so you can wave it out the window as a thank you.

Funxy

What confuses me most is those who will drive say d and c and dl and not w. Surley waterford CITY regged cars are a hell of alot less 'country' then donegal cars

TomMc

I've had a few "W" reg cars which I would much prefer than a "D" reg or "C" reg. Wouln't be keen on "WD" though. I think "W" looks kind of foreign / european, at least this side of the country. It's also the nearest to my native "WH".

Funxy

We've always had WD cars and more recently had W's. I preferre the cleaner look of a W reg but other then that it really doesn't matter. We did reg one car as a D reg for better resale value. But to be honest i wouldn't again because a. i doubt if it really will make much differance int he price it would sell for and b. any d reg cars around here are usually second hand or someone visiting. I think it's nicer on your own car to have the county your from, just a personal preferance

Wishbone Ash

bbability wrote:

I know of a few people from Dublin but living in Meath for the last number of years that purposly had their new cars regisitered at Dublin addresses so their cars would carry a "D" reg rather that an"MH" reg.

In fairness to those people, they may be living in Meath/Louth/Wicklow/Kildare etc. because they have been outpriced for a house in their native Dublin and don't have any particular emotional attachment to the county they are living in now.

Max_Damage

Looking at this thread, I don't think I've seen a Leitrim (LM) reg. in years!

galwaytt

su_dios wrote:

If you bought from an Alfa garage in Dublin, Grandons may have your model in stock and you end up with a Cork reg.

Not so. Revenue will only issue registrations based the address of the owner - irrespective of place of purchase. So, if you have a Dublin address, you get a Dublin no, whether bought in Cork or Kiltimagh.

OK, who wants to test the theory - all offers for the D-reg 320d in my Sig from Dublin, please add 1k.........delivery possible immediately !

galwaytt

patrickc2006 wrote:

which would you rather 2 cars same year mileage etc, 1 a d reg the other a country reg perhaps Roscommon.. The RN car has a towbar the D one doesn't. The RN car could have more wear on it from a farmer or someone towing all day.

What condesending BS..........

For whatever reason, MO and RN cars are cheaper. Good for used car buyers. But to say that D is more likely to get you a better car is just BS. And, taking this thread as proof, if half of the D cars running around are Reps, or paranoid reg people...........who are pulling trailers around Roscommon and Kerry all day. Sounds like a case for D-reg cars to be avoided, I'd say, as you aren't getting 'what it says on the tin'...car.

Oh, btw, was a rep for Dublin Co and had two D-reg VW's..........good luck to whoever ends up with those, because they were nicely 'broken-in' when I handed them back.

So, what's the story on KE reg's then...........are they all from stallion farms on the Curragh, and if so, please buy mine.........

Capt'n Midnight

Re current number plate letters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Vehicle_Registration_Plates

The 1987 scheme allocated single-letter codes to the county boroughs (including those shared with counties) and 2-letter codes to the others.
..
are planning to add new codes for the administrative counties currently sharing codes. These are expected to be CK (County Cork), GY (County Galway), DR (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown), FL (Fingal), and SN (South Dublin) respectively.

An interesting idea would be to have Dublin Postal Code plates - much more fun with the stereotyping. And it would mean the scumbags would leave your car alone if parked next to a "D 4"

ninty9er

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Re current number plate letters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Vehicle_Registration_Plates

An interesting idea would be to have Dublin Postal Code plates - much more fun with the stereotyping. And it would mean the scumbags would leave your car alone if parked next to a "D 4"

Why oh why do people refernce wikipedia.....that rumour was obviously posted on wikipedia by some D4 head who would pref if their car had D4 instead of D on it....what a pile of tripe....plus I don't think there's actually an explanation for the instigation of the counties with 2 plates