UK import, UK resident. Need to change plates?

Yarisa

Hey guys, I know there's been loads of threads on importing cars from the UK, but here is my dilemma to which I havn't found a solution so far.

I was born in the UK and have had a family home there all my life. However, I am not a citizen and infact spent the majority of my life abroad. I'm currently studying in Ireland and would spend more time here than I do there. I recently decided to get a car from the UK as I couldn't find what I wanted here.

Based on my status, I don't think I qualify for VRT exemption, and have no problem with paying it. However, I plan on returning to the UK next year and was wondering if it would be of any use changing the plates. Should I get an Irish plate, would it be ok to just change it back to the original english one when I go back? Am I allowed to do that? Is it worth the hassle?

Also, as my dad has a car in the UK, would his insurance (AA) be able to cover me in Ireland? Do AA UK and AA Ireland work as one body or are they separate entities?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

keithclancy

Buy the car where you spend the most time.

Citzenship etc doesn't really matter, Residency is the key part.

You only qualify for VRT Exemption if you've owned a car for 6 months while living outside of Ireland.

ballooba

How long can the car be used in Ireland without being registered? If the person is a temporary resident can they bring it in for 3 months, then bring in another car for 3 months (maybe swap with a parent or other relative).

You should have no problem at all keeping it in uk plates. You are perfectly entitled to drive it for 6 months without registering as you have moved from outside Ireland with the car and sure who knows when that 6 months started.

With a english accent (I presume) and uk licence you will have no problems.

Tigger

Unless you are reported then revenue will take yer car.

keithclancy

Rayne Icy Medicine wrote: »

You should have no problem at all keeping it in uk plates. You are perfectly entitled to drive it for 6 months without registering as you have moved from outside Ireland with the car and sure who knows when that 6 months started.

With a english accent (I presume) and uk licence you will have no problems.

:rolleyes:

Jaysus ... worst advice ever.

Must remember that one for Holland with a German car, I'll wear my Lederhosen and a feather hat.

Sure I must be German then :pac::pac:

Its where you spend most of your time, you need to have a residence and live there, thats where the car is registered to.

If you spend most of your time in Ireland you cannot buy a car in the UK and drive in Ireland with it, doesn't matter if your English or from Timbuktu.

Tigger

Tigger wrote: »

Unless you are reported then revenue will take yer car.

They cant if he is inside 6 months and him being english and only living here temporarily will make it very difficult for them to take it at all. He would be unlucky to get such a rotten bad bas*ard to report him too.

keithclancy wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Jaysus ... worst advice ever.

Must remember that one for Holland with a German car, I'll wear my Lederhosen and a feather hat.

Sure I must be German then :pac::pac:

Its where you spend most of your time, you need to have a residence and live there, thats where the car is registered to.

If you spend most of your time in Ireland you cannot buy a car in the UK and drive in Ireland with it, doesn't matter if your English or from Timbuktu.

He is only here temporarily so why should he be forced to register. Btw I know someone driving the last 3 or 4 years on uk plates, there english accent and license means they usually get an "enjoy your holiday" at check points rather than trouble.

Yarisa

I guess I'd say I'm 'normally' resident in Ireland as I spend more time here, with school and all and only go to england during holidays. The thing is I have a family home in England, and proof of residence there as well e.g. Bank statements in my name,etc.
I don't like to get in trouble with the law so I guess I'll just take off my English plates, store them somewhere, get the Irish ones and when it's time to move back, unscrew and replace the plates. (and of course get the car insured, taxed and what not)

It's my first car and she's my baby. I don't want the gardai 'adopting' her...lol.

Yarisa

keithclancy wrote: »

Buy the car where you spend the most time.

Citzenship etc doesn't really matter, Residency is the key part.

You only qualify for VRT Exemption if you've owned a car for 6 months while living outside of Ireland.

By the way I already bought the car. Couldn't find what I was looking for here.

MunsterCycling

Yarisa wrote: »

I guess I'd say I'm 'normally' resident in Ireland as I spend more time here, with school and all and only go to england during holidays. The thing is I have a family home in England, and proof of residence there as well e.g. Bank statements in my name,etc.
I don't like to get in trouble with the law so I guess I'll just take off my English plates, store them somewhere, get the Irish ones and when it's time to move back, unscrew and replace the plates. (and of course get the car insured, taxed and what not)

It's my first car and she's my baby. I don't want the gardai 'adopting' her...lol.

Em.. you can't just take the plates off, you will need to export the car from the UK and then get it assessed by the NCTS for VRT and when you pay that you get your Irish plates, the UK ones are then gone forever

r-i-tect

Are you a full time student?

I seen plenty of UK students over here on UK plates, when stopped they just show their current student id

Northern Monkey

If you are just here to study you shouldn't need to re-register. An Irish student studying in the UK doesn't get an exemption bringing it in as their country of residence is still considered Ireland, same applies the other way.

