Need help buying a LHD car in Ireland to take to Europe

armabelle

My family and I moving to Spain and we have some stuff we want to take with us as well as two small kids. We were thinking of buying a nice big car and doing the move by road. Also, I just paid insurance for the whole year on my current car as we never intended on moving so I don't want to lose that and thought I could somehow change the insurance over on the new LHD car and drive over. This will give me time to drive in the new country insured for a while before we get settled and then I can just change the registration/insurance over in the new country. Could anybody help me and even tell me if this is going to be possible? FYI: we are moving to Spain or Italy so if the info helps.

Thanks and if I left out any info please ask me. I really appreciate all the help I can get on this one

cheers!

RedorDead

It is possible to order a new car in LHD from most manufacturers. Just expect to pay a large deposit on it. Practically zero chance of picking one up second hand. Had you a make + model in mind?

armabelle

RedorDead wrote: »

It is possible to order a new car in LHD from most manufacturers. Just expect to pay a large deposit on it. Practically zero chance of picking one up second hand. Had you a make + model in mind?

We were thinking about a used car. So I guess that idea is out the window then

bladebrew

If you put Lhd into the search box in used cars on Donedeal it brings up 57 results, only a few are actually left hand drive, some are people looking to swap to get a lhd,
I'm not sure it's a good way to buy though because the choice is so small,

Red Kev

armabelle wrote: »

My family and I moving to Spain and we have some stuff we want to take with us as well as two small kids. We were thinking of buying a nice big car and doing the move by road. Also, I just paid insurance for the whole year on my current car as we never intended on moving so I don't want to lose that and thought I could somehow change the insurance over on the new LHD car and drive over. This will give me time to drive in the new country insured for a while before we get settled and then I can just change the registration/insurance over in the new country. Could anybody help me and even tell me if this is going to be possible? FYI: we are moving to Spain or Italy so if the info helps.

Thanks and if I left out any info please ask me. I really appreciate all the help I can get on this one

cheers!

Firstly check with your insurance company if they will cover you on a LHD car without any premium.

Secondly check your policy as there may be a refund with an early cancellation.

Thridly, are you sure that all your stuff will fit into your car?

The next possibility is to think about buying a camper van instead of a car, a lot of them here are LHD. It will save a bit on hotels if you've nowhere to stay when you get there and it'll be handy for touring around once you get settled.

No idea what your budget is, but something like this might suit: Both models are popular is Spain and Italy so parts aren't an issue.

https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/1998-camper-transit-riviera-220/14399958

https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/campervan/15023967

armabelle

Red Kev wrote: »

Firstly check with your insurance company if they will cover you on a LHD car without any premium.

Secondly check your policy as there may be a refund with an early cancellation.

Thridly, are you sure that all your stuff will fit into your car?

The next possibility is to think about buying a camper van instead of a car, a lot of them here are LHD. It will save a bit on hotels if you've nowhere to stay when you get there and it'll be handy for touring around once you get settled.

No idea what your budget is, but something like this might suit: Both models are popular is Spain and Italy so parts aren't an issue.

https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/1998-camper-transit-riviera-220/14399958

https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/campervan/15023967

Thanks for the tips. I was thinking about a motorhome actually

Well the car we were thinking of getting was one of these people carrier cars like the SEAT alhambra or Ford Galaxy. we would certainly get our stuff in one of those but what bladebrew said also makes sense. Might be better to just try selll our stuff and fly there. When we arrive we will have much more options for cars.

goz83

Car registration in Spain is a right pain. Best to buy local.

zapata

Option 1:
Spanish Registered.
https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/hyundai-h100-6-seater/14883348




Option 2:
Have your stuff transported by moving company
https://www.anyvan.ie/

and then travel in style yourself (if budget is not a prob)
Spanish Registered.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ferrari-360-convertible-lhd/15069310


Then get cheap flight for the kids.

pcardin

zapata wrote: »

Option 1:
Spanish Registered.

Option 2:
Have your stuff transported by moving company
https://www.anyvan.ie/

and then travel in style yourself (if budget is not a prob)
Spanish Registered.


Then get cheap flight for the kids.

And then hope that neither of these Spanish registered motors is not wanted by some Spanish bank or Police.

zapata

pcardin wrote: »

And then hope that neither of these Spanish registered motors is not wanted by some Spanish bank or Police.

True but surely there is Spanish HPI check, cartell or motorcheck equivalent?

armabelle

zapata wrote: »

Option 1:
Spanish Registered.
https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/hyundai-h100-6-seater/14883348




Option 2:
Have your stuff transported by moving company
https://www.anyvan.ie/

and then travel in style yourself (if budget is not a prob)
Spanish Registered.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ferrari-360-convertible-lhd/15069310


Then get cheap flight for the kids.

I do like the first one you posted! Thanks. Does it help if the car is spanish reg? Then the next question is, how would insurance work if I did buy this car with a spanish reg. don't I need some kind of insurance until i actually get to spain with the spanish reg vehicle?