Purchasing a car without NCT, need to drive it back to Dublin to get NCT...

Sham Squire

So I'm looking at purchasing a car from out west. It has no NCT but I need to drive it back to Dublin and book the NCT locally. Where do I stand on driving it back? Would I be liable for penalty points? Is there any way around this? Can't see any other way of getting it back here unless I get it brought on the back of a tow truck, which would probably cost a fortune.

Shannon757

Get a mate with a car trailer or rent one maybe?

Atlantic Dawn

How long is NCT out, how road legal are the tyres, are the lights working, is it a death trap, so many variables.

Sham Squire

The car is in great nick but I'm not sure how relevant that is to the legal situation. It's out of NCT since 2014. It's been in storage. Had it checked over by a trusted mechanic and confident it is perfectly road worthy. I don't have a mate with a trailer I'm afraid.

Atlantic Dawn

From a legal point of view it could be seized if your stopped, would it be likely to be stopped if driven legally with care, within speed limits with all correct lights working...highly unlikely.

Shannon757

Sham Squire wrote: »

The car is in great nick but I'm not sure how relevant that is to the legal situation. It's out of NCT since 2014. It's been in storage. Had it checked over by a trusted mechanic and confident it is perfectly road worthy. I don't have a mate with a trailer I'm afraid.

Anyone with a jeep could bring one (If they have a licence) and i'm sure there's a place in Dublin that rents trailers for the day.

Shannon757

Or maybe a truck looking for a backload. Check Donedeal

aujopimur

Book a test, then drive it there on the day.

LiamoSail

Provided the car is safe to drive and insured, I'd book an NCT and drive it down. It's not legal, but if you have proof of the NCT being booked I think you'd have to be very unlucky to be caught. Worth the risk IMO

Sham Squire

Right, so for anyone who finds themselves in the same situation; here's the facts:

It is totally fine to drive the car back without an NCT as long as you have just purchased it. If they check up on you they'll be able to see the change of ownership/purchase date and once they see you have just purchased the car there'll be no problems.
If stopped you have 30 days to book an NCT and drop into a garda station with proof that you've done so. If you tell the guards you've already booked an NCT then you'll have 10 days to drop proof of that into the local station.
All the above info was provided to me by the Gardai at my local Garda station.

CiniO

Sham Squire wrote: »

Right, so for anyone who finds themselves in the same situation; here's the facts:

It is totally fine to drive the car back without an NCT as long as you have just purchased it. If they check up on you they'll be able to see the change of ownership/purchase date and once they see you have just purchased the car there'll be no problems.
If stopped you have 30 days to book an NCT and drop into a garda station with proof that you've done so. If you tell the guards you've already booked an NCT then you'll have 10 days to drop proof of that into the local station.
All the above info was provided to me by the Gardai at my local Garda station.

Well, considering it's illegal to do so, I'd be far from saying it's "totally fine".

I'd put it between myths what you hear at your local garda station.

I'm not saying most gards won't actually use their discretion to do it like you described.
But they don't have to, and if you are stopped by a gard who doesn't wish to do it, they don't need to.

savagethegoat

CiniO wrote: »

Well, considering it's illegal to do so, I'd be far from saying it's "totally fine".

I'd put it between myths what you hear at your local garda station.

I'm not saying most gards won't actually use their discretion to do it like you described.
But they don't have to, and if you are stopped by a gard who doesn't wish to do it, they don't need to.

yes, it's far from fact that you can do as he says.

Rob Thomas

Like lots of things in this country "sure t'is grand" until something happens.

If you have an accident while driving it, even if it's not your fault, you will be in bother because the car does not have a valid NCT when it should.

the existing owner can book an NCT for your local centre or you probably can yourself. Don't drive it without having a booked date.

If you don't want to do that then Anyvan.ie will transport it for you. If you put in your details and email address they will send you on a quote. They start at €69 but it's probably more for longer trips.

But it's worth it IMO.

savagethegoat

put it through a test local to where you buy it, if passes grand, if it doesn't you can drive it to your mechanic for repairs provided it isn't decalred dangerous.

Sham Squire

Sorry but I'm going to take the advice of the guard in this situation. There was no "tis grand" about it. The guard was very specific about the procedure of the scenario and I have no reason to doubt them. I'll be driving it back soon.

Shannon757

Sham Squire wrote: »

Sorry but I'm going to take the advice of the guard in this situation. There was no "tis grand" about it. The guard was very specific about the procedure of the scenario and I have no reason to doubt them. I'll be driving it back soon.

Let us know how you get on.

Sham Squire

Shannon757 wrote: »

Let us know how you get on.

Will do

savagethegoat

you'll probably be fine.... it's not a hanging offence provided the car is safe

Del2005

Sham Squire wrote: »

Sorry but I'm going to take the advice of the guard in this situation. There was no "tis grand" about it. The guard was very specific about the procedure of the scenario and I have no reason to doubt them. I'll be driving it back soon.

This is from the people who stop people towing twin axle trailers and tell them that they need a 4x4!
Unless you have their badge number and it in writing, which they'll never do, the word of a Garda is as much use as a random poster on the internet. The statue is all that counts and no NCT is a 3 PP offence.

TheBigGreen

Take your time and drive away!

_Brian

Many insurance companies won't transfer insurance over onto a car with no NCT. Or allow driving of other vehicles without it either.