Imports Get Unique(ish) Reg Nos

Stingray

In todays IT motoring section, haven't noticed them yet

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2012/0201/1224311043519.html

Helpdesk

THIS WEEK: New reg makes imports easy to spot

From RD:

I imported a car from the UK, and was given a 10-D-1200XX reg, a six-digit number. The lady in the NCT office said that the sequencing had changed in November but couldn’t elaborate. Is there any reason for this change? Is it a cynical attempt by those with vested interests to undermine and isolate UK imports?

According to a Revenue spokeswoman: “The VRT system has not been changed to differentiate between imported cars and regular stock cars; it was re-platformed in December, 2011.” That means it relates to any cars imported from now on that were first registered in their country of origin prior to 2011. It’s in the choice of numbers for these imported cars that you and others take issue. Revenue has opted for a system that clearly singles out imported cars. According to the spokeswoman: “The sequence is based on the highest registration numbers used in all counties and that was in year 2000.”

In other words, imported cars re-registered in Dublin, for example, will feature numbers above 120,000, even in years when Dublin new car sales were far lower than this. While Revenue claims the changes are not about creating a way to differentiate imported cars, the end result does exactly that. Saying it has been “re-platformed” doesn’t change the consequences for owners and, if Revenue can make such changes to the system for imported cars, it’s well able to “re-platform” the current system to end the rush towards sales at the start of every year.

P.C.

There was a thread on here in January about these 'strange' numbers.

Some though they were fake plates, as they are not on Motorcheck yet.

smash

You could always fork out 1k for a personal plate if you really want to fit in.

working fool

Sounds like a way to comfort the members of simi after the scrapage has gone ?

An easy way to spot an import
And let the scaremongering begin

All imports are clocked
Imports are more likely to be right offs
And the old gem From the 80,s
Imports are more likely to rust because of the salt on the roads ! Lol

calvin_zola

what kind of effect could this have on imports... I just brought a focus in and got my reg number today.... is this really a big deal?

Seems like a good idea to me, a buddy spent €11,000 on a TT a few years back, one owner car from a main Audi dealer, turned out to be a UK car with one Irish owner, same lad is a bit clueless admittedly but.

ION08

RoverJames wrote: »

Seems like a good idea to me, a buddy spent €11,000 on a TT a few years back, one owner car from a main Audi dealer, turned out to be a UK car with one Irish owner, same lad is a bit clueless admittedly but.

Is the point that you're making that should the reg have been 1200xx he would have noticed it was an import and not bought it?

smash

RoverJames wrote: »

Seems like a good idea to me, a buddy spent €11,000 on a TT a few years back, one owner car from a main Audi dealer, turned out to be a UK car with one Irish owner, same lad is a bit clueless admittedly but.

Dealers are always at that. They say they get their info from cartell etc. which is inaccurate in a way as it only displays Irish owners. All you have to do is look at the log book to see the number of previous owners before import. Smoke n mirrors!

smash

No, but if he had know it was an import he may well have had less confidence in the dealer and got it checked out properly. One owner Irish car from a main dealer sounds better than UK import and then an Irish owner being sold from a main dealer to lots of folk. If it becomes common knowledge that high regs are likely to be imports that may be the case.

smash wrote: »

............ All you have to do is look at the log book to see the number of previous owners before import. Smoke n mirrors!

I know, cheers for that.

ION08

smash wrote: »

Dealers are always at that. They say they get their info from cartell etc. which is inaccurate in a way as it only displays Irish owners. All you have to do is look at the log book to see the number of previous owners before import. Smoke n mirrors!

Yes exactly, would you not just look at the log book of a car if you're that worried about it being an import?? it clearly states the registration date and previous reg numbers/ owners etc.

And if he was happy with the condition of the car to the level rthat he parted with 11k , what odds would it have made it if was an import or not

smash

smash wrote: »

You could always fork out 1k for a personal plate if you really want to fit in.

Can you?

kirving

Ridiculous tactic really, considering we're part of the EU. Just trying to alienate people who have gone to the effort of finding better value elsewhere, can't blame them(car buyers) for that.

ION08

ION08 wrote: »

...........

And if he was happy with the condition of the car to the level rthat he parted with 11k , what odds would it have made it if was an import or not

I believe the one owner speel and it being retailed from a main Audi dealer gave him a false level of confidence in a car, the lad is clueless enough when it comes to such things.

ION08

Realistically I have no issue with the number itself.

It's the intent behind the idea that annoys me.

The numbers actually look quite good IMO

I recently reg'd my car and "XX-D-1200XX" looks a lot better on the reg as opposed to something like "XX-D-89376"

corktina

RoverJames wrote: »

Can you?

yep, can you?

yet to be shown you can still do this for an import.

aujopimur

I've seen a few new import regs. around Cork 40XXX, I thought they looked ok.

dahamsta

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Ridiculous tactic really, considering we're part of the EU. Just trying to alienate people who have gone to the effort of finding better value elsewhere, can't blame them for that.

