Will Ireland move to paperless motor tax?
Hi,
Are you aware of any plans for Ireland to move to a paperless tax, NCT and insurance system like they use in the UK? To see all that paper hanging in the windscreens of modern cars is very last century and is simply clutter that does nothing to complement the great design of many modern cars.
Martin Smith (Dublin)Nov 2016 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
There are certainly no concrete plans that we’ve heard of. There was some discussion of the subject, back in 2014 when the UK did away with paper tax discs, that Ireland might move to a similar system, and the abolition of being able to carry over unused vehicle tax from one owner to another is kind of the first step on that road. Dublin City Council this year suggested that we should start moving towards paperless tax but plans haven’t gone any farther than that for now.
Can a learner get insurance on a 1.6 diesel?
Can a learner driver get insured on a 1.6 diesel or does it have to be below a 1.4?
Liz ONeill (Donegal)Oct 2016 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Liz,
It will depend on your insurance company, but the sad fact is that insurers in Ireland are still wrong-headedly welded to the idea that a bigger engine automatically makes you a higher insurance risk.
How best to check insurance prices for a car?
I am thinking of buying a second hand car and have started to browse online. Apart from the specs of car and the price, a big determining factor to buy the car or not will be the price of the insurance premium. However, if I want to know the premium I have to go through the rather painful process of filling in online quotation forms. Painful and time consuming. Is there a faster way to check the insurance premium online for any given car I am interested in?
Thanks
Peter S. (Dublin)Oct 2016 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
Sadly, there isn’t. Compared to the UK insurance market, the Irish market is still somewhat in the dark ages when it comes to price comparison sites etc. No substitute for legwork, I’m afraid.
What warranty for on my Volkswagen CC?
Hi, I'm going over to buy a 2013 Volkswagen CC in England at the weekend. There's 66,000 miles on it. I'm looking at buying a private warranty for it that gives me some cover when it's back in Ireland. Would you be able to recommend a private warranty company? I'm getting mixed messages about Mapfre and Carprotect.ie.
Many thanks
Eoin Kelly (Naas)Sep 2016 Filed under: warranty
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
Mapfre and Carprotect provide decent cover, but, as always with these things, you need to make sure you read all of the small print, and we mean ALL of it, to ensure you know exactly what’s covered and what’s not and in what circumstances. Basically, rather like accident insurance, aftermarket warranties are there to cover utter disasters, not replacement of day-to-day items.
How to insure a car I am importing?
Hi,
I'm buying a car in the UK. I don't have a car at the moment. What is the cheapest way to insure myself for the one day for while driving it back to Ireland? I'm a named driver on my girlfriend's car but they are telling me that we can't transfer her policy.
Eoin Kelly (Naas)Sep 2016 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
There are a number of UK-based insurers who offer one-day car insurance, usually up to a maximum of 28 days, so a quick run through Google should see you sorted. If you’re concerned about not knowing which company is which, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) offers a short-term policy, and that should be very trustworthy. Just make sure that you check and ensure that the coverage will extend to Ireland for the time you need to get a local policy sorted out.
Am I importing this car from the UK correctly?
I am purchasing a car in the UK and will catch the ferry over to pick it up.
I am looking at having a few days in the UK with the new car prior to getting the ferry back to Ireland and I will have it insured under my Irish insurance for this and will pay UK road tax to cover my time driving over there.
Is there anything else I need to be aware of or do legally to enable driving this UK reg car in the UK prior to bringing it back across the water to Ireland and the awaiting import process?
Thanks
Rob from Wexford
Rob Amis (Wexford)Sep 2016 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Rob,
No, it sounds like you're covering all the legal bases there. Highly conscientious in fact.
Does the Irish car industry care about VRT?
Hi,
Do Irish car importers actively lobby the government concerning VRT or does this arrangement actually suit them as some form of protectionism? I realise that VRT denies the Irish consumer choice/ranging/specification and all at higher prices than elsewhere in Europe, but was shocked to read that new cars being imported into Ireland are not being 'offered' with hi-tech safety features as standard (presumably standard in other markets?) because the VRT and VAT added on these safety features makes the cars too expensive!
Martin Smith (Wexford)Aug 2016 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
To be fair to the car companies, they would all like to see the end of VRT – there’s little or no protectionist advantage to them (aside from it causing a small, largely ineffective brake on personal imports) and freeing customers from that yoke would make the Irish car industry much more competitive.
As for lobbying against it, that has largely dried up now. Why? Because of the tacit admission that even if VRT could be dismantled, any Irish Government would simply come up with a replacement for it. Even with the Apple tax decision hanging in the air, no Minister for Finance is going to turn off a €4 billion annual tap of combined motoring revenues, of which VRT makes up a a major component.
As for the application of both VRT and VAT to major safety items, you’re quite right – that is a staggering shame, one that should (but probably doesn’t) weigh heavily on the consciences of all in the Department of Finance, the Road Safety Authority and the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. Whether it’s autonomous emergency or a child safety car seat, adding VRT and/or VAT increases the price and makes it less likely that a customer will spend the extra to buy that system, not least