UK Car Reg To NI

thePhilster69

Hi

I'm doing my best to keep the UK car market afloat by getting a 1-year old Ford Focus on Tuesday. It's from Ford Direct stock, which means amongst other things, that it'll come with GB-style license plates, and I have a few questions...

* Any real need to switch these to NI reg?
* DVLNI (or whatever they're now called) said it's easy to get NI license number, and I think they said it was free to get the number, but I'd have to pay for the plates to be made up: anyone any idea what this usually costs?
* I've noticed that a few Post Offices now accept the V10 forms (taxing a used car that's new to you), which would save me the horror of having to try to park close to the Gasworks in Belfast. But can I also request a new NI License Plate at these Post Offices, or is that only at DVLNI itself?
* And finally, if I do opt for new license plates any recommendations as to where to get 'em done?

Many, many thanks in advance!
Phil

brandyslad

thePhilster69 wrote: »

Hi

I'm doing my best to keep the UK car market afloat by getting a 1-year old Ford Focus on Tuesday. It's from Ford Direct stock, which means amongst other things, that it'll come with GB-style license plates, and I have a few questions...

* Any real need to switch these to NI reg?
* DVLNI (or whatever they're now called) said it's easy to get NI license number, and I think they said it was free to get the number, but I'd have to pay for the plates to be made up: anyone any idea what this usually costs?
* I've noticed that a few Post Offices now accept the V10 forms (taxing a used car that's new to you), which would save me the horror of having to try to park close to the Gasworks in Belfast. But can I also request a new NI License Plate at these Post Offices, or is that only at DVLNI itself?
* And finally, if I do opt for new license plates any recommendations as to where to get 'em done?

Many, many thanks in advance!
Phil

We have got a couple of cars with English regs and we never bothered changing them to NI. It is free but you would have to go to the tax office, the post office only do straight forward things. New licence plates will be £10 max for the two and I don't know anywhere in Belfast for them as we are in Fermanagh.

And why does it not suprise me that Belfast Tax Office is horrendous to go too, ours are the same, massive queues and there is always one really narky staff member who is insulting a foreign national when you go in because they haven't taken the degree course you need in this country to keep your car legal!! Although I must add most of the staff are really nice but 'there is always one'.!

Golden_Anemone

I work near the tax office in the Gasworks site so while I can't help you with the licensing query I can advise you on parking etc.

1) the office is busiest in the last week of the month and first 10 days of the month. Going in the middle of the month means you won't have much waiting to do.

2) Do not park anywhere except in the public car park (see 3 below) or on the double yellow lines in front of the building. Even there there is sometimes clamping so it's best if you can take someone to sit in the car for you. Clamp removal fees vary from £35 on the street or in the disabled parking bays to £85 at the back of the building and the guys who operate the £85 system are totally ruthless. I have watched them hide inside a building and wait until someone leaves their car then run out and stick a clamp on as soon as the driver is round the corner. If you don't pay they simply call the cops and have the person arrested, this happened to a man with a tiny baby recently!

3) There is public parking only 5 minutes walk away, beside the Radisson hotel and it only costs 50p per hour for the first 2 hours so very good value really. I know I'd prefer to pay £1 to avoid risking £85 or £35.

baldeagle09

I recently purchased a May 08 Ford Focus from Motorpoint in Glasgow. I kept the GB plates. The form you need to fill in from DVLNI at the gasworks is a V55 (or is it 5/5) and they will not accept the V10 forms. Pain in the !!! paying the parking. Form relatively easy to fill in.
At least the car tax is only £35 a year

dmxdave

thePhilster69 wrote: »

Hi
And finally, if I do opt for new license plates any recommendations as to where to get 'em done?
Many, many thanks in advance!
Phil

Any motor factors will make them for you , don't know about getting them for a tenner though You will need to provide documentation and ID to have them made.

List in Belfast here

Might be worth going to another office rather than Belfast http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/lvlolocation.htm

thePhilster69

baldeagle09 wrote: »

I recently purchased a May 08 Ford Focus from Motorpoint in Glasgow. I kept the GB plates. The form you need to fill in from DVLNI at the gasworks is a V55 (or is it 5/5) and they will not accept the V10 forms. Pain in the !!! paying the parking. Form relatively easy to fill in.
At least the car tax is only £35 a year

So the V55 form isn't applicable for GB license plates?

thePhilster69

dmxdave wrote: »

Any motor factors will make them for you , don't know about getting them for a tenner though You will need to provide documentation and ID to have them made.

List in Belfast here

Might be worth going to another office rather than Belfast http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/lvlolocation.htm

Thanks! Have spotted a few places close by there: wonder how long it takes them to whip 'em up?

dmxdave

thePhilster69 wrote: »

Thanks! Have spotted a few places close by there: wonder how long it takes them to whip 'em up?

Depends how busy they are, it would only take 15 - 20 mins to do the work.

baldeagle09

So the V55 form isn't applicable for GB license plates?

There are 2 jurisdictions for road tax in the UK. GB being one and NI being the other. So, in effect, you are 'importing' a car from GB into NI.
The V55 form is the one you need.

salerbil

thePhilster69 wrote: »

Thanks! Have spotted a few places close by there: wonder how long it takes them to whip 'em up?

15 minutes-£15 in my case

murphys_2

I used to work in the DVLNI for 6 years. You cannot register a car in the post office. It makes no difference if you change your plate or not - its really a personal choice - it doesnt cost any extra except getting plates made.
Finally - correct bald eagle - you need a V55/5 form to do it and you may need photo ID and a household bill to prove address.