"2.2.4 FOREIGN STUDENTS
A qualifying vehicle (see para 2.2.1) driven by a foreign student, i.e. one who has his/her
ordinary place of residence outside the State, may be granted temporary exemption provided the
student:

is in the State temporarily and primarily to pursue a course of studies;
does not engage in full-time (part time and vacation work can be disregarded) employment during the period of temporary exemption.

No application is necessary here but, in the event that a particular student requests it, exemption
may be granted by the local Revenue Office provided all the eligibility criteria are met."

slimjimmc

Some clear and simple information for you OP

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/importing_car_into_ireland.html

Temporary exemptions
In certain cases foreign-registered vehicles may be imported into Ireland temporarily by a non-resident without the requirement to pay VRT or register the vehicle. A non-resident is someone who usually lives outside Ireland for at least 185 days each year and the temporary exemption is for a period of up to 12 months. Foreign students who are studying in Ireland may bring a foreign-registered vehicle into Ireland and the 12-month time limit will be extended to cover the completion of their course. You can find information about Foreign Registered Vehicles Temporary Exemptions on the Revenue website.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/temporary-exemption-foreign-registered.html

4. What If I am a foreign student?
If you reside temporarily in the State primarily for the purpose of pursuing a course of studies you may bring a foreign registered Category A vehicle (e.g. a saloon, estate, hatchback, convertible, coupé, MPV, Jeep, etc. a minibus (with less than 13 permanently fitted seats including the driver's seat)) or a motor-cycle into the State provided it is registered in the country of your normal residence. The same conditions mentioned in paragraph 2 above apply and the 12 month time limit will be extended until you have completed your course of studies.

keithclancy

Yarisa wrote: »

I guess I'd say I'm 'normally' resident in Ireland as I spend more time here, with school and all and only go to england during holidays. The thing is I have a family home in England, and proof of residence there as well e.g. Bank statements in my name,etc.
I don't like to get in trouble with the law so I guess I'll just take off my English plates, store them somewhere, get the Irish ones and when it's time to move back, unscrew and replace the plates. (and of course get the car insured, taxed and what not)

It's my first car and she's my baby. I don't want the gardai 'adopting' her...lol.

Well if your a student in Ireland just keep it on your UK plates.

Theres, no issue as long as your not working.

Yarisa

keithclancy wrote: »

Well if your a student in Ireland just keep it on your UK plates.

Theres, no issue as long as your not working.

Hey all thanks so much for your advice so far.
Unfortunately the situation got more complex and im really in a fix here. I graduate from college this month and got offered a job here for a year, which I intend to take and afterwards return to the UK with my car, when the time is up.
If I do change plates and get the irish plates, what would the process be in re-registering the car when I get back to the UK? Im guessing i'd have to pay VRT twice.
The whole thing is just a headache

jjmcclure

Yarisa wrote: »

Hey all thanks so much for your advice so far.
Unfortunately the situation got more complex and im really in a fix here. I graduate from college this month and got offered a job here for a year, which I intend to take and afterwards return to the UK with my car, when the time is up.
If I do change plates and get the irish plates, what would the process be in re-registering the car when I get back to the UK? Im guessing i'd have to pay VRT twice.
The whole thing is just a headache

Are you from the North or the "Mainland"? If your from the north and return there "regularly" then you don't need to re register. Your place of normal residence is considered to be where your family ties are. IF your family ties are in another jurisdiction and you return there "regularly" with the car then you don't need to re register. "Regularly" is very loosely defined by The Revenue.

si_guru

There is no VRT for the UK.

Why not just buy a car here? How hard can it be to find a car you only need for 1 year???

Yarisa

jjmcclure wrote: »

Are you from the North or the "Mainland"? If your from the north and return there "regularly" then you don't need to re register. Your place of normal residence is considered to be where your family ties are. IF your family ties are in another jurisdiction and you return there "regularly" with the car then you don't need to re register. "Regularly" is very loosely defined by The Revenue.

Hey, I'm from the mainland and I do go there quite frequently on average I'd say once a month or once in two months. The thing is I only just got the car so all my journeys to England and back have been by air.

keithclancy

Yarisa wrote: »

Hey, I'm from the mainland and I do go there quite frequently on average I'd say once a month or once in two months. The thing is I only just got the car so all my journeys to England and back have been by air.

Your overcomplicating it,

Just get a car where you spend most of your time.

Theres not a huge difference between the UK/Ireland on second hand cars now anyway.

Yarisa

keithclancy wrote: »

Your overcomplicating it,

Just get a car where you spend most of your time.

Theres not a huge difference between the UK/Ireland on second hand cars now anyway.

That's the thing, I already bought the car. I bought it before I started this thread.

keithclancy

Yarisa wrote: »

That's the thing, I already bought the car. I bought it before I started this thread.

Right,

So basically your asking if you'll get away with it

If its a UK Reg then keep only UK documentation in the Car.
If its an Irish Reg then keep only Irish documentation in the Car.

Always say your only visiting.

Customs normally catch people out by letting them dig a hole for themselves, the simpler "i'm on holidays" or "visiting friends" thing is usually a quick "grand so" and a wave on.