First car - log book and motor tax query

gemi

Just looking for a bit of info as I bought my first (used) car today and am a bit confused as to what to do next. The car is out of tax since 12/11 and, as I live close to a motor tax office, the dealer gave me the log book and said I could bring it to office myself to tax the car, then get the log book sent off by them for change of ownership as it would be quicker....rather than have to wait to get the log book back to tax it and not be able to drive the car for another while yet. Just wondering if this is actually true, or whether I will need the log book to be in my name to get it taxed?

I can't get to the office until Monday at least, so just wondering if it would be worth my while to wait til then, or if he gave me incorrect info to just post the log book myself tomorrow so as not to waste time?

Also, anyone any idea how long it takes to get log book back with changed ownership?

Thank you muchly!
gemi

Stheno

Did they sign and date the change of ownership section for you? That should exempt you from paying tax up until today when you bought it.

It takes three to four weeks to get an updated logbook

gemi

Yep, signed and dated for today. Will I not be liable to pay for January then as it's dated in January?

I won't actually be driving it for another week or so but thought best to get it all out of the way while I can take time out of work to go to the motor tax office.

Stheno

gemi wrote: »

Yep, signed and dated for today. Will I not be liable to pay for January then as it's dated in January?

I won't actually be driving it for another week or so but thought best to get it all out of the way while I can take time out of work to go to the motor tax office.

Now that depends on the friendly lady/man in your local tax office.

I bought my current car on 31st Nov, and had to tax it for Nov.You tax a car for every month you own it and have it on the road, be it one hour or 31 days.

Went into the tax office and the lady at the counter told me to tootle on down to the local garda station and declare it off the road "Shure everyone does it", she said.

So you could do that, but if you drove it the day you bought it, that's illegal, and if you drive it the rest of Jan it's also illegal.

Up to you, I'd rather be safe than sorry, you've to go to the cops and sign a form stating you haven't driven it for the time stated.

Is the saving worth getting caught?

gemi

I see. Well, I didn't drive it, so might it may be possible to convince a local Garda that I haven't been driving it nor will I be driving it until at least February. But the difference is only about €30 so it's not the greatest expense in the world.

My main concern really is whether I should just send the log book off now to get the change of ownership done and wait the few weeks before getting taxed. Or are they likely to allow me to tax it in the motor tax office in the next few days when the log book is not in my name?

Stheno

gemi wrote: »

I see. Well, I didn't drive it, so might it may be possible to convince a local Garda that I haven't been driving it nor will I be driving it until at least February. But the difference is only about €30 so it's not the greatest expense in the world.

My main concern really is whether I should just send the log book off now to get the change of ownership done and wait the few weeks before getting taxed. Or are they likely to allow me to tax it in the motor tax office in the next few days when the log book is not in my name?

It has to be processed by Shannon as far as I know.

If I were ypu, I'd photocopy it, send it to Shannon, and keep the photocopy in the car should you get stopped.

You can also use motortax.ie enter the reg and your details and tax it online as soon as it gets updated.

I took the photocopy route and was fine.

Send off the change of ownership asap.

coylemj

gemi wrote: »

My main concern really is whether I should just send the log book off now to get the change of ownership done and wait the few weeks before getting taxed. Or are they likely to allow me to tax it in the motor tax office in the next few days when the log book is not in my name?

I was in your exact situation i.e. the dealer gave me the registration cert. instead of posting it to Shannon. I brought the cert. to the tax office in Nutgrove and went up to a lady at the information counter, she said the dealer should not have given me the cert. but she wrote something on the tax renewal form I had partially filled out, she then told me how to finish filling in the form, handed me back the documents and told me to go ahead. I waited for my ticket to be called, went up to the counter, paid the money and got a new tax disc. The counter assistant kept the registration cert and I got a new one in my name seven days later.

gemi

Thank you both. I'm beside Nutgrove, so I'll chance my arm in the hope I also get the lovely lady. But, will also be photocopying the log book just incase this fails miserably and I have to wait weeks to sort the tax out whilst awaiting it's return.

Thanks again!