Driving an Irish Registered Car in NI

beccauk

I'm going to Dublin in a few weeks. While I was there, I was considering renting a car and driving into Northern Ireland for the day. I'm UK resident and UK licensed.

I've been reading comments on the internet stating that it's forbidden to drive a foreign car in the UK if you're UK resident, but I haven't found anywhere elaborating on that.

Would what I'm proposing to do be illegal?

Thanks!

PCMcGarry

beccauk wrote: »

I'm going to Dublin in a few weeks. While I was there, I was considering renting a car and driving into Northern Ireland for the day. I'm UK resident and UK licensed.

I've been reading comments on the internet stating that it's forbidden to drive a foreign car in the UK if you're UK resident, but I haven't found anywhere elaborating on that.

Would what I'm proposing to do be illegal? No

Thanks!

Is the simple answer.

Gloomendoom

beccauk wrote: »

Would what I'm proposing to do be illegal?

Thanks!

Some useful info here...

http://expatriates.stackexchange.com/questions/50/how-long-can-i-drive-a-eu-registered-car-in-the-uk

agrinnall

As stated, it's not forbidden by law, but you would have to check that the rental company allow it.

AdrianC

beccauk wrote: »

I've been reading comments on the internet stating that it's forbidden to drive a foreign car in the UK if you're UK resident, but I haven't found anywhere elaborating on that.

You can usually use a vehicle with non-UK number plates without needing to tax or register it in the UK if all of the following apply:

* you’re visiting and don’t plan to live here

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

beccauk

Okay, I'm none the wiser!

The link that Gloomendoom provides suggests it's okay, as it's a rental car, but the source in the URL points to the same place as AdrianC's post, which suggests it's not.

If this isn't permitted, this has to be the most technical of all technical offences.

bigjl

Ask the car hire company

I guarantee you will not be the first person from the Uk that wants to hire a car then drive around Ireland in it.

engineer_amy

if it was long term you could have issues, but for a day trip then you will be fine. There are many, many southern registered cars driving about in the north and they only get stopped if they are breaking the law in front of a police officer.
So stick to the speed limit, stay off your mobile phone and you will be fine. And if you do get stopped, then simply showing them your rental agreement and proof of your address in the UK will let you get on your way.

almillar

Is it legal to drive a southern registered car in the north? Yes
Is it legal to drive a southern registered rental car in the north? Yes
Does your rental company allow it, is the real question. You need to check with them, but the answer is likely 'yes' going by the number of southern reg rental cars around up here.
What you're reading about is a UK resident (6+ months in a year) driving around in a non UK car. That car spends 6+ months in the UK, so must be UK registered.

AdrianC

almillar wrote: »

What you're reading about is a UK resident (6+ months in a year) driving around in a non UK car. That car spends 6+ months in the UK, so must be UK registered.

Not quite. You are conflating the six months for a non-resident temporarily importing a foreign-registered vehicle to the UK with a UK resident driving a foreign-registered vehicle.

With a very few exceptions, none of which seem to apply to a short-term rental car, it is illegal on DAY 1 for a UK resident to drive a foreign-registered vehicle in the UK.

bowlhead99

If you're not actually committing any crimes in it, it's unclear what punishment they would seek to give you if you were stopped. I'd guess a police officer with any sense who had randomly stopped you just for fun, would probably be placated when you said yes I'm just here as a tourist for a day, going back to Dublin tomorrow with this car I've rented from them, and played dumb.

If your car was caught on a speed camera the NIP would get sent to Ireland, and may not end up coming back to you, which is why they don't want UK people using foreign cars to zoom around our roads flouting our traffic laws and illegally parking without worrying too much about where the tickets are getting sent.