Registering car with left-hand drive

LinHaX

Hi. I have an opportunity to buy a wonderfull Opel Kadett Cabrio`90 with 2.0 16v GSi engine. Unfortunately it`s imported from Poland, and it has Polish plates and steering wheel on left hand side. Is it possible to register this car in Ireland without converting it to right hand side drive? I was dreaming about this car, but I won`t buy it having no use of it.

LinHaX

Victor

You can register it, but VRT may be an issue. If you are Irish, you aren't allowed drive a foreign registered vehicle.

Gary ITR

You'll need to register it. Insurance shouldn't be too bad there is a small loading for LHD cars though but that really depends on your own circumstances

LinHaX

I`m Polish, so it won`t be a problem. How is the VRT calculated? It`s quite rare car and I have never seen it in Ireland.

Guy:Incognito

Victor wrote: »

You can register it, but VRT may be an issue. If you are Irish, you aren't allowed drive a foreign registered vehicle.

It's if you are normally resident in Ireland. You dont have to actually be Irish.

LinHaX

I`m not a resident yet, I`m in Ireland less than 18 months now. I will ask about VRT tomorrow, and later on I`ll check the insurance - but I have my full driving license for just one year, and it`s still 2 litre sportscar.

peasant

Insurance may get difficult.

The usual online insurances don't normally quote for LHD, so you will have to ring around. The fact that it is a cabriolet will also put up the price by a bit and the fact that it's rare and 20 years old could mean that it can't be found in any database, making it next to impossible to get a quote.
With a car that old the insurance is also likely to insist on new NCT or an engineers report before they will insure it ...but as it is an import, you will have to get it NCT'd anyway.

BTW if you live here, work here and pay taxes here you are resident

DonJose

LinHaX wrote: »

I`m not a resident yet, I`m in Ireland less than 18 months now. I will ask about VRT tomorrow, and later on I`ll check the insurance - but I have my full driving license for just one year, and it`s still 2 litre sportscar.

From the revenues point of view you are resident for tax purposes for a year if:
You spend 183 days or more in Ireland in that year from 1 January – 31 December or,
You spend 280 days or more in Ireland over a period of two consecutive tax years, you will be regarded as resident for the second tax year. For example, if you spend 140 days here in Year 1 and 150 days here in Year 2, you will be resident in Ireland for Year 2.

corktina

20years old, you may be able to get classic Insurance on it but usually that depends on you having a "normal" first car (or in some cases use of a wroks vehicle or company car. Hope that helps.

Being LHD wont be a problem (except overtaking trucks that is, but I guess you are used to that)

bmstuff

The car being a LHD, you are entitled to a 25% discount on the VRT.
Make sure you specify the car is a LHD when you register it and ask for the discount.

Not all insurers do ask extra fee for LHD, I am with Axa, they do not care.

ninja_45

Stekelly wrote: »

It's if you are normally resident in Ireland. You dont have to actually be Irish.

I am Irish, lived abroad for 1.5 years, brought home my LHD car, registered it and there was no issue with me being Irish...

Guy:Incognito

ninja_45 wrote: »

I am Irish, lived abroad for 1.5 years, brought home my LHD car, registered it and there was no issue with me being Irish...

Who said there was?

VRT has nothing to do with nationality. It's about residency. Whether you are Irish living abroad and coming home or Brazilian moving to Ireland, you are becoming a resident here. If you qualify under the condtions you are VRT exempt. Otherwise you pay VRT.

ninja_45

Sorry meant to quote Victor, not yourself. Apologies...