Fair point, I wonder would anything be gained with a complaint to the competition people in Europe. My experience says no, but that was a long time back.

puppetmaster

Its just another move to appease a lobby group, in this case the simi.
They will spout the usual rubbish to ward people away from 'Imported' cars.

It wont have any personal effect on me anyway. All Cars are imported. If your buying privatley it still carries the same Caveat emptor whether the car is Imported New or used. Although im sure the goal is to reduce the resale value on Used imported vehicles.

Maybe its more aimed at the other smaller dealers I see at the moment importing 6 month old cars from the UK and selling them a nice few k cheaper than their Irish Equivilents. More often than not at a higher spec. Which the New EU law will help as the VRT will be dropped on Cars 3months or younger.

kirving

Probably not, but in the same vein I think anything that is imported should be marked as such. A large red sticker with "TRAITOR" written in blue and white on it should do the trick. :pac:

opinion guy

As someone driving a car I imported myself I have no problem with this either way. Were I selling, I would tell any potential buyer that I imported it.

This is only a problem for someone who has set out to deceive buyers.

smash wrote: »

Dealers are always at that. They say they get their info from cartell etc. which is inaccurate in a way as it only displays Irish owners. All you have to do is look at the log book to see the number of previous owners before import. Smoke n mirrors!

Fixed that for you

ION08 wrote: »

Is the point that you're making that should the reg have been 1200xx he would have noticed it was an import and not bought it?

Well yes he would have noticed that and realised the dealer was a lying scumbag which is reason enough not to buy a car from anyone i reckon.

101sean

Lot of classic owners are unhappy with this as it applies to them as well, acmatman reported being given 56 D 120001 for a Russian jeep, wanted to know where he'd get planning permission for the length of the plate! All ZV plates are minimum of 5 numbers now which looks wrong.

Wouldn't bother me with a recent import but not having a separate system for classics is laziness by the VRO.

opinion guy

101sean wrote: »

wanted to know where he'd get planning permission for the length of the plate!

Atlantic Dawn

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Probably not, but in the same vein I think anything that is imported should be marked as such. A large red sticker with "TRAITOR" written in blue and white on it should do the trick. :pac:

The registration of a 2nd hand car gives far more to the government in VRT than any VAT earned on the sale of a 2nd hand car here. Perhaps "Patriot" would be a better sticker.

kirving

I know, but SIMI wouldn't wan't people to see it that way.

conzy

I would rather leather, aircon, parking sensors and a 120000 plate than cloth, wind up windows and hubcaps and a "patriotic plate" it shows you bought a well minded higher spec UK car!

Guy:Incognito

101sean wrote: »

Wouldn't bother me with a recent import but not having a separate system for classics is laziness by the VRO.

I vrt'd a car the other week and got 04d120051. Its stupid and pointless. What did original reg's go up to in 04 80,000 maybe? So now theres 40,000 reg numbers of a gap for no reason.

blastman

This is so utterly pointless.

corktina

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Probably not, but in the same vein I think anything that is imported should be marked as such. A large red sticker with "TRAITOR" written in blue and white on it should do the trick. :pac:

thats just about everything then...what do we make in this country?

dahamsta

My thought exactly, there hadn't been a car made in Ireland since fords shut down, the distributors seem to coin it when they're not simply incompetent, and I've never met a car dealer that didn't lie to me.

dfdream

What happens to a 2011 car thats imported this year.

My reading is that its outside of the scope of this and it takes the next number available for 2011.

Yes / No.

creedp

corktina wrote: »

thats just about everything then...what do we make in this country?

Funny when its OK for Govt/Business to award lucrative contracts to foreign companies/workers in the name of competition/EU Law but when an individual does the same thing the green jersey is hauled out. One law for one .....

dahamsta

Apparently 6 months is the cutoff, if it's less than 6 months old it'll be registered as normal.

creedp

dahamsta wrote: »

Apparently 6 months is the cutoff, if it's less than 6 months old it'll be registered as normal.

Jaysus that's even worse .. what's the justification for treating a 6 month old import differenty to a 5 month one?? Is this because a lot of garages are bringing in nearly new and want to maintain their market?

opinion guy

creedp wrote: »

Jaysus that's even worse .. what's the justification for treating a 6 month old import differenty to a 5 month one?? Is this because a lot of garages are bringing in nearly new and want to maintain their market?

I'd imagine thats because if its less than 6 months old then someone will be paying VAT + VRT on it.
It does seem as though they are trying to create a sort of 'traitor' licence plate as someone suggested earlier

drunkmonkey

Nearly every car i've had has been a UK import, don't see anything wrong with this, mainly go for the UK ones as they have a lot higher specification as the UK don't do insane things like force manufacturers to take out airbags to save on vrt.

corktina

corktina wrote: »

thats just about everything then...what do we make in this country?

