Benefits of an Irish plate car??

lemonade · 4 Dec 2011 at 14:30

Was going through the local car classifieds and came across this interesting advert:

MAZDA 323 1800 SPORT RARE CAR RUNS AND DRIVES VERY WELL WITH NO MECHANICAL FAULTS METALLIC FOREST GREEN 15" MULIT FIT ALLOY WHEELS

THIS CAR IS ON IRISH PLATES AND HAS THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS
IT IS CONGESTION ZONE EXEMPT
IT DOES NOT NEED ENGLISH ROAD TAX
IT HAS AN IRISH MOT WHICH IS DONE EVERY 2 YEARS IN IRELAND AND EXPIRES MARCH 2013
THIS CAR CAN BE PARKED AND DRIVEN ANYWHERE IN LONDON AND CANNOT BE REMOVED BY LOCAL COUNCIL BECAUSE IT IS ON IRISH PLATES
WE HAVE THE FULL IRISH LOG BOOK CAR IS FROM DUBLIN

How true is this, can you actually own a Irish plate car permanently and be exempt from all UK rules and regulations?

NathWraith · 4 Dec 2011 at 14:31

Could he mention IRISH PLATES any more?

I am always dubious of car ads written in caps.

5tephen · 4 Dec 2011 at 14:34

"IT DOES NOT NEED ENGLISH ROAD TAX"
That's a good benefit.

However he's missed: "IT NEEDS IRISH ROAD TAX" which is stupid money.

Stormster · 4 Dec 2011 at 15:29

So it's not free then like most of their stuff?

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2011 at 16:17

As a non Irish citizen you cannot simply drive around in the UK for ever in an Irish registered car.

WJA96 · 4 Dec 2011 at 16:38

[TW]Fox;20718309 said:
As a non Irish citizen you cannot simply drive around in the UK for ever in an Irish registered car.

Of course you can. It's an EU registered car and as long as you can show some link to the Irish Republic and the car has everything it needs to have for an Irish Republic registered car, you can drive it for as long as you like.

But, you'll need Irish tax, Irish insurance and an Irish MOT. Other than that, it's absolutely fine.

mjt · 4 Dec 2011 at 16:39

WJA96 said:
Of course you can. It's an EU registered car and as long as you can show some link to the Irish Republic and the car has everything it needs to have for an Irish Republic registered car, you can drive it for as long as you like.

But, you'll need Irish tax, Irish insurance and an Irish MOT. Other than that, it's absolutely fine.

Nonsense. If you have permanent residence in a country in the EU then your car must be registered in that country.

Of course, they are many, many people who don't but they are technically breaking the law.

http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/registration/when-who/index_en.htm

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2011 at 16:48

WJA96 said:
Of course you can. It's an EU registered car and as long as you can show some link to the Irish Republic and the car has everything it needs to have for an Irish Republic registered car, you can drive it for as long as you like.

No, you cannot.

WJA96 · 4 Dec 2011 at 16:54

mjt said:
Nonsense. If you have permanent residence in a country in the EU then your car must be registered in that country.

Of course, they are many, many people who don't but they are technically breaking the law.

http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/registration/when-who/index_en.htm

Who rattled your cage?

You are talking nonsense. I have a German registered car, registered to my flat in Frankfurt. I don't have permanent residence there. I do pay my taxes and I have an Aufenthalterlaubnis which means I can stay there. And I can assure you that the German authorities take a very dim view of anyone trying to break the law. BUt I only live there for 3 months of the year tops. I rent the flat out when I'm not there and part of the rental is the use of the car. I simply wouldn't be able to get Insurance for that if it was illegal.

I have a house in Northern Ireland and a car registered in Coleraine. But it's not my permanent residence.

Provided the driver of an Irish registered car can show a link to the Republic eg. a rented flat in Dublin, they can drive an Irish registered car in the UK for as long as they want provided it has everything an Irish registered car should have to be legal.

[Edit]What they can't then do is try and register it in the UK after 6 months[/Edit]

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2011 at 16:56

WJA96 said:
Who rattled your cage?

You are talking nonsense. I have a German registered car, registered to my flat in Frankfurt. I don't have permanent residence there. I do pay my taxes and I have an Aufenthalterlaubnis which means I can stay there. And I can assure you that the German authorities take a very dim view of anyone trying to break the law. BUt I only live there for 3 months of the year tops. I rent the flat out and part of the rental is the use of the car.

I have a house in Northern Ireland and a car registered in Coleraine. But it's not my permanent residence.

Provided the driver of an Irish registered car can show a link to the Republic eg. a rented flat in Dublin, they can drive an Irish registered car in the UK for as long as they want provided it has everything an Irish registered car should have to be legal.

Which is of course obviously not the case for Mr Random buying an Irish registered car in the UK so that he can't get clamped by the council.

If you stay in another country with your car for more than 6 months, you must re-register it.