Not insured, how to get coverage for test drive?

ballypoo

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a used car in Ireland and badly need some advice on how to go about the test drive bit. I have a full US license (and an international license), but have no insurance here as yet. I'm under the impression you can't actually get insured until you have actually purchased a car, so how would one go about test driving, either through a private seller or dealer, without being covered? Would it be the case that dealers have special coverage for the test driving circumstance? If I go private, which in fairness seems much more economical, can I arrange temporary insurance for a specific day?

Thanks for all help.

On a separate note, any recommendations for a reliable hatchback automatic would be much appreciated!

unkel

Hi ballypoo and welcome to boards.ie

I take it you live here now and that's why you're planning to buy a car?

Bad news I'm afraid, your US license doesn't count for anything anywhere in the EU. You will need to get an Irish driving license and to get a full one, you will need to pass the driving test (theory + practical)

bazz26

Dealer garage insurance generally does cover test drives, I would imagine that it only covers those that have a valid Irish or EU licence though. As Unkle points out you will need to sort out the licence thing first before even looking at buying a car.

As for recommending an automatic hatchback, you will have your work cut out for you as they are not big sellers so most autos with small engines are not great.

Pkiernan

unkel wrote: »

Hi ballypoo and welcome to boards.ie

I take it you live here now and that's why you're planning to buy a car?

Bad news I'm afraid, your US license doesn't count for anything anywhere in the EU. You will need to get an Irish driving license and to get a full one, you will need to pass the driving test (theory + practical)

This is incorrect.

It is legal to drive on a foreign license for up to 1 year after arriving in Ireland.

More information on this page:

http://www.dublincity.ie/ROADSANDTRAFFIC/DRIVINGLICENCES/Pages/ExchangeForeignLicence.aspx

Unfortunately, one cannot exchange a US license for an Irish one. After 1 year here, the OP will need to have passed the Irish driving test.

unkel

Pkiernan wrote: »

This is incorrect.

It is legal to drive on a foreign license for up to 1 year after arriving in Ireland.

Many people in this country, the Dublin city council website and yourself included, do not understand the concept of residency

You are wrong

From day 1 you live in Ireland (as opposed to working here on a temp contract or being a tourist, etc.), you need a full EU license to drive here.

The US Irish embassy website does explain it properly:

http://dublin.usembassy.gov/service/other-citizen-services/other-citizen-services/driving.html wrote:

American citizens are permitted to drive with a U.S. driver's license for the duration of a visit to Ireland; i.e., as long as their status is that of tourist and not resident.

slimjimmc

Sorry can't advise on the insurance, I don't think you can get short term insurance like that here. The best you can do is buy a full 12 months contract then cancel whenever you're finished, you'll get a refund but it won't be as much as you'd think, e.g. if you cancel after 1 week you might only get an 80% refund.

Might be better to buy from a dealer, you can check if you're covered under their business insurance for the test drive but they might require a full licence from an EU country.

Be aware that if you have been staying here for more than 12 months your US licence is useless and you must undergo the full learner driver process from scratch, ie. obtain learner permit, drive only when accompanied with full licensed driver, and minimum 6 months before testing. Link

With no insurance record here you're definitely looking for a low power small car and even then you may be shocked at the cost of insurance. Small automatic hatchbacks are as rare than hen's teeth, the overwhelming majority are manual transmission. Nissan Micra, Toyota Yaris or Honda Civic come to mind as dull but reliable choices.

Look up a few of the on-line sites to get an an idea of availability and asking price (which are often pitched high so that they can be negotiated down).

Pkiernan

unkel wrote: »

Many people in this country, the Dublin city council website and yourself included, do not understand the concept of residency

You are wrong

From day 1 you live in Ireland (as opposed to working here on a temp contract or being a tourist, etc.), you need a full EU license to drive here.

The US Irish embassy website does explain it properly:

Your original statement that a US license is of no use in the EU is wrong. Simple as that.

Paul_D

Most of the driving instructors will hire their car to you to do the test. However for that you need to have Lerner Permit for at least 6 months and have taken 12 driving lessons in the past.

ballypoo

Many thanks for the advice so far, it's been extremely helpful. As for the validity of my US license, I'm on a year long student visa and do not have a permanent residency stamp or work visa so it seems like this may be a grey area of sorts? Of course, I will be looking to apply for the Irish drivers test before the year is out, but I should (hopefully) be legally okay on a temporary basis until such a time.

That's disheartening to hear that automatic hatchbacks aren't as solid as their manual counterparts. I've been online searching for the past few days and have found the choice extremely limited (and more expensive to boot) compared to the manuals. Still, there are a good few out there at the moment. I've been looking at the Nissan Micras and Opel Corsas in particular because of price. The Hondas and Toyotas seem to be higher priced for the same amount of miles, features. I'm not that fussy, I just want something that will take me from point A to B, but I suppose that you get what you pay for in a lot of cases. Still, trying to make an informed choice with a limited personal knowledge base!

unkel

Pkiernan wrote: »

Your original statement that a US license is of no use in the EU is wrong. Simple as that.

That wasn't my original statement now, was it

A US license is of no use as soon as you live in the EU...

NUTZZ

Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?....

:pac:

unkel

NUTZZ wrote: »

Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?....

:pac:

LOL - probably my fault. I tend to warm up threads when someone incorrectly states that I am wrong. Sorry about that

kerten

What I understand from here is you can use your US license+international driving permit combination legally until end of first year.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html

In reality, you wouldn't even need permit if you don't piss off guards by your driving. Telling guards you are here for a year only is fine.

Expect high insurance cost with a non EU license. I don't know if it is possible to buy insurance without car details except open drive policies.

CiniO

unkel wrote: »

LOL - probably my fault. I tend to warm up threads when someone incorrectly states that I am wrong. Sorry about that

You are wrong here:

A US license is of no use as soon as you live in the EU.

The nearest example is very close - UK.

As a UK resident, you can exchange your foreign driving licence for a UK driving licence if it was issued by one of the following : Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Australia, Barbados, the British Virgin Isles, Canada, the Falkland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Zimbabwe.

If your driving licence was issued in any other country, you can only use your foreign licence for twelve months after arriving in the UK. Within this time frame, you must apply for a provisional driving licence

http://www.yourdrivinglicence.co.uk/what-test-will-i-need-take-change-licence-from-us-uk.html

CiniO

unkel wrote: »

Many people in this country, the Dublin city council website and yourself included, do not understand the concept of residency

You are wrong

From day 1 you live in Ireland (as opposed to working here on a temp contract or being a tourist, etc.), you need a full EU license to drive here.

The US Irish embassy website does explain it properly:

The only problem that being a resident is not just that straight forward.

Of course that according to regulations, if you come here, get a job and intend to stay for a while (longer than 6 months at least) you might be treated as resident.
But try to explain it to any of the social welfare officees, or medical card offices, etc, that after one day being here you are resident.
They will be pushing as much as they can, to prove that you are not resident.
The same, there is not really any way that while stopped by garda they can prove that you are resident in Ireland, as residency before being here full half year is based on intention to stay. Anyone can deny such intention which is enough to prove not to be resident.

In example anyone can say, that he came to Ireland, got a permanent job, but is not sure if he intents to stay or not - will decide after few months.

Our man in Havana

Try telling a customs man that you are not resident. A whole different kettle of fish.