Moving to Ireland.

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M3John

Original Poster:

5,974 posts

220 months

Friday 24th February 2006
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So there i was, Novemember 2004 enjoying a lovely week of playing golf in Tennerife with the boys from work. On the last night thou it ALL changed and i met the girl of my dreams. (Come on i hear you all saying!! ). Well since then things have just got better and better relationship wise and coincidentally about 18 months away the company i work for is making a large number of redundancies which is an offer i simply cannot refuse!. So it looks as if my life is going to take me to Dublin.

I have two questions for you all which are about me bringing over with me my beloved 1999 E36 M3 , the only other love in my life and i just don't want to part with it!. The questions are....

A) What is actually involved in taking a car over to Ireland. Cost's (if any), reregistering, road taxing, Tracker coverage, MOT's etc etc.. The car will be staying in my possession so no need to worry about any resale issues.

For those of you that have done the journey because i haven't actually driven it yet but will have to soon......

B) Has anybody done the journey between London and Holyhead then over the water to Dun Laoghaire in Dublin (think that's the right spelling!) as i'll be driving fairly soon and need to know travelling times so i'm in time for my ferry.

Thanks for any help with this.

John.

Gulliver911

673 posts

235 months

Friday 24th February 2006
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Good move M3Jon, you will love it, Dublin people are the coolest people on earth, and I am not Irish, I happen also to live here for the same reason as you will.

Note for self: Irish women, aren't they great?
Note for the other Irish pHers: Bloody foreigners, taking our jobs and our women....

I have to catch a flight and am in a hurry, but for your questions:

- You are in a great position as cars in Ireland are very dear with the local VRT tax, but moving to Ireland, and since you can prove you own your car for a while, you can register it in Ireland at no extra cost.

- Holyhead - Dublin or Dunlaoghaire is a breeze, google it. There are two kind of boats though, slow (3 hours+) and fast (Less than 2), make sure you get the Swift or SeaCats.

Others will comment further I am sure....


>> Edited by Gulliver911 on Friday 24th February 09:51

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

230 months

Friday 24th February 2006
quotequote all
John, I've done that drive 3 times now. Le Mans and Brands heatch etc. Umm, my times would probably be unrealistic for you as we did it through the night mostly, but I think we did it in about 5 hours from Folkstone to Holyhead on a monday morning.

AS for the costs, Gulliver is right. VRT is Ireland is huge, but if you've owned the car in another country for a period of time (6 months I think) then it is excempt. Haven't had to do an MOT so not sure about that. IT's called the NCT here so maybe a website might help.

Only the HSS ferry goes to Dun Laoighre which is fast, although, looking accross the bay it's fairly choppy out there. Ring beforehand as it dousn't run in rough water, but it should be ok.

Have fun .

Simon E

148 posts

219 months

Friday 24th February 2006
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Hi all, first post from another Irishman in London,

Regarding the trip from London to Holyhead I have done it 4 or 5 times now. I would always advise you to get the fast ferry/Stenaline HSS as the journey is only an hour and a half. Also if you pay an extra £12 each way you get priority boarding and access to a nice lounge at the front of the boat away from the screaming and puking kids!

The route up there from London is mostly motorway and I follow the same route usually: M40 to Birmingham, M42, M6, M54, A5 through Llangollen, Corwen, Betws –y-coed, then Snowdonia, A5 then joins the A55 a lovely new road straight to Hollyhead. The fastest I did this was 4 and half hours in a Skoda Octavia vRS. Sticking to speed limits and allowing for petrol and pee stops I’d say allowing 6 to 7 hours is sensible. I now have a Caterham 7 Superlight which isn’t too comfy on motorways but once you get into Wales, oh my God, amazing roads. I would almost drive up that far just to drive around Snowdonia. The roads are nice and smooth with fast flowing good visibility bends and the scenery is breathtaking. I’ll be heading over to Ireland in a few months in the 7 if anyone in the Dublin/Wicklow region wants a quick passenger ride in a 7 I’d be happy to oblige!