Orthopaedic implants, catheters, stents, cardiovascular and neorovascular coils, drugs (Viagra, Enbrel etc etc...), babyfood, chocolate, windows and doors.......... fair few things really.

kirving

drunkmonkey wrote: »

....don't do insane things like force manufacturers to take out airbags to save on vrt.

Wha?! As in not have a higher spec by default as VRT would add even more to the selling cost, or actually taking airbags out?! VRT on safety equimpent is scandalous though, should be getting tax breaks on it.

opinion guy

RoverJames wrote: »

Orthopaedic implants, catheters, stents, cardiovascular and neorovascular coils, drugs (Viagra, Enbrel etc etc...), babyfood, chocolate, windows and doors.......... fair few things really.

You forgot KERRYGOLD!!!!!!!:mad:

copacetic

Not sure why they are doing it, but no harm imo.

I imported a few years back and sold on last year as an import, it's obvious and clear to anyone who runs the reg or checks the speedo. All this does is help out the not so smart people who might buy a car not knowing it is an import. Although possibly they won't realise what the numbers mean either.

I can't see most people being bothered by the reg numbers.

Re 6 months issue above, that's now 3 months now I think? And it's because the car is considered new for vat and vrt so not counted as second hand import.

Voodoomelon

Is the 120k+ number a Dublin county thing only? Or will there be 120k+ number for Louth as well?

copacetic

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Is the 120k+ number a Dublin county thing only? Or will there be 120k+ number for Louth as well?

Dublin only. Looks like each county will have its own number based on max ever likely regs.

Eg Cork from above appears to be 40k+

So Louth would be what, 5k+:D

opinion guy

copacetic wrote: »

Dublin only. Looks like each county will have its own number based on max ever likely regs.

Eg Cork from above appears to be 40k+

So Louth would be what, 5k+:D

lol....Leitrim will be anything above 10 :D

Voodoomelon

copacetic wrote: »

Dublin only. Looks like each county will have its own number based on max ever likely regs.

Eg Cork from above appears to be 40k+

So Louth would be what, 5k+:D

Well my import in 2008 for a 2000 reg was 9092. Id say it tops out around 5k at the moment alright.

Saab Ed

working fool wrote: »

Sounds like a way to comfort the members of simi after the scrapage has gone ?

An easy way to spot an import
And let the scaremongering begin

All imports are clocked
Imports are more likely to be right offs
And the old gem From the 80,s
Imports are more likely to rust because of the salt on the roads ! Lol

I had to laugh at the irony because its all still very true I'm afraid

For Forks Sake

opinion guy wrote: »

You forgot KERRYGOLD!!!!!!!:mad:

And Botox. Made in Westport.

dfdream

From what I can read of it, it seems that cars older than 2011 will only be effected and that cars registered after 2011 will get numbers as normal. So a 2010 car registered now will be 10D120000+ and a 12 month old (2011) registered now will be the next number in line for 2011 numbers.

D

QUOTE "any cars imported from now on that were first registered in their country of origin prior to 2011"

copacetic wrote: »

Not sure why they are doing it, but no harm imo.

I imported a few years back and sold on last year as an import, it's obvious and clear to anyone who runs the reg or checks the speedo. All this does is help out the not so smart people who might buy a car not knowing it is an import. Although possibly they won't realise what the numbers mean either.

I can't see most people being bothered by the reg numbers.

Re 6 months issue above, that's now 3 months now I think? And it's because the car is considered new for vat and vrt so not counted as second hand import.

ashleey

It's easy to tell an import and you don't need the licence plate.

Just look under the car. If there's less than 3 inches of mud in the wheel arches and there's no springs dragging on the ground it's an import and thus better.

You might end up seeing 'unpatriotic' second hand cars commanding a premium.

Yakuza

Unless there's a secret BMW/Ford/Mercedes/Nissan/Renault/Volkswagen factory somewhere in deepest darkest Athlone, aren't all cars imports?

As I posted on the other thread about this, it's a pointless change that makes no difference; there are many ways to spot an import other than a high reg number. If I were going to either buy an import or import one myself, this new system wouldn't make any difference to me.

FunkyExige

corktina wrote: »

yep, can you?

yet to be shown you can still do this for an import.

Id be interested to know if you can still buy the unused numbers for 1k.

Also did they stop block booking the first say 200 numbers after they raised the price of buying a plate.

mickdw

FunkyExige wrote: »

Id be interested to know if you can still buy the unused numbers for 1k.

Also did they stop block booking the first say 200 numbers after they raised the price of buying a plate.

Id say you can reserve any number if paying the 1k.

This is the first year that the first 200 numbers are available free although the 1k charge has been in place for a few years.

FunkyExige

mickdw wrote: »

Id say you can reserve any number if paying the 1k.

This is the first year that the first 200 numbers are available free although the 1k charge has been in place for a few years.

If thats the case then there will be no numbers to reserve if importing in the future from 2012 onwards