Cars from Northern Ireland
Discussion
I'll try to describe the situation as best as possible, been contacted by someone who may let their car go next year for the right price. I've seen pictures of it and fell in love. My only gripe is its been back and fourth to Northern Ireland where it currently is. Firstly registered there, brought over to England and then finally went back to N Ireland in 2014 (well back on Northern Ireland plates). Now the car, he says, is mega low mileage for the year. 45k in 24 years! I'm concerned its been clocked at some point as the history gets cleared once it goes onto Irish plates. Would a full HPI check be helpful in seeing if its true?
I have bought many a car between NI & UK, sold them there as well.
If it's something rare it seems to be a great place to buy from, lots of super enthusiastic owners who keep their cars like museum pieces & often have substantial collections hidden away, the show scene is massive out there. Bear in mind nobody in NI does many miles, you cannot go far lol. Buy on condition something that age may well have hidden history it was certainly rife a while back. HPI will show if it was previously on the mainland, one assumes the history & reg is traceable.
My bet is, its a rare Toyota or rally rep. Get a cheap flight to Belfast & bobs your uncle
If it's something rare it seems to be a great place to buy from, lots of super enthusiastic owners who keep their cars like museum pieces & often have substantial collections hidden away, the show scene is massive out there. Bear in mind nobody in NI does many miles, you cannot go far lol. Buy on condition something that age may well have hidden history it was certainly rife a while back. HPI will show if it was previously on the mainland, one assumes the history & reg is traceable.
My bet is, its a rare Toyota or rally rep. Get a cheap flight to Belfast & bobs your uncle
My Porsche came from NI with 15k at 4 years old. There was not a better specced cleaner example on the mainland. The BMW dealer over there in Belfast also has some of the most highly specced 5 series I have ever seen, including driving plus assistant. This makes their cars very attractive despite the flight and ferry cost back.
Get it bought !
Get it bought !
Can you look up the MOT history? Mileage is often recorded there.
I think in general the best strategy to avoid overpaying for a clocked car is to simply not take the recorded mileage too seriously, and instead judge the condition of the car inside and out the best you can. If it's truly in good condition it's probably worth paying for, mileage true or false.
Got my R8 from Belfast. MOT history online doesn't work well, but I saw the original mot paperwork first and it tallied with the service history. Immaculate low mileage car anyway.
Now I have it over here and one mot done that's the one showing up on the mot database.
Go for it for the right car I say. We made a trip of it and toured Ireland in it.
Now I have it over here and one mot done that's the one showing up on the mot database.
Go for it for the right car I say. We made a trip of it and toured Ireland in it.
samoht said:
Can you look up the MOT history? Mileage is often recorded there.
NI MOTs are on a completely different system, and only the expiry date shows through to the normal searches.OP - NI is this country. There's no importing-or-exporting being done. "Irish plates" are a different country. Just buy it, send the V5C back to Swansea as normal, job jobbed. The only difference is that there's a boat involved. If you want the NI plate swapping for a normal GB one, then simply ask Swansea, and they'll do it. Or spend the £80, put it on retention, and flog it to the landlord of a flat-roofed pub for his Lexus.
TooMany2cvs said:
samoht said:
Can you look up the MOT history? Mileage is often recorded there.
NI MOTs are on a completely different system, and only the expiry date shows through to the normal searches.
Nope not a rare Toyota, it is definitely rare though. A look back through my previous posts and threads will reveal what it is 
Thanks, i didnt think it was difficult to get it registered over here on GB plates, possibly going on an appropriate private plate anyway. I'm still going to tread very carefully, averaging less than 2k miles per year in its enrire life is very hard to believe
Alfhough to the person that said its difficult to go anywhere in NI so the cars a generally lower mileage. That makes sense as it was first registered over there, came over here for a short while then went back to NI
Thanks, i didnt think it was difficult to get it registered over here on GB plates, possibly going on an appropriate private plate anyway. I'm still going to tread very carefully, averaging less than 2k miles per year in its enrire life is very hard to believe
Alfhough to the person that said its difficult to go anywhere in NI so the cars a generally lower mileage. That makes sense as it was first registered over there, came over here for a short while then went back to NI
Edited by HedgeyGedgey on Saturday 25th November 15:43
I've seen a few dodgy car from the north and south. Watch out for ground out chassis vin numbers and new numbers welded in. Times may have changed these days and all may be ok.
If its from the south, I wouldn't touch it with yours let alone mine. If it's to good to be true then walk away. it's a scam.
If its from the south, I wouldn't touch it with yours let alone mine. If it's to good to be true then walk away. it's a scam.
Boosted LS1 said:
If its from the south, I wouldn't touch it with yours let alone mine. If it's to good to be true then walk away. it's a scam.
Not sure why you'd think there are more scammers here in RoI (which I presume you mean by the "south") than in the UK? Also, if it's classics we're talking about, Irish roads have traditionally been salted less in winter than British ones, so potentially less rot issues to worry aboutThere are many classics here owned by true enthusiasts who care for them properly, and should be perfectly fine to buy from
Edited by Leins on Sunday 26th November 15:58
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