Customs questions

Timooo_23

Hi guys, I started working in the UK about 9 months ago, have a car in the UK, a permanent address, bank details, etc. I spend 5 days in the UK, 3 days back in Ireland, That's my shift, do it every week.

But my partner lives in Ireland, we're also renting an apartment together in Ireland. I have a car in Ireland too, all above board (full windscreen).

My insurance is due for renewal in 3 months, last year I paid an absolutely retarded amount of money to insure a car that I love. This year however, as insurance cost have gone up even more, and my car passes 10 years old, I don't think I'm going to be able to insure it for anything less than €3k for tpft cover - a bitter pill to swallow.

I'm thinking of driving it to my UK address, putting the car on UK plates, taxing, MOT, insuring it under a UK insurance company and paying extra for EU wide cover for the year. From my pricing so far, it'll be less than €1000 for this cover. Not to mention motor tax savings.

My question is this, having all my documents present, would I be in any trouble with Customs, having an English reg car in Ireland long term (10 to 11 months) even provided all my paperwork is in order?

Thanks in advance.

Del2005

You'll most likely fail due to residency. Read the VRT website or even better would be to call revenue, they can give you a letter if you qualify.



http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/index.html

Timooo_23

My reading of it seems that I would be OK provided my primary residence and employment is in the UK, which it is. And my insurance was valid.

Cee-Jay-Cee

You spend 5/7ths if the year in the U.K. then you are entitled to drive a UK car. You can show your flight/ferry bookings if stopped so I wouldn't hesitate if in your shoes.

Del2005

Timooo_23 wrote: »

My reading of it seems that I would be OK provided my primary residence and employment is in the UK, which it is. And my insurance was valid.

It's done on family ties also, you are maintaining a home here. A simple call to revenue will let you know.

Timooo_23

Who would I contact in Revenue? Is there a specific department extension? And if I do, would they be likely to give me an honest answer, or just order me to pay them money by default?

pa990

Timooo_23 wrote: »

Who would I contact in Revenue? Is there a specific department extension? And if I do, would they be likely to give me an honest answer, or just order me to pay them money by default?

Revenue are easy to deal with, and will give you honest answers, they won't skew the results to suit themselves, they won't skew them to suit you either.

They'll just give the correct info.

BorneTobyWilde

You can obtain car insurance in any EU country, that is EU law, so why not just insure can in uk and leave on irish plate.

Timooo_23

So I got off the phone with the VRT office earlier today. Turns out, in my situation, there is no legal way for me to run a car in Ireland. As a non resident, I can't get insured in Ireland... And because I'd be leaving the English car in Ireland, I don't fall under fair usage as a non resident either.

What the very helpful man at the VRT office suggested was; like was mentioned here earlier; Have all paperwork in the glovebox. Have a ferry ticket not more than 6 months old, have insurance documents, proof of address, proof of employment, mot cert, etc.

There's nothing to stop me being stopped and questioned by customs, but with everything in hand, there's no reason for them to confiscate the car either. He also suggested if I am stopped and questioned, get a return trip covered to the UK asap, the more recent the ferry trip, the better.

Anyway, thanks for all your input folks. Much appreciated.

ironclaw

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

You can obtain car insurance in any EU country, that is EU law, so why not just insure can in uk and leave on irish plate.

If you can find a company outside of Ireland that will issue a disc, do let us all know. Most insurers outside of Ireland won't issue a disc as they are usually all underwritten by a core few companies whose local subsidiary will issue the underwriting, with a clause that a non-resident subsidiary won't do it e.g. Zurich Germany won't issue underwriting for an Irish car as Zurich Ireland have to process it by their own internal arrangements.

OP, my brother was in a similar situation and was stopped a few times. He lived and worked in the UK, had a UK car and was resident there. Just be sure to keep your folder paperwork up to date and I'd suggest a letter from your employer indicating the same. Customs have immense power at ports of entry, far exceeding a Garda.