STOPPED BY POLICE IN UK DRIVING IRISH CAR

qprfan

Hi
Does anyone know what is the minimum requirement for driving an Irish registered car in the UK?

If one is stopped by the police in the UK, it goes without saying that you must be insured to drive in the UK. But what else do you have to have?

Do you have to have a D.O.E. / N.C.T. CERTIFICATE?
Do you have to have valid Irish Road Tax?

Regards

Drummerboy08

It depends on how long you're driving over there for. If it's for a few days/weeks on a holiday I'm sure they won't mind, but if it's a fairly long term thing then I would imagine you need to register the car there.

UK police won't give a sh1te about Irish Motor tax, mostly because the HMRS won't see a penny of it. They would probably be more upset at the fact that you would be avoiding paying UK tax if the car was on the road over there for a long period of time.

Marcusm

By law, you must carry the original VLC/logbook, original insurance certificate (not the disc, that's not good enough) and your driving licence with you at all times. THe car must be roadworthy and satisfy all requirements for being on the road in your home country. Some interpret this as meaning the road tax needs to be up to date but it's not definitive. It would need to have complied with NCT. If you don't have upto date tax, the UK authorities will notice it and if your other documents are not immediately to hand, expect to be brought to the station (without your car of course)! You might not be taken to the staton of course but better to plan by having the documents.

johnos1984

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

UK police won't give a sh1te about Irish Motor tax.

True but I think the PSNI may.........you can certainly get towed if you are parked with no road tax and you can get a ticket

galwaytt

johnos1984 wrote: »

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

UK police won't give a sh1te about Irish Motor tax.

True but I think the PSNI may.........you can certainly get towed if you are parked with no road tax and you can get a ticket

Yes, PSNI definitely do. Iirc, what they look for is compliance. What I mean is, to be legal in one EU State, it must be compliant in its home State. Lack of tax would be a flag to give you a grilling if nothing else. Not sure they can enforce no-tax though, as say, a French car wouldn't have anyway, but, ever tried arguing your case on the A5 at 3 am...? Obstreperousness, and pedantism takes on a whole new meaning.......and you'll lose anyway.

To quote the gent I met....." I don't to give any reason to lock you up for 24hrs....."......and he was a Scot.......

Mylow

galwaytt wrote: »

Lack of tax would be a flag to give you a grilling if nothing else.

Work colleague had car taken off him outside Omagh.....tax was out on it...yes Irish registered car. Cost him £250+ to pay for tow and storage.

maidhc

Marcusm wrote: »

By law, you must carry the original VLC/logbook, original insurance certificate (not the disc, that's not good enough) and your driving licence with you at all times. THe car must be roadworthy and satisfy all requirements for being on the road in your home country. Some interpret this as meaning the road tax needs to be up to date but it's not definitive. It would need to have complied with NCT. If you don't have upto date tax, the UK authorities will notice it and if your other documents are not immediately to hand, expect to be brought to the station (without your car of course)! You might not be taken to the staton of course but better to plan by having the documents.

I was stopped in Liverpool and didn't have any proof of insurance. I was given a ticket and told to produce it in Anglesea St., Cork. The Garda behind the public counter found it amusing and we both agreed he would make a copy of the policy and put on file.


I suspect it was shredded!

Marcusm

maidhc wrote: »

I was stopped in Liverpool and didn't have any proof of insurance. I was given a ticket and told to produce it in Anglesea St., Cork. The Garda behind the public counter found it amusing and we both agreed he would make a copy of the policy and put on file.


I suspect it was shredded!

Good to know but he could equally have impounded your car pending production of the documents.

seniorstaff

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

It depends on how long you're driving over there for. If it's for a few days/weeks on a holiday I'm sure they won't mind, but if it's a fairly long term thing then I would imagine you need to register the car there.

UK police won't give a sh1te about Irish Motor tax, mostly because the HMRS won't see a penny of it. They would probably be more upset at the fact that you would be avoiding paying UK tax if the car was on the road over there for a long period of time.

You MUST inform your insurance company that you will be using your car in the UK, bring your insurance certificate, not a photocopy, and your vehichle registration document,and most importantly,your FULL driving licence,it is not permitted to drive outside of ireland on a learner permit, play by the rules you wont have any problems

MugMugs

seniorstaff wrote: »

You MUST inform your insurance company that you will be using your car in the UK, bring your insurance certificate, not a photocopy, and your vehichle registration document,and most importantly,your FULL driving licence,it is not permitted to drive outside of ireland on a learner permit, play by the rules you wont have any problems

Must you? What about the European Motor Insurance Directives which promote ease for an Insured to go from one EU country to another?

corktina

i never do.

AugustusMinimus

Neither do I. Never heard about this requirement.

In addition, I believe you need a high visability jacket and a red triangle in the boot to drive in most countries on the continent ?

Killgore Trout

seniorstaff wrote: »

You MUST inform your insurance company that you will be using your car in the UK, bring your insurance certificate, not a photocopy, and your vehichle registration document,and most importantly,your FULL driving licence,it is not permitted to drive outside of ireland on a learner permit, play by the rules you wont have any problems

Tell that to anyone living in the border counties. Must've travelled to in the UK hundreds of times at this stage without telling my insurance company. sometimes multiple times in the same day.

heate

Inform your insurance company you are going to the UK?
Who in there right mind wastes an insurance companies employees time by telling them they are crossing the border?
I've driven across Europe several times without incident carry your insurance cert in the car and your full license.
I've an Irish registered car outside the EU and keep it insured and NCT isn't up but as I'm not driving it near an Irish road I'm not paying my road tax thank you very much.
There are plenty of people who cross into other countries on a daily basis without insurance issues.