Re the VRT issue I imported a few Porsches into Ireland from the UK when I was living in Ireland. I actually felt physically sick when the assessor moron came up with a figure which was nothing near what I was quoted, but I had to pay up no choice really. That was one of the big reasons for me leaving Ireland and moving to London (that and crazy house prices, terrible Dublin airport, waiting a year for a phone line etc etc).

Cheerio

Simon

brady

186 posts

221 months

Friday 24th February 2006
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sounds good!

but why not bring the woman somewhere warm and cheap!lol

make sure you get the fast boat, its boring enough on the fast one, i cant imagine how bad the slow one is!

would i be right in saying that if he gets free vrt, he can then sell his car for a healthy profit over here?

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

230 months

Friday 24th February 2006
quotequote all
Simon E said:
I’ll be heading over to Ireland in a few months in the 7 if anyone in the Dublin/Wicklow region wants a quick passenger ride in a 7 I’d be happy to oblige!
Simon


Stick out a leaf like that again and I might bite your hand off! I'm not too proud to say YES INDEEDY I'D LOVE A SHOT .

Ragards the VRT, I think you have to keep the car in the country for another period (not sure how long) before selling it again. Second hand prices a much lower in the UK and the possibilty for healthy profit seems huge until the tax man says hello.

Irish

3,991 posts

240 months

Friday 24th February 2006
quotequote all
OK, I am a self proclaimed VRT expert..........being a lawyer who has read the 300 page VRT handbook more that once!!!

General info. is:

1) If UK resident and held car for 6 months in your name and taxed and insured there is no problem.

2) You must register the car at the port with Customs. i.e declare you are formerly importing it.

3) If you sell the car within 12 months of import VRT will be payable.

4) Car tax is v. expensive. It goes by engine size. A 3 ltr is around €1,000 per annum!!!!!

You will love Ireland!

PS welcome Simon. The Irish PH community is growing!

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

230 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
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Irish said:
Lawerly stuff


I unequivically agree . I remember Dads Jag 3.2 was about €1150 on tax per year.

markomah

652 posts

220 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
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The various rates of motor tax can be found here;

[url]www.dublincity.ie/living_in_the_city/getting_around/motor_tax/taxing_vehicles/motor_tax_rates_of_duty_-_private_vehicles.asp [/url]

It's not cheap, as you can see. Anything over 3 litres is €1,343 per year.

That said, it's the same rate for a 6.75 litre car as it is for a 3 litre car; that Bentley is starting to look like relatively good value

ballcock

3,855 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
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Hi john , Just arrived into Dublin port from Holyhead this morning .. It's a super journey up from London .. A blast on the motorways and then a bit sideways around the welsh mountains. If you're coming over soon , check that there's a full ferry service .. I missed the 3pm sailing yesterday, and the next ferry was the 2.50am slow boat ... Aaaaargh! (Nice pubs in Holyhead tho , And the 'taste of India' restaurant's fantastic!!).

ballcock

3,855 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
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P.s. Stay away from our women!! (They're nothin but trouble!!!!)

M3john

Original Poster:

5,974 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Good effort guys, thanks for the information. Doesn't sound to be too much trouble, although i don't like the idea of the road tax costs...what are the Irish govement thinking, charging people over £1,000 a year just to have the car on the road, then there's a little matter of insurance which if the road tax is anything to judge things by its going to be very very expensive.
I wont have to worry about the issue of being taxed if i do sell the car because as i've previously said that's the only other love in my life (yes Michelle if your reading this there is another, but you already knew that ) and so long as i've a job, the M3 is staying...it a cracking motor!.

up-the-dubs said:

think we did it in about 5 hours from Folkstone to Holyhead on a monday morning.




I Like the sound of the jorney times from London up to Holyhead, i'll be doing it very early in the morning. Probably set off straight from work at around 4am.

irish said:
You must register the car at the port with Customs. i.e declare you are formerly importing it.



