Temporary import of an EU plated car

rosenrot

So my parents come to visit me for a week in Ireland from time to time and we are all EU nationals.
And because they want to have handy mode of transportation ready for them when they come over to visit for a week, they are considering bringing in a cheap EU taxed + insured second hand car with a steering wheel on the right hand side (the way any Irish car is) and keeping said car in Ireland (while they are away) and then a few months later when they come to use it again for a week and so on...and so on... Once a year they will bring it back home so it can pass its annual technical inspection and then bring it back to Ireland.

I already have an Irish plated car on my own, so said car will not be used by me, though from time to time I will give it a small spin around the block to keep its battery charged.
The law generally states that any EU national residing in Ireland needs to re-register he EU plated car within a month.
HOWEVER the car they gonna bring in will be registered on their name, not on mine, and since both of them come over to Ireland for a total of not more than 3 weeks a year, and none of them actually resides in the country and they come as tourists, I was wondering would the Gardai / Customs or whoever have any problems with this car staying on EU plates in Ireland?

Thanks in advance for any potential input on the subject.

Atlantic Dawn

They should be fine provided they remain resident outside the country and would be no harm them having documentation on them like utility bills etc to prove this if stopped.

A problem is you bringing it around for a spin on a public road, they can seize the car from you if you are normally resident here and driving it regardless of who owns it.

whippet

You might want to check the terms of the insurance .. especially if the car isn’t normally in the juristriction of the insurance policy

colm_c

Not sure it would be worth it, if they need to bring it all the way back home once a year, which means someone has to drive it there and back.

If they are only visiting 2-3 weeks of the year, can't see it being worth it.

Between annual insurance cover and the cost of bringing it back every year, storage, any maintenance (probably yearly oil change), hardly seems worth it when you can rent a car for < 100 for a week (depending on time of year).

wexie

I think in theory there shouldn't be any issues with this, I don't see how it would be different to them taking the car over on the ferry every time they visit.

In practice though...I think I'd have to agree with colm that it hardly seems worth it considering the potential for hassle. What if anything happens and questions start getting asked?

And like already said, I certainly wouldn't be bringing it for a spin round the block, buy a charger if you do decide to go that way.

colm_mcm

It’s hardly a temporary import if it’s being left here

Guy:Incognito

It'd be cheaper and less hassle to rent a car when they need it.

Isambard

it's a permanent import and needs to be re-registered within 30 days of initial import. If the Customs find out, it will be seized otherwise.

TomOnBoard

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

They should be fine provided they remain resident outside the country and would be no harm them having documentation on them like utility bills etc to prove this if stopped.

A problem is you bringing it around for a spin on a public road, they can seize the car from you if you are normally resident here and driving it regardless of who owns it.

+1.

Search for Section 2 of the VRT manual. Paragraph 2.2 on page 46 deals with your requirement.

CiniO

Isambard wrote: »

it's a permanent import and needs to be re-registered within 30 days of initial import. If the Customs find out, it will be seized otherwise.

Not true.

Any person who is not resident in the state, can bring a foreign registered car to Ireland for up to 12 months.

CiniO

whippet wrote: »

You might want to check the terms of the insurance .. especially if the car isn’t normally in the juristriction of the insurance policy

That shouldn't be a problem in majority of EU countries.

Under His Eye

So long as it's paperwork at home is up to date there will be no problems.

SmartinMartin

Far far cheaper to rent a car.

Isambard

CiniO wrote: »

Not true.

Any person who is not resident in the state, can bring a foreign registered car to Ireland for up to 12 months.

I doubt they can leave it here though.

biko

To me, this seems to be the least desirable solution for your parent's problem.
Rent instead will probably cost the same as the purchase, upkeep etc for the foreign car - and a lot less hassle
Or simply buy a local car and have you named on it so you can drive it occasionally.

CiniO

Isambard wrote: »

I doubt they can leave it here though.

As I said they can for up to 12 months.

Spook_ie

Would you not just let them drive your car?

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

That shouldn't be a problem in majority of EU countries.

Would the policy not have a different risk level if its been used in Ireland as opposed to its home country? Also don't most policies ask where the vehicle is normally kept? So whatever insurance cover they have is dubious for a vehicle living in Ireland and returning "home" only for the annual test.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

Would the policy not have a different risk level if its been used in Ireland as opposed to its home country? Also don't most policies ask where the vehicle is normally kept? So whatever insurance cover they have is dubious for a vehicle living in Ireland and returning "home" only for the annual test.