ScouseMouse

Don't believe it!

How many people pop up to newry/belfast/derry/over to holyhead every day.

Each and every one of these people are supposed to ring their insurer to say they are going?

Don't believe it for one second.

L1011

seniorstaff wrote: »

You MUST inform your insurance company that you will be using your car in the UK

1968 called....

You don't need to inform your insurer that you're using your car *anywhere* in the EEA but you do need to be aware that any first-party cover (comp, fire/theft, etc) may lapse after a period of time depending on your policy schedule. Third party is valid as long as the policy is valid.

Blitzkrieger

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

In addition, I believe you need a high visability jacket and a red triangle in the boot to drive in most countries on the continent ?

Well, you don't really. If you're in another EU country temporarily, the only requirement is that your car is road legal in your home country. For example; I think German laws require a greater minimun thread depth than here, but you don't need to change your tyres to go on holiday. The law doesn't require a hi-vis jacket here so you don't need one in France either.

I don't know how much luck you'd have explaining that to a bollox of a Gendarme though....


[side rant]****ers searched my car for drugs despite their dog not batting an eyelid and completely ignored the massive Ford Galaxy towing a huge caravan waiting for the ferry home next to me. Now I'm no policeman, but which vehicle has more hiding places and carrying capacity? Twats.... [/side rant]

Marcusm

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Neither do I. Never heard about this requirement.

In addition, I believe you need a high visability jacket and a red triangle in the boot to drive in most countries on the continent ?

If you need the high vis jacket, ypu need to be able to put it on without getting out of the car so afer to carry it in the cabin!!

The AA does a pack which includes most if not all of the things you needs. I just leave it in the car.

Our man in Havana

The law doesn't require a hi-vis jacket here so you don't need one in France either.

I wish you the best of luck arguing that with a Gendarme at 3am at a toll booth on the A1 near Paris.

L1011

Our man in Havana wrote: »

I wish you the best of luck arguing that with a Gendarme at 3am at a toll booth on the A1 near Paris.

He does mention that.

Ditto a jumped up former Volkspolizei in Dresden. Significantly easier to just buy what they want you to - its not particularly expensive and none of it is ridiculous to suggest either. Other than the second pair of glasses rule - I've had lights blow, I've used hiviz in Ireland, I've needed a plaster but in nearly half a million km, I've NEVER had my glasses suddenly break.

qprfan

Thanks for your comments which are food for thought.

To put more clarity into the original question though: this relates to a friend of mine who went to England to look for work.

He has a commercial vehicle and is covered for insurance over there; this is easy to renew anyway.
However he has been over a few months now and the tax and D.O.E are about to run out.
He is wondering if he has to return to Ireland, right away, to renew them or can he continue to drive over there with only insurance cover until he is ready to return.

Our man in Havana

No DOE and tax will get him in a lot of bother. Safer to send it to Ireland or re register it in the UK.

coylemj

seniorstaff wrote: »

You MUST inform your insurance company that you will be using your car in the UK, bring your insurance certificate, not a photocopy, and your vehichle registration document,and most importantly,your FULL driving licence,it is not permitted to drive outside of ireland on a learner permit, play by the rules you wont have any problems

You do NOT have to inform your insurance company if you're going to the UK, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Axa allows me to drive in mainland Europe for up to 30 days and there is no requirement to notify them.

If you disagree, please tell me who you're insured with and I'll check their policy document.

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

In addition, I believe you need a high visability jacket and a red triangle in the boot to drive in most countries on the continent ?

In France the hi-vis jacket has to be in the cab so you can put it on before getting out of the car in the event of a breakdown.

In some countries a first aid kit is mandatory and it must be within it's expiration date.

whiterebel

Blitzkrieger wrote: »

Well, you don't really. If you're in another EU country temporarily, the only requirement is that your car is road legal in your home country. For example; I think German laws require a greater minimun thread depth than here, but you don't need to change your tyres to go on holiday. The law doesn't require a hi-vis jacket here so you don't need one in France either.

I don't know how much luck you'd have explaining that to a bollox of a Gendarme though....


[side rant]****ers searched my car for drugs despite their dog not batting an eyelid and completely ignored the massive Ford Galaxy towing a huge caravan waiting for the ferry home next to me. Now I'm no policeman, but which vehicle has more hiding places and carrying capacity? Twats.... [/side rant]

France has its own requirements such as Spare bulbs, first aid kit, light benders etc. Spain also has its own, such as Hi-Viz must be kept in the cabin, and be put on before getting out of the vehicle. You cannot have a Sat Nav on the windscreen, it must be out of the drivers line of sight. Worth reading up on before you drive in another country.

Lord Nikon

What about driving an off-duty taxi in the UK?

Davidth88

I travel to the UK ( England/Wales as well as NI ) reasonably often

I would ensure my tax is up to date , NCT insurance etc correct and accounted for . I have never been bothered by the police there , but I am careful because the motorways there in particular are much better policed than here ( try stopping on the hard shoulder there and you will be approached within mins by either the police or the Highways agency ).

France now requires a breathaliser kit as well !

If driving in Germany , be careful that you don't run out of fuel on the Autobahn's you will be fined . Also watch out for speed limits . I was driving in convoy with two friends in Germany , they speeded off ( they had flash XR3s ... it was in the 80's ) , but got done for speeding across a bridge were the ' no limits ' Autobahn had a 100kph limit for about 500m. I PMSL as I drove past them both on the hard shoulder .....It was quite a large fine IIRC.

Marcusm

neuromancer wrote: »

What about driving an off-duty taxi in the UK?

Don't see that it should be a problem but would remove the roof light, (1) to reduce drag (2) to avoid drawing unwanted attention.