Buying a car in Northern Ireland

dieselglider

Hmm, it would appear the reason to re-register is probably because the N.Ireland V5 is termed a V5C(NI), which relates only to those resident here (N.Ireland), and you presumably can't use that on mainland UK for taxation purposes, etc. Although I think moves are afoot to amalgamate the system.

Can't see any reason to not buy the car mind you. Hopefully you're getting a bargain... :beer:

harveybobbles

Not sure about it being a bargain due to the numerous folk that come over here on the ferry to buy cars, ship them back, pay tax and still it's cheaper than buying over in NI.

dieselglider

harveybobbles wrote: »

Not sure about it being a bargain due to the numerous folk that come over here on the ferry to buy cars, ship them back, pay tax and still it's cheaper than buying over in NI.

There's a bigger market over on the mainland, so more chance of a bargain, but you yourself buy cars from N.Ireland...??

flutterbyuk25

ok here is how it is:

- you need to re-register the vehicle here. it's classed as an import as NI has it's own licencing authority.
- you must do this as soon as you come into mainland (because you are a resident of mainland)
- you need form V55/5 (from DVLA local office or DVLA Swansea can post out), NI V5C, UK ins, UK/NI MOT cert, photocopy of tax disc and some ID (photo driving license is best - if not then check on direct.gov.uk)
- if you want to keep NI reg then include letter stating this and fill it out in Section 1 on V55/5 form
-Submit to your local DVLA office for them to register.
- If you changing to UK reg mark then you will get replacement tax disc/MOT and cert showing UK reg mark within 2-7 working days and new V5C within 4 weeks from DVLA Swansea
- If you keeping NI reg mark it will still take same amount of time but the MOT/tax will obviously not be changed.

Hope that helps, feel free to PM me if you need any help (I work at DVLA!)

x

bingo_bango

I've done this the other way about, buying an English motor to use in NI. Simply a matter of letting Swansea know the change of ownership details, taxing it using the forms as detailed above by flutterby, and presto....it's legal. No need to change plates or anything else.
Works out as same amount of form filling as if you buy locally.

jammin_2

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

ok here is how it is:

- you need to re-registered the vehicle here. it's classed as an import as NI has it's own licencing authority.
- you must do this as soon as you come into mainland (because you are a resident of mainland)
- you need form V55/5 (from DVLA local office or DVLA Swansea can post out), NI V5C, UK ins, UK/NI MOT cert, photocopy of tax disc and some ID (photo driving license is best - if not then check on direct.gov.uk)
- if you want to keep NI reg then include letter stating this and fill it out in Section 1 on V55/5 form
-Submit to your local DVLA office for them to register.
- If you changing to UK reg mark then you will get replacement tax disc/MOT and cert showing UK reg mark within 2-7 working days and new V5C within 4 weeks from DVLA Swansea
- If you keeping NI reg mark it will still take same amount of time but the MOT/tax will obviously not be changed.

Hope that helps, feel free to PM me if you need any help (I work at DVLA!)

x

What a star. Thank you very much indeed. That is exactly the clarification I needed. Cheers! :beer:

harveybobbles

dieselglider wrote: »

There's a bigger market over on the mainland, so more chance of a bargain, but you yourself buy cars from N.Ireland...??

I should have worded it better...

We, as a garage buy NI reg'd cars, used by a NI company, but sold over here on mainland via BCA etc...

trevor1981

If I buy a car from Northern Ireland and bring it to Ireland then England what do I have to do? Do I have to change it to Irish plates for 6 months (this is how long I intend to be in Ireland.) and then change it to English plates when I move to England? I am an Irish citizen. Can anyone help?

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

ok here is how it is:

- you need to re-register the vehicle here. it's classed as an import as NI has it's own licencing authority.
- you must do this as soon as you come into mainland (because you are a resident of mainland)
- you need form V55/5 (from DVLA local office or DVLA Swansea can post out), NI V5C, UK ins, UK/NI MOT cert, photocopy of tax disc and some ID (photo driving license is best - if not then check on direct.gov.uk)
- if you want to keep NI reg then include letter stating this and fill it out in Section 1 on V55/5 form
-Submit to your local DVLA office for them to register.
- If you changing to UK reg mark then you will get replacement tax disc/MOT and cert showing UK reg mark within 2-7 working days and new V5C within 4 weeks from DVLA Swansea
- If you keeping NI reg mark it will still take same amount of time but the MOT/tax will obviously not be changed.

Hope that helps, feel free to PM me if you need any help (I work at DVLA!)

x

jammin_2

trevor1981 wrote: »

If I buy a car from Northern Ireland and bring it to Ireland then England what do I have to do? Do I have to change it to Irish plates for 6 months (this is how long I intend to be in Ireland.) and then change it to English plates when I move to England? I am an Irish citizen. Can anyone help?

If I were in your position, I'd buy the car in NI, then register it in England, at your (or a friend / family member's) English address, as per flutterbyuk25's instructions. Job done.

I know that you'll be in ROI for 6 months before actually moving to England, but you can still get insured in Ireland for those 6 months (Quinn Direct insure UK registered cars on an ROI policy).

The other way (which, in fairness is the legally correct way), would be to register it in ROI for six months (and pay VRT to the Irish Revenue - which could be loads), then re-register it again when you move to England six months later.

Personally, I wouldn't register it in ROI if you're only going to be here for six months. It's hassle and very costly. You'd easily get away with driving round a Northern/GB reg for six months without the guards/customs being bothered too much anyway so.

Good luck. :beer:

priestess

Used cars in northern ireland are said to be much cheapre now than enywhere else. I'm also thinking of buying there but I live in Cork so I'll have to get through the registration process. I found several used cars dealers in northern ireland. And the are very helpful. The dealers will answer all the questions and majority will tell you how to do that so I'm not much afraid of it.