Taxing times!

[sconson]

Lads need some help here.

Bought the car but it is out of tax. Change of ownership is gone in the post and could take 2-3 weeks to arrive in my name. Is there any way I can tax the car without this form as Im unable to drive the car without it been taxed.

Went into the Garda shop 2day and they basically told me they will take it off me if there is no tax!

Any legal way around this?

Cheers.

[Sebastian]

you need to insure it first
tax office needs policy number

[colm_mcm]

it won't take 2--3 weeks, turnaround at the moment is more like 8 or 9 days.

[sconson]

Hopefully it will only be a week or so!!

I can transfer my insurance anytime onto the car but do I not actually need the ownership form to tax it??

[TopCat]

Colm is right, turnabout is surprisingly fast these days. But yes, you still have a bit of a problem. I don't think you can tax it without ownership. You don't necessarily need to have the form, but AFAIK, you will need to be registered as owner in their system (I'm open to correction on this).
Insurance you can (and should) change over as soon as you get the car, so you'll have the policy number for taxing it.
To be honest, Im surprised the gardai were being so strict in the office. I'm not sure of the legal stance on it, but twice I actually got stopped with a car I had just bought (ok, one of them I'd bought 3 weeks before I got stopped ) and both times they had no problem when I told them I had just purchased the car.

[sconson]

I rang the tax office there and was told that until my name is on there system I cant get taxed, he also told me that it usually takes roughly 10 working days to get the documentation but in saying that it should be registered in my name by mon or tue well so he reckons!!

Dont think I'll take the chance to be honest, especially with operation 'freeflow' in progress!!! Dont want to give them the chance of taking it off me!!

[finers]

Hey was in the exact same dilemma !, i got around this by simple getting the previous owner to sign the tax form:D, then i just went in with the mula into ballymun got the tax disc there and then, turnaround took 3weeks to get change of ownership last year!!, i even payed with my laser card 2behonest they didnt even question it.

[Kace]

Diversion

finers - what's that on your roof finers ? Surfing, Kitesurfing or Wakeboarding ?

Is that one of those strap on roof rack things that goes in through the car ?

End of Diversion

[steelroe]

Once you have proof you just bought the car you have 10 days to get it taxed. It would take a right p***k of a garda to take the car. And the fine is only €60 anyway, I know I got caught approx 3-4 weeks ago

[Sebastian]

they can take the car from you if you're over 2 months of last date of valid tax !

[sconson]

Wouldnt mind but the Almera is going on sat so Ill be without a car for a week or so.. Load of b****x!!!! Might just chance my arm and hope for the best!!

[CJ]

I wouldn't worry about it tbh, 'Just bought the car guard, tax in the post...' etc.

CJ

[sconson]

Yeah Ive done it before and was ok so feck it Ill just take the chance!!

[finers]

Diversion

finers - what's that on your roof finers ? Surfing, Kitesurfing or Wakeboarding ?

Is that one of those strap on roof rack things that goes in through the car ?

End of Diversion

Hey they are two surfing boards Kace, nah got alone of the straps there pretty cool they don't go around the car they just clip onto the door sills, i suppose like conventual steel roof racks.

[giuanz]

The gardai, if asked, are bound to tell you that they'll take away the car. But when they stop you, if you explain that bureaucracy leaves you with no choice, they usually are reasonable enough to let you get away with it.

Don't trash the old tax disc and previous insurance disc, just in case you need to demonstrate that the car was of the previous owner. You should have also some written agreement on paper, signed by the previous owner, where he states that he sold the car to you. If you get stopped by the gardai, show all the stuff, explain the situation and hope for the best.

I chanced it and drove all the way from Manchester to Cork with the UK license plate & MOT done but no insurance, no motor tax, no NCT. In 2 weeks I had everything done except NCT that took 2 more weeks.

[CJ]

I chanced it and drove all the way from Manchester to Cork with the UK license plate & MOT done but no insurance

Theres no excuse for not having the car insured - your insurance company will be able to insure you temporarily on UK plates if required.

CJ

[TopCat]

I chanced it and drove all the way from Manchester to Cork with the UK license plate & MOT done but no insurance

Theres no excuse for not having the car insured - your insurance company will be able to insure you temporarily on UK plates if required.

CJ

I'm with CJ on this, no excuse at all, and whereas lack of tax/NCT is of no major importance (relatively speaking), insure can have very serious implications.
Insurance companies can be very accomodating here, will accept UK reg in a tempory condition, or even just the chassis number IIRC.

[sconson]

The car is insured just not taxed yet.

Drove to Enfield and back over the weekend without any hassle so hopefully she'll be taxed this week!!

[Dragonheart]

Insurance companies can be very accomodating here, will accept UK reg in a tempory condition, or even just the chassis number IIRC.

Sometimes, I couldnt get the FTO registered on temp plates, albeit Jap plates, when I brought her in. Had to have the VRT paid to get plates before I could insure.

[TopCat]

Insurance companies can be very accomodating here, will accept UK reg in a tempory condition, or even just the chassis number IIRC.

Sometimes, I couldnt get the FTO registered on temp plates, albeit Jap plates, when I brought her in. Had to have the VRT paid to get plates before I could insure.

Oops, I stand corrected. I was just basing that on when I brought a car back from Scotland. Was surprised how accommodating the insurance company was. My insurance at the time allowed for use in the continent for up to one month I think, so I had the car for the last couple of weeks in scotland on those plates and then just notified the insurance of the change of registration when I got back, very handy.

[giuanz]

Theres no excuse for not having the car insured - your insurance company will be able to insure you temporarily on UK plates if required.
CJ

I rang my insurer at the time (AIB = Hibernian) & they would not provide me with a temporary cover for importing the new car. It was not a matter of money, the operator said they don't do it. Not sure whether it has something to do with me having a EU (not Irish) license or only one year no claim discount (in Ireland as I could not convert my Italian no claim discount but that's another story) or the fact that it was an FTO.

With Hibernian, on my previous car, I still had a comprehensive policy that said I was covered third-party on any other car I drive, at the condition that the other car is not mine. Therefore I made it so that in the bad case I had an accident with the FTO on the way to Cork, the previous owner would help declare that the car was still his one - costs him nothing and saves me trouble. I know it's a bit dodgy but I did not know better, considering that I tested and bought the car on a Sunday.

The day after I went to the tax office and paid VRT straightaway. As soon as I got the license plate number, I terminated my Hibernian policy for the previous car and got the FTO insured with a cheaper insurer.

I'd love to know better for next time - was I just unlucky with my previous insurer? Any hint on which one to ring?

Thanks

[CJ]

So you where covered, albeit in a roundabout way ;)

For what its worth, I've had cars insured on UK plate and on the VIN number for short periods of time (1 day) - depends on your insurance company. Always tell them that you've already bought the car (esp. when importing from Japan), they have no choice but to cover you as long as you press the point that the car has been purchased.

CJ

[Dragonheart]

I tried that, I told them it wa on the way over from Japan, paid for and all, and had the chassis and engine number available for them to insure it off. It was as a matter of fact Hibernian as well though, so maybe its just with them it cant be done.

[kevinod]

When I drove my car from Dublin to Cork after it had arrived from Japan, the insurer was only worried about a way to uniquely identify the car, so were happy to take the VIN on a temporary basis. It was Royal & Sun through the AA iirc.

[Bernard]

I brought mine in from England, I had no problem insuring it on english plates.

Eagle star.