NCT early?

scotlad

I'm bringing my car to Scotland in September as I'm doing a masters there for a year. My NCT is due in January is there anyway I could get an Nct before September?
My thinking is as I'm not a permanent resident there I can keep my Irish car and tax and NCT it for a year in September before I go and keep things legal, my insurance covers me for the british isles.
Even with 5 years NCB insurance in the UK is too expensive, and to be honest at least I know the car I have is in good shape, I'd rather keep it than buying someone elses problem in Sccotland.

kfog

Cars can be tested up to 6 months early for their first NCT and 3 months early for each next one so it depends how old your car is

scotlad

Unfortunately it doesn't fit into the 6 months category, It's a bit of a problem as it will cost the guts of 400 euro to brink it back for an NCT in January and with moving over I'll need the car.

Stheno

scotlad wrote: »

Unfortunately it doesn't fit into the 6 months category, It's a bit of a problem as it will cost the guts of 400 euro to brink it back for an NCT in January and with moving over I'll need the car.

You've no choice really, those are the rules, there are no exceptions to getting it tested earlier than the three/six months.

You can't even book for a test before those times.

slimjimmc

scotlad wrote: »

I'm bringing my car to Scotland in September as I'm doing a masters there for a year. My NCT is due in January is there anyway I could get an Nct before September?
My thinking is as I'm not a permanent resident there I can keep my Irish car and tax and NCT it for a year in September before I go and keep things legal, my insurance covers me for the british isles.
Even with 5 years NCB insurance in the UK is too expensive, and to be honest at least I know the car I have is in good shape, I'd rather keep it than buying someone elses problem in Sccotland.

The max you can have your car in the UK is 6 months in any 12 month period. How long is your academic year, would you be able to complete your course before then ?
https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

Sheldons Brain

slimjimmc wrote: »

The max you can have your car in the UK is 6 months in any 12 month period. How long is your academic year, would you be able to complete your course before then ?
https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

This isn't true, the OP will be a student, he is not moving his normal residence.

slimjimmc

Sheldons Brain wrote: »

This isn't true, the OP will be a student, he is not moving his normal residence.

Where does it say students who are normally resident in another EU country are exempt from the 6 month limit?

CiniO

slimjimmc wrote: »

Where does it say students who are normally resident in another EU country are exempt from the 6 month limit?

Here:
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/registration/taxes/index_en.htm

Exceptions to compulsory registration after 6 months
Students

If you are staying in another country only in order to study, you can drive your car without having to register it or pay taxes there - for as long as you are enrolled in an educational establishment in that country.

Sample story

Mathieu is French and living in Belgium where he is doing a 2‑year post-graduate course. Mathieu's car was damaged, so he went to the police to get a report for his insurer. When the police discovered that Mathieu had been living in Belgium for over a year without registering his car there, they told him that he was in an irregular situation and would be fined.

Mathieu could prove that he was registered at Antwerp University and therefore, as a student from another EU country, he didn't have to pay car or road taxes in Belgium.

CiniO

scotlad wrote: »

I'm bringing my car to Scotland in September as I'm doing a masters there for a year. My NCT is due in January is there anyway I could get an Nct before September?
My thinking is as I'm not a permanent resident there I can keep my Irish car and tax and NCT it for a year in September before I go and keep things legal, my insurance covers me for the british isles.
Even with 5 years NCB insurance in the UK is too expensive, and to be honest at least I know the car I have is in good shape, I'd rather keep it than buying someone elses problem in Sccotland.

Unfortunately you can't do it.
You will have to come back here to Ireland between October and January for your NCT.
You can be greatful to our government for this fantastic though-through law, in which Ireland is probably unique in the whole EU, as everywhere else you can do your car test at any time (i.e. just before you go) and have it valid for at least a year from then.

slimjimmc

CiniO wrote: »

Here:
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/registration/taxes/index_en.htm

Thanks, I was aware of that as that's the rule here but the UK government official website I linked to says different. Either UK law is different or the website has an error (I presume the latter)
https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

Students and workers

You may be able to use a vehicle with non-UK number plates for longer than a 6-month period, without taxing or registering it, if all the following apply:

• you’re a student or worker
• you normally live outside the EU
• you’re in the UK for a set study or work period
• the vehicle is registered in its home country

CiniO

slimjimmc wrote: »

Thanks, I was aware of that as that's the rule here but the UK government official website I linked to says different. Either UK law is different or the website has an error (I presume the latter)
https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

Heh looked up the same yesterday before pasting the EU stuff in post above.
IMO it must be a mistake. Putting requirement for being resident outside EU (instead of outside UK) doesn't make sense at all there.

I wanted to paste this, but no point pasting something with mistake, that's why I linked EU stuff.

Gabbo57

It's changing soon.

You'll be able to present a car for a test outside of the three month period and get a year or two - depending on the age of the car - cert from the day of testing

Esel

I thought an out-of-date NCT (and/or tax) on a car registered here is not an offence as such in the UK?

challengemaster

Generally a car has to be considered roadworthy and road legal in its own country to drive in other countries.

corktina

i'd say they'd take your car off you as soon as look at you....they'd impound it and ask questions afterwards if there was the merest suggestion it shouldn't be on the road

bear1

Another issue OP is will your insurance cover you for 1 year outside of Ireland?
Unless of course you are FBD.
Why don't you go over without the car in the mean time, come back when the NCT is due and then drive it over until you are finished your course?

CiniO

Gabbo57 wrote: »

It's changing soon.

You'll be able to present a car for a test outside of the three month period and get a year or two - depending on the age of the car - cert from the day of testing

It would be great news... Any more info in regards that, or source of such information?

CiniO

Esel wrote: »

I thought an out-of-date NCT (and/or tax) on a car registered here is not an offence as such in the UK?

Out of date Irish tax most likely isn't an offence in UK. But out of date NCT certainly is.

CiniO

challengemaster wrote: »

Generally a car has to be considered roadworthy and road legal in its own country to drive in other countries.

Generally not.
In most cases vehicles in international traffic must fulfil requirements of 1968 Vienna Convention on Road traffic.
Nowhere it says car must be "road legal" in home country. I don't even think there is any definition of being "road legal"