First car questions - male 22 yr old in NI

jumbone

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a bit of advice on buying my first car. I currently live in Belfast but am from Kildare and my family home is still there.
I plan on buying a car in the next month or two and sitting my test and would ideally like an Irish licence (patriotism+no R plate restrictions+no points+may not be in NI permanently). Practically this will probably involve doing my test in the north and an exchange. I just have a few queries first of all:

Will it be cheaper to insure a car in the north with an NI licence?

Could I buy a car in the south bring it up and not tax/nct it?

Until I have my test passed as there any way I could drive my NI reg'd car in the south (I have an roi learner permit that's still valid) if my insurance said I had a uk provisional? Obviously if let them know before doing it but has anybody any experience of this? I wouldn't e is in the motorway either!

Is the vrt exemption a once in a lifetime thing it should i maybe consider a slightly nicer car with this in mind?

Finally any suggestions on the car sub 1.4 and considering uk insurance groups.

Budget is <1000 pound/ euro equivalent

Cheers

jumbone

Just had another thought - would i still get a bike entitlement with an ni licence? and would this transfer without cbt?

guttenberg

If I were you I'd be doing the test south of the border, you have the permit and as said you'd be dodging the stupid R plates. To pass the test in NI you first need a NI provisional license. I'd get the test sorted before you buy a car. Driving solo in NI on L plates will see you in Court, driving a NI reg on L plates solo in ROI could see the car seized if your caught. Driving a ROI car with no tax/nct in NI could also see the car seized if caught. With regards motorbikes, I think you may get a 50cc moped entitlement passing the car test, anything else requires separate tests.

jumbone

I actually already have the Ni provisional and I live and work there full time. When I mentioned the family home I meant I'd be down once a month or so.

Do you think I should get the car and insurance and drive around accompanied + do lessons in the north but still book a test at home and use a school car? The waiting period would deter me from that and the costs and any inconvenience would probably be equal to the exchange.

Wherever I do the test I would end up with an ROI licence due to the R plate regs and I'd prefer to do the test up north as I'll get more practice on the test routes + the ease of getting a date. The ONLY reason I'd ever stick with an NI licence would be if this has a notable effect on my insurance quote.

Also, bumping this to get a few ideas re cars I could buy. What is the best site to search for cars n NI on? donedeal?

dgt

You could fit in with the locals