Driving European Car in Ireland

simoncar

Good morning everyone,

My brother is currently going to travel to Ireland with his car on this summer. The car is registered in an European country and is regularly maintained there which taxes, insurance and maintenance abroad. The insurance can cover him all around Europe and technically he could drive the car even if it is left hand drive with European driving licence.

He wants to leave the car here in Ireland in the meantime and takes it back during Christmas.

1) How long can he drive the car in Ireland as a tourist? 12 consecutive months?

2) Can I drive it in the meantime while he is away even if I'm an Irish resident?

I need to understand what documents we have to show to Garda during amy eventual check on the way (i.e. Driving license, car documentation, ferry tickets, etc.)

Please let me know if you can share any thoughts or any official documents about this.

Thank you so much in advance!

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058294500/driving-european-car-in-ireland

You can only drive for a month as a tourist on foreign plates.

If you plan to keep it here longer than that you’ll have to register, tax and insure it.

zg3409

His insurance may only cover him for a short time unless he notifies him.

If the car is staying longer term you will get interest from gardai.

Peregrinus

And, I'm open to correction on this, but I think that as an Irish resident you cannot drive the car at all.

FoxForce5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120544873#Comment_120544873

Plenty of Ukrainian plates would beg to differ

mulbot

If he's a state resident the car can't be driven in Ireland.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120544873#Comment_120544873

EU/EEA insurance cover is valid in any other EU/EEA country for the duration of the policy at the minimum level required, any extras such as Fire and Theft or Fully Comp can be restricted by the insurance company.

The Gardaí don't care about what plate is on the car all they worry about is insurance and speeding. It's Revenue that you need to worry about if driving an non Irish car when resident here.

Buffman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058294500/driving-european-car-in-ireland

The answers OP are:

(1) Yes, it's 12 months provided they meet the criteria in the link below before the owner would have to apply to Revenue for a further exception.

(2) No, an Irish resident cannot drive it without Revenues permission so you'd have to ask them directly in what scenarios they might allow that.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/716b1-what-to-do-if-you-are-taking-a-vehicle-into-ireland-temporarily/

CiniO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120544321#Comment_120544321

That is purely not true.