In my experience in majority of EU countries things like where vehicle is used and where it's normally kept is not a standard thing insurers would ask or be interested in.
Maybe it has something to do with limiting freedom by asking questions like that.
Ireland is probably one of very few exceptions.

I have a car registered in Poland and insurance policy on it, and insurer is not interested where car is used or normally parked. Neither they are interested where I live or where I'm actually resident.

Policy is valid all over Eu, and beyond with green card system if I apply for one.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

In my experience in majority of EU countries things like where vehicle is used and where it's normally kept is not a standard thing insurers would ask or be interested in.
Maybe it has something to do with limiting freedom by asking questions like that.
Ireland is probably one of very few exceptions.

I have a car registered in Poland and insurance policy on it, and insurer is not interested where car is used or normally parked. Neither they are interested where I live or where I'm actually resident.

Policy is valid all over Eu, and beyond with green card system if I apply for one.

I've found that insurance companies are usually happy enough to take your money. It's when you need them that they start asking questions about where it's used etc

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

I've found that insurance companies are usually happy enough to take your money. It's when you need them that they start asking questions about where it's used etc

Well, but that's my whole point.
In case of a claim they can start asking questions whatever they like, but it won't make any difference if there is no law or rules prohibiting of using your car anywhere you wish.

artanevilla

You aren't temporarily importing the car, you're temporarily importing the drivers.

Guy:Incognito

CiniO wrote: »

In my experience in majority of EU countries things like where vehicle is used and where it's normally kept is not a standard thing insurers would ask or be interested in.
Maybe it has something to do with limiting freedom by asking questions like that.
.
.

It's probably one of the most obvious questions for assessing risk to be fair.

If your car is going to be parked on the street in a dodgy part of inner city Dublin, there's a much higher chance it's going to be broken in to or stolen than if it's locked in a garage in foxrock every night.

Under His Eye

Most insurance companies on the continent hardly ask any questions. "Would you like to pay in 4 instalments?" is generally the most that is asked.

To get insurance, all I do is give the broker my reg book and she gets me the best price. I pay and she gives me the documents and a years green card valid for 45 countries.

In over 10 years I have never been asked for a driving licence or let alone asked if I even had one.

It is a different world.

CiniO

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

It's probably one of the most obvious questions for assessing risk to be fair.

If your car is going to be parked on the street in a dodgy part of inner city Dublin, there's a much higher chance it's going to be broken in to or stolen than if it's locked in a garage in foxrock every night.

Maybe it is one of the most obvious quesrions for assessing the risk, but I find it very intrusive.
I'm a free man living in free country and I would like to be able to park my car wherever I like without a need to confess all my secrets to insurance company.
Supposably there's plenty more people with same thinking as mine on the Continent, and that's why insurers there don't bother assessing risk that way.

Guy:Incognito

CiniO wrote: »

Maybe it is one of the most obvious quesrions for assessing the risk, but I find it very intrusive.
I'm a free man living in free country and I would like to be able to park my car wherever I like without a need to confess all my secrets to insurance company.
Supposably there's plenty more people with same thinking as mine on the Continent, and that's why insurers there don't bother assessing risk that way.

No one is forcing you to give any info. Your not required to own a car.

They know where you live. Do you park your car miles from there?

CiniO

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

No one is forcing you to give any info. Your not required to own a car.

They know where you live. Do you park your car miles from there?

It's not what we are talking about.
In Ireland I have let my insurer know where I live and I told them that car is normally parked there.
I don't like it, but i do it as I don't have a choice.

But in Poland my insurer knows my registered address, but has not clue where my car is parked (it's actually nearly never parked at that address). I can park it wherever I like within EU and even further and that gives me freedom which i don't have in Ireland.

Phrases like Irish insurers asking you to sign to confirm that car is parked at your address at least 4 days a week in my opinion are against basic human rights for freedom and I hate them.
Because what should I do if I decide to park my car only 3 days at home, 2 days at hotel, and 2 days at a girls house which I'm cheating on my wife with. Does Irish insurer really expect me to be informing them about all that.
Total bullsh1t of a system imo.

zilog_jones

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

It'd be cheaper and less hassle to rent a car when they need it.

