Do you pay for your new car completely first or do you insure it first?

kaji

Hi, buying a car on Sat, I've paid the deposit already. What I want to know is if I pay for it fully, and leave it in the garage for a few days, is that ok? Or should I insure it now?


Also, I was going to insure it over the internet, how long does this usually take or to go through? And can I drive it right away or do I have to wait for the disk to arrive? (or can I drive with a printout saying I'm insured)?

Thanks, sorry about all the questions

00_ghost_27

The garage won't mind you leaving the car there for a few days i'm sure, an as for getting insured online, I don't know for sure, but I assume that you will be insured as soon as payment is received. In saying that, I still think it is illegal to not have a valid insurance disc displayed, Enjoy your new car:cool:

Edit, why don't you insure it now online, and by the time the disc comes out maybe on monday or tuesday, you're good to go

McSpud

If you already have car insurance it should be as simple as calling your insurer & get insurance transferred or they will also likely allow overlap (insure both cars) for a few days.

I can't remember how I insured my first car but I presume I had agreed with the insurer in advance of collecting it. I could be wrong but I don't think missing a disc for couple of days is a big deal. If you are concerned I suppose wait until you get disk in the post.

Pete67

I would not pay for a car and then leave it sitting in the garage. Suppose the garage suddenly ceased trading? You may eventually get the car released, but who needs the hassle. Have the insurance in place before you pay for the car and drive it out of the garage there and then would be my advice.

motorman

Insure your car online, only takes 15 mins, then print off the confirmation email you get from the insurer and bring it with you to pick up the car. You choose what day and time your policy will start at when buying your insurance so pick a the date and time you are going to pick the car up. Once you have done that you are effectively insured.
What was mentioned earlier about it being illegal not to display insurance disk is very minor under genuine circumstances. Should you get stopped buy a gard present him with your email confirmation and the worst that will happen is he will ask you to present your insurance certificate at your nearest Garda station. So don’t fret and enjoy your new car.

cruizer101

Pay for it in full only when you pick it up.
When you insure online you are insured from the day you pick, that day if you want. And you get a print out with details, this should be enough. Although i'm not sure the exact law it would have to be a very mean guard tn do anything.

Fizman

You should be able to ring the insurance co and tell them exactly what date and time you want your policy to start. This would be your best bet I reckon as you won't be wasting any days/money with it sitting around.

I bought a new car 4 weeks back from a private seller. I'm based in Limerick and he was in Edenderry. I got a lift up to Tullamore off a mate after work on a Thursday evening. Told the insurance co to transfer the policy to the new car for 20.30 that evening, so I paid by credit card over the phone that day, and was good to drive it home.

Regarding driving without a disk....... 2 days after I got it I came to a Garda checkpoint. Now at this point there was 2 days tax left on the car, and there was no insurance disk!!! Female guard approached and before she opened her mouth I explained that I had just purchased it privately and had the log book sent off. Explained that insurance was paid up and awaiting disk arrival.

Sher asked for my license, as well as asking the age of the car and how much I paid for it. Told her and she just waved me on.

kaji

Thanks guys for the help

rebel.ranter

You will always get quoted the letter of the law (& rightly so) on this forum. The most important thing is for you to have an active Insurance policy on the car.

Yes it is an offence not to display an insurance disc, drive without road tax, not displaying road tax or NCT, but driving without insurance is the most serious the rest will often be over looked in the circumstance where you are literally just bringing the car home after buying it.
Most Garda will take a reasonable line on this if the circumstance is right. Expect trouble if you take the mick though. Of course if the car looks like it's in a bad way, or the occupants look dodgy or you've been acting the maggot no sympathy what so ever would be forthcoming.

imitation

I got shopped a few years ago while driving my dads car, he never put up the new insurance disc, so I got the standard bring the insurance cert in spiel, which I did, what they didnt mention was the 70 euro fine. Have the cert handy and I would imagine you`ll be ok, but if you get a grumpy gardai then you might get asked to bring in the cert.