Owning a car in Germany... bringing it back to Ireland

damp sponge

Hi there,

I'm after buying a motor over here in Germany and was wondering what the situation was bringing it back to Ireland on holidays. Being Irish am I allowed to drive on German plates? I plan on being over here for a few years at least, but if I decide to come home with a car will I be stung for VRT?

Cheers

peasant

An overly officious garda might start to try it on because of your Irish licence.

But your KFZ-Schein should bear the vehicle data together with your name and German address ..keep your ferry tickets for the return trip in the glove compartment together with that and tell him/her to get lost (politely:D)

samsemtex

Of course not. If you are only visiting here on holiday there is no reason for you to register it here. You are not a resident so you dont have to pay it. It'd be like asking me to pay Danish VRT when i go over there.

pcardin

samsemtex wrote: »

Of course not. If you are only visiting here on holiday there is no reason for you to register it here. You are not a resident so you dont have to pay it. It'd be like asking me to pay Danish VRT when i go over there.

Unless his holidays here are not longer than 6 months.

Victor

Put a German address on your (German) licence.

Our man in Havana

He should obtain a Führerschein from the German authorities.

craichoe

What are ye on about, License makes NO difference whatsoever, you are under no obligation to exchange it under EU Rules.

All you have to prove is your not resident in Ireland.

The Dutch say your supposed to exchange within a year but the EU are disputing this.

OP, as long as you have your Insurance, License and Tax paid up then you've nothing to worry about, just check how long your Insurance covers you for outside Germany.

Mr.Diagnostic

The Spanish insist on you changing after 6 months, but a lot of people dont do so.

There is nothing illegel about the OP driving his German car in Ireland. Just make sure to carry some german paperwork.

Our man in Havana

Whilst it may not be necessary, having a German Führerschein would make things alot easier if confronted by the usual over zealous customs officers or Gardaí.

Alun

craichoe wrote: »

The Dutch say your supposed to exchange within a year but the EU are disputing this.

Since when? the Dutch are just as much a party to the relevant EU legislation as any other EU country.

For example ... http://www.zwolle.eu/cms/e-loket.nsf/AllByUNID/A673DCCE80E637EAC12568EA004493AF

U mag met een geldig rijbewijs uit de EU of de EER maximaal 10 jaar rijden in Nederland, gerekend vanaf de afgiftedatum van het buitenlandse rijbewijs. Is dat rijbewijs al meer dan 10 jaar geleden afgegeven, dan mag u in Nederland rijden tot 1 jaar nadat u officieel in Nederland bent ingeschreven.

Our man in Havana

Translation:

You may have a valid license from the EU or EEA driving up to 10 years in the Netherlands, from the issue date of the foreign license. Is this license for more than 10 years ago issued in the Netherlands you may drive up to 1 year after you are officially registered in the Netherlands.

craichoe

Bond-007 wrote: »

Whilst it may not be necessary, having a German Führerschein would make things alot easier if confronted by the usual over zealous customs officers or Gardaí.

Nah, i wouldn't bother with a German License, can get penalty points then :P

I'll go with the European Commissions take on it thanks very much

http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/citizens/living/car/driving-license/index_en.html

1) You already possess a driving licence issued by a Member State

You are no longer required to exchange it if your "normal residence" (1) is in a Member State other than that which issued your licence. But you may ask to exchange it if you wish.

Its about proving residence, having a German License doesn't prove residence in Germany at all.

Besides, what kind of Tulip would import a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car.

Alun

Bond-007 wrote: »

Translation:

Sorry about that, craichoe should be able to read it though Anyway, it's just the standard spiel that's valid in any EU country, or should be.

craichoe

damp sponge wrote: »

Hi there,

I'm after buying a motor over here in Germany and was wondering what the situation was bringing it back to Ireland on holidays. Being Irish am I allowed to drive on German plates? I plan on being over here for a few years at least, but if I decide to come home with a car will I be stung for VRT?

Cheers

Btw .. where abouts are you ... ?

RE: 1 year thing,

Came from the bloody Irish Embassy

http://www.irishembassy.nl/home/index.aspx?id=40464

Irish full driving licences are valid for use in the Netherlands for one year. After that, you will need to either exchange your Irish licence for a Dutch one, or register your Irish licence with the RDW - the Dutch Road Traffic service. In both cases, you should contact your local municipality for further information. You will only be able to exchange or register your Irish licence if it is still valid, if it is a full driving licence (ie not a provisional license), and if you make your application within one year of your arrival in the Netherlands. For further information, please contact the RDW: www.rdw.nl/eng/index.html Tel: 0900.0739 (within the Netherlands - EUR0.10/minute) or +31.598.393.330 (from outside the Netherlands)

Total disinformation from our own lads

pcardin

Victor wrote: »

Put a German address on your (German) licence.

German driving licence does not contain address.

Alun

craichoe wrote: »

RE: 1 year thing,

Came from the bloody Irish Embassy

http://www.irishembassy.nl/home/index.aspx?id=40464


Total disinformation from our own lads

That would explain everything, stelletje klootzakken

craichoe

Alun wrote: »

That would explain everything, stelletje klootzakken

Jees ... the boards.ie filter didn't catch that one

Our man in Havana

stelletje klootzakken

very good!

unkel

Alun wrote: »

stelletje klootzakken

Alun

Lot's of closet Dutch speakers around here all of a sudden!

Our man in Havana

U niet zeggen.

aujopimur

Remember when a foreign registered car is in Ireland temporarily it cannot be driven by anyone normally resident here

galwaytt

you have to change your licence after 12mths in the UK as well, it's not just the Dutch, Germans and Spanish at it.....

Dank je wel, and guten nacht!

Our man in Havana

galwaytt wrote: »

you have to change your licence after 12mths in the UK as well, it's not just the Dutch, Germans and Spanish at it.....

You can keep your Irish licence for as long as it is valid. That applies to all EU countries. Where do people get all the misinformation from?

Alun

Bond-007 wrote: »

You can keep your Irish licence for as long as it is valid. That applies to all EU countries. Where do people get all the misinformation from?

I really don't know, to be honest. There's lots of old stale information out there on various websites that has never been updated to reflect the (not so) new legislation, and a lot of people who should know better, including Gardai, giving out the same misinformation.

Mr.Diagnostic

Bond-007 wrote: »

You can keep your Irish licence for as long as it is valid. That applies to all EU countries. Where do people get all the misinformation from?

From traffico and the Guardia Civil in Spain. They are the ones who will fine me if I dont comply.

Alun

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

From traffico and the Guardia Civil in Spain. They are the ones who will fine me if I dont comply.

There are Gardai here, and police in the UK who still think the same, they're wrong, plain and simple.

I'm sure if you trawl the relevant websites there you'll find some material in Spanish to back this up. I don't speak a word of it myself so can't help out.

OK, this is in English, but it's quite definite on the matter ...

http://spain.angloinfo.com/countries/spain/exlicence.asp#eu