Yeah, it just doesn't seem to make financial sense at all, even if insurance/tax from whatever country is less than here. Surely the cost of driving the car back for an annual inspection alone totally outweighs the cost of just renting a car in Ireland?

We're talking about either Malta or Cyprus, right? Where else could this RHD car be coming from?

Under His Eye

There are RHD cars registered in all EU states.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

Maybe it is one of the most obvious quesrions for assessing the risk, but I find it very intrusive.
I'm a free man living in free country and I would like to be able to park my car wherever I like without a need to confess all my secrets to insurance company.
Supposably there's plenty more people with same thinking as mine on the Continent, and that's why insurers there don't bother assessing risk that way.

But the insurance risk for parking a car in Poland is less than parking in Ireland so the policy should be based on where its used/kept as opposed to where you have an address. You aren't resident in the country that you have the car insured, I'm sure that they will care about that if you need to make a claim.

If a Polish, or any other EU based, insurance company wanted to issue polices in Ireland they can the fact that they won't enter a market with massive premiums shows that they don't want to issue polices here. So essentially all you have is insurance for the police and nothing else.

sunnysoutheast

Del2005 wrote: »

But the insurance risk for parking a car in Poland is less than parking in Ireland so the policy should be based on where its used/kept as opposed to where you have an address. You aren't resident in the country that you have the car insured, I'm sure that they will care about that if you need to make a claim.

If a Polish, or any other EU based, insurance company wanted to issue polices in Ireland they can the fact that they won't enter a market with massive premiums shows that they don't want to issue polices here. So essentially all you have is insurance for the police and nothing else.

Ivernia have entered the market and they are French I believe. I'm insured with them and my policy automatically extends to EU for 90 days in any policy year.

I would expect that any continental insurer would investigate the circumstances of any claim very carefully given that we are on an island and it will be easy to prove when the vehicle arrived/departed. Very different in mainland Europe.

I would also expect that they would be legally liable for third party claims in all cases but wouldn't be surprised to see them chase the policyholder for any payout if they've breached their Ts&Cs.

To answer the OP's question I would just suggest hiring a car as and when needed.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

But the insurance risk for parking a car in Poland is less than parking in Ireland so the policy should be based on where its used/kept as opposed to where you have an address.

Yes, maybe that's one way of doing it. But possibly for the insurer to find out exactly where the car is being used would require to much interfering with customers privacy, and therefore it's better to assume car is just used in the EU and risk calculated as average.

You aren't resident in the country that you have the car insured, I'm sure that they will care about that if you need to make a claim.

No, they won't. Residency has nothing to do with it there.

If a Polish, or any other EU based, insurance company wanted to issue polices in Ireland they can the fact that they won't enter a market with massive premiums shows that they don't want to issue polices here. So essentially all you have is insurance for the police and nothing else.

Not true.

We could keep discussing, but the fact is that you don't know anything about Polish insurance market and Polish insurance rules, while I do.

You might be saying that my insurer will question this or question that, etc... But that's not true.
Here's few facts in form of Q&A.

1.Am I resident in Poland - No.
2. Do I have an address in Poland which is registered with city council - Yes.
3. Can I have a car registered in my name there with that address legally - Yes.
4. Once I have a car there, as I obliged to have it insured at all times - Yes.
5. Does my insurer ask me any questions - Not really.
6. Where does my insurer get all necessery data for the third party policy - From my National ID (Name, DOB, SocialSecurityNumber) and from my car's registration cert (car make, model, year, engine, and my address).
7. What does the policy cover - it covers for damage to third party cause by usage of my car. It covers it for anyone driving and anywhere in the EU.
8. Does policy have any exclusions - Yes. They might look to recoup the money paid out in case person driving the car was under influence of alcohol or drugs, unlicensed, used the car without owner's permission, or did hit and run. In any other case, claim has to be paid in full without any questions or recouping the cost -that's the law.

Simply speaking third party policy has to be purchased there by vehicle owner and it's obligatory at all times even if car is not used. They are not interested where car is kept or where owner lived or which country is he resident. Anyone who is licenced to drive the vehicle is covered under the policy.

It's totally different system than in Ireland, and IMO much simpler and better system.

