Moving to UK, buying new car vs bringing over car.

shoutman

So here's the story,

I'm moving to England to start a new job in september, I currently drive an '03 Audi A3 (It's the older body type), It needs NCT and tax is up from the first of August.

Now my question is, should I sell it here, or bring it over and register it in the UK. There's no problems with the car, had it serviced a year ago when last doing the NCT and have never had any problems re: breakdowns. Car is spotless except for one scratch (think somebody pulled a wheely bin beside it.)

From looking at carzone I'd expect to get 5-6k for it over here and wouldn't be willing to put too much money (around 2k) on top of that when/if it comes to buying a new car in the UK.

I really like my current car, and as I'm still young etc. there is no need to be moving into the family saloon market just yet.

Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

keithclancy

Move over, keep car on Irish plates for 6 months

Less hassle, you can drive over your stuff and if you change your mind you can drive back

Register it if your going to stay long term.

You can always sell it at any stage.

dlofnep

If you do sell it, you'll probably get a better value car in England.

shoutman

shoutman wrote: »

..............I currently drive an '03 Audi A3 (It's the older body type), It needs NCT and tax is up from the first of August..................I'd expect to get 5-6k for it over here .......................

Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

Well realistically you'd be lucky to get €4500 for it over here even with a fresh NCT.

shoutman

keithclancy wrote: »

Move over, keep car on Irish plates for 6 months

Less hassle, you can drive over your stuff and if you change your mind you can drive back

Register it if your going to stay long term.

You can always sell it at any stage.

Can I drive it over there without Irish tax? And if i'm over there for more then six months I need to register it with English plates yea?

I'm certainly going to be over there for at least 12 months.

William Powell

shoutman wrote: »

Can I drive it over there without Irish tax? And if i'm over there for more then six months I need to register it with English plates yea?

I'm certainly going to be over there for at least 12 months.

Will you be coming back here at any time in a car?

shoutman

Probably not, I can leave the car over there and have another car I can drive for the short while that I am back.

keithclancy

shoutman wrote: »

Can I drive it over there without Irish tax? And if i'm over there for more then six months I need to register it with English plates yea?

I'm certainly going to be over there for at least 12 months.

Technically no, but realistically maybe.

Better to have it Taxed, Insured and NCT'd

Drive it back once within the 6 month period and keep the ferry ticket.

corktina

shoutman wrote: »

Can I drive it over there without Irish tax? And if i'm over there for more then six months I need to register it with English plates yea?

I'm certainly going to be over there for at least 12 months.

legally, no you cant drive it there without all the paperwork necessary to be road legal here and the Police will have it off you if they get a sniff thats its not fully legal. If you are going to be a permanent resident there, I imagine you'd need to re-reg it immediiately same as here.

The chancers will tell you you'll get away with and you may well do so, but it is a risk.

Back to the original question, Id sell the car here and buy afresh in the UK. Better cars both in terms of spec and maintenance and lower prices..no brainer

William Powell

shoutman wrote: »

Probably not, I can leave the car over there and have another car I can drive for the short while that I am back.

I was just thinking if you are actually driving back home occasionally you could leave the plates up as long as you like.

I'd be inclinded to at least think about selling here and buying in the UK, but there is always something to be said for the devil you know and it will of course be handy for taking you and some of your stuff over to the UK.

User Friendly

keithclancy wrote: »

Move over, keep car on Irish plates for 6 months

Less hassle, you can drive over your stuff and if you change your mind you can drive back

Register it if your going to stay long term.

You can always sell it at any stage.

Hi, one question,who is going to insure The poster for 6 mths abroad,the max you will get is something like 90 days with quinn D,most other irish companies will allow just 30 days.

i doubt an english ins firm will insure the poster on irish plates,of course i could be wrong

Do-more

If you bring it with you to the UK and re-register it and then down the line go to sell it, you will probably have to bring it back here and put it back onto Irish plates to get any value for it.

A UK dealer is unlikely to take it as a trade in or if they do will give you next to nothing for it.

Just factor in that hassle if you decide to bring it with you.

Personally I would sell it here and buy something else in the UK. If there is a chance of you moving back here in a years time make sure to keep all your UK car tax and insurance documents and petrol receipts, wage slips etc. to prove to the VRO that it has been in your regular use in the UK so that you can bring it back here without paying VRT.

corktina

User Friendly wrote: »

Hi, one question,who is going to insure The poster for 6 mths abroad,the max you will get is something like 90 days with quinn D,most other irish companies will allow just 30 days.

i doubt an english ins firm will insure the poster on irish plates,of course i could be wrong

i think the 30 days is for comprehensive cover, and third party would apply for longer, probably 6 months.
I think your point is correct about Uk ins companies

shoutman

Thanks for the advice, will look into selling it and buying one over there. One final question, seeing as you are all so knowledgeable, I've noticed that in the uk tax can be next to nothing if the car has low emissions, does this only count for new cars (I think its 08 or newer) or should I just be looking at any car with low emissions. I'm thinking diesel here.

I'm not a petrolhead so couldn't give a toss what the engine sounds like

keithclancy

User Friendly wrote: »

Hi, one question,who is going to insure The poster for 6 mths abroad,the max you will get is something like 90 days with quinn D,most other irish companies will allow just 30 days.

i doubt an english ins firm will insure the poster on irish plates,of course i could be wrong

Depends on the policy, most its 90 days, some 30 days etc, but this is for any cover beyond Third Party Only.

All Insurers are required by European Law to offer Third Party Cover across the Entire union for the duration of the Insurance Contract:

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/insurance/motor_en.htm

All compulsory motor insurance policies should cover, on the basis of a single premium and during the whole term of the contract, the entire territory of the Union, including for any period in which the vehicle remains in other Member States during the term of the contract. Please note, however, that the Directive does not regulate the so-called comprehensive cover (cover for one's own physical damage, material damage to one's own vehicle and vehicle theft, amongst others).

Your not considered resident there until your 6 months in the Country and even then if you can prove you have ties at home, you can still claim residency there.

If you think about it, it would not be practical to enforce rules on Individuals as it affects the right to free movement across the EU.

Just becuase you work there and stay there occasionally doesn't mean that your automatically a resident.

CiniO

corktina wrote: »

legally, no you cant drive it there without all the paperwork necessary to be road legal here and the Police will have it off you if they get a sniff thats its not fully legal.

I can't remember all details right now, but I remember I quoted once the regulations on this forum.
Irish motor tax is expected to be paid for vehicles registered in Ireland and used on public roads in Ireland.
If the vehicle is used only abroad, there is no legal requirement to be taxed in Ireland.

Marcusm

corktina wrote: »

legally, no you cant drive it there without all the paperwork necessary to be road legal here and the Police will have it off you if they get a sniff thats its not fully legal. If you are going to be a permanent resident there, I imagine you'd need to re-reg it immediiately same as here.

The chancers will tell you you'll get away with and you may well do so, but it is a risk.

Back to the original question, Id sell the car here and buy afresh in the UK. Better cars both in terms of spec and maintenance and lower prices..no brainer

Definitely a risk but there are a lot of foreign regard cars here in London and man of them for long periods. Helps avoid congestion charging, speed camera tickets etc. I worked wih a guy who had a French regard car here for a year or two and he even managed to get a residents parking disc for a period. I don't think that's common and depending on were you're living, could be a significant factor.

It's funny that this thread is on today as was intrigued by a Bulgarian regard Vectra I saw this evening. Why so funny? It was a RHD VAUXHALL not a LHD OPEL. Could be legitimately here for a short time but I bet not!