Whats the craic with this mate, do you just roll up say what your intending to do, briefly give them the low-down and fill in a form??

As for loving Ireland, i can safely say that i already do. I do the trip from Stansted to Dublin about once every 3 weeks at the min. Everywhere i've been i've found the locals friendly and warming but i find i do get the michael taken out of me for my traditional cockney accent.

When i do move over, ahbeit 18 months or so away, if there are any takers we'll have to get a PH meet going say once a month. I currently a member of The London Tunnelers and can say that we have a good time when we're all out together. Yes ok i know there's only one tunnel in Dublin and that leaks a bit but it still doesn't stop a road run of some sort. Suggestions on a postcard please.

If there's any other info out there guy's keep it coming please and keep in touch.

Welcome abord Simon you'll love it on here !!!

Happy motoring

John



>> Edited by M3john on Sunday 26th February 02:13

>> Edited by M3john on Sunday 26th February 02:15

>> Edited by M3john on Sunday 26th February 02:24

markomah

652 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
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Whats the craic with this mate, do you just roll up say what your intending to do, briefly give them the low-down and fill in a form??


There's a Revenue Commissioners office in Dun Laoghaire where, if you're importing a car, you're supposed to go within 1 business day of arriving in Dublin. I turned up about 4 days late and no-one questioned it, though.

The Irish Revenue site (www.revenue.ie) have a section on importing cars that might be of interest/assistance.

I like the idea of the Irish PHers getting together every so often; we should follow up on this.

M3john

Original Poster:

5,974 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
markomah said:



I like the idea of the Irish PHers getting together every so often; we should follow up on this.



Yes i think we should, i'd certinly take the trip over to start the ball rolling !!!!

Irish

3,991 posts

240 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
M3john said:
markomah said:



I like the idea of the Irish PHers getting together every so often; we should follow up on this.



Yes i think we should, i'd certinly take the trip over to start the ball rolling !!!!


I will certainly take a trip back for this as well. As a fellow london tunneller who may be returning to Ireland I am all on for an active PH chapter in Ireland! Anyone for an Eire Hoon?

A

Irish

3,991 posts

240 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
M3john said:
Good effort guys, thanks for the information. Doesn't sound to be too much trouble, although i don't like the idea of the road tax costs...what are the Irish govement thinking, charging people over £1,000 a year just to have the car on the road, then there's a little matter of insurance which if the road tax is anything to judge things by its going to be very very expensive.


I would happily pay the road tax over council tax any day of the week!

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

230 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
A run up to Jhonny Foxes or Glendalough? Great roads around Wicklow and good poubs to stop at for a bit of grub or a drink to calm the nerves!

M3john

Original Poster:

5,974 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Irish said:


I will certainly take a trip back for this as well. As a fellow london tunneller who may be returning to Ireland I am all on for an active PH chapter in Ireland! Anyone for an Eire Hoon?

A


There is a London run next weekend on March 4th, don't suppose your going on this?. If so we'll have to meet up for a chat.

Irish

3,991 posts

240 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
M3john said:
Irish said:


I will certainly take a trip back for this as well. As a fellow london tunneller who may be returning to Ireland I am all on for an active PH chapter in Ireland! Anyone for an Eire Hoon?

A


There is a London run next weekend on March 4th, don't suppose your going on this?. If so we'll have to meet up for a chat.


Yep, I am No. 7 on the list for the dawn raid! Look foward to seeing you then.

M3john

Original Poster:

5,974 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Irish said:
M3john said:
Irish said:


I will certainly take a trip back for this as well. As a fellow london tunneller who may be returning to Ireland I am all on for an active PH chapter in Ireland! Anyone for an Eire Hoon?

A


There is a London run next weekend on March 4th, don't suppose your going on this?. If so we'll have to meet up for a chat.


Yep, I am No. 7 on the list for the dawn raid! Look foward to seeing you then.


Yep sounds good. I'll keep an eye out for ya !!