So please don't tell me if my insurance policy there is valid or not, because I know it is.


And believe it or not, but similar systems exist in most EU Continent countries. It's the Irish insurance system which is odd, outdated and troublesome.

redcup342

Yep it's fine, I had my Dutch registered in Car in Ireland when there for 6 months. Was commuting over and back, my normal residence was in Holland which was easy to prove since I was registered there.

I checked with my Insurance and they were confused asking why wouldn't it be covered in another EU Country, I even had coverage outside the EU on every country listed on the Green Card (Even Turkey for example) for the length of the Policy.

Just had to make sure my Insurance, Tax and APK was in order and had no problems, was stopped a few times as well at checkpoints and had no issues.

I could leave it in Ireland just Irish residents couldn't drive the car.

I think the other way around is a bit more shonky, Ireland is a bit messy with proving your residence through bank statements and electricity bills

Spook_ie

CiniO wrote: »

Yes, maybe that's one way of doing it. But possibly for the insurer to find out exactly where the car is being used would require to much interfering with customers privacy, and therefore it's better to assume car is just used in the EU and risk calculated as average.


No, they won't. Residency has nothing to do with it there.


Not true.

We could keep discussing, but the fact is that you don't know anything about Polish insurance market and Polish insurance rules, while I do.

You might be saying that my insurer will question this or question that, etc... But that's not true.
Here's few facts in form of Q&A.

1.Am I resident in Poland - No.
2. Do I have an address in Poland which is registered with city council - Yes.
3. Can I have a car registered in my name there with that address legally - Yes.
4. Once I have a car there, as I obliged to have it insured at all times - Yes.
5. Does my insurer ask me any questions - Not really.
6. Where does my insurer get all necessery data for the third party policy - From my National ID (Name, DOB, SocialSecurityNumber) and from my car's registration cert (car make, model, year, engine, and my address).
7. What does the policy cover - it covers for damage to third party cause by usage of my car. It covers it for anyone driving and anywhere in the EU.
8. Does policy have any exclusions - Yes. They might look to recoup the money paid out in case person driving the car was under influence of alcohol or drugs, unlicensed, used the car without owner's permission, or did hit and run. In any other case, claim has to be paid in full without any questions or recouping the cost -that's the law.

Simply speaking third party policy has to be purchased there by vehicle owner and it's obligatory at all times even if car is not used. They are not interested where car is kept or where owner lived or which country is he resident. Anyone who is licenced to drive the vehicle is covered under the policy.

It's totally different system than in Ireland, and IMO much simpler and better system.

So please don't tell me if my insurance policy there is valid or not, because I know it is.


And believe it or not, but similar systems exist in most EU Continent countries. It's the Irish insurance system which is odd, outdated and troublesome.

I'll bow to the fact that you are from Poland but just as a query, why does the EU only seem to say Comprehensive insurance rather than 3rd Party?

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/validity-tourist/poland/index_en.htm

CiniO

Spook_ie wrote: »

I'll bow to the fact that you are from Poland but just as a query, why does the EU only seem to say Comprehensive insurance rather than 3rd Party?

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/validity-tourist/poland/index_en.htm

To be honest with you, I honestly don't know what they mean on that website you linked.
Seems very confusing what they actually tried to say in there.

galwaytt

Under His Eye wrote: »

There are RHD cars registered in all EU states.

Not in some afaik. I know of a Celica, a 3-series and a Merc Van both exported and converted to LHD. I'm nearly sure it was Poland but open to correction.

galwaytt

CiniO wrote: »

Maybe it is one of the most obvious quesrions for assessing the risk, but I find it very intrusive.
I'm a free man living in free country and I would like to be able to park my car wherever I like without a need to confess all my secrets to insurance company.
Supposably there's plenty more people with same thinking as mine on the Continent, and that's why insurers there don't bother assessing risk that way.

But that's just it: this is not a 'free' country as you describe. Those are the rules for living here and apply to everyone.

Mikko Mallikas

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056523114/1/#post76613155
I'm sure not a lot has changed in 7 years ðŸ˜

Under His Eye

galwaytt wrote: »

Not in some afaik. I know of a Celica, a 3-series and a Merc Van both exported and converted to LHD. I'm nearly sure it was Poland but open to correction.

Still many grandfathered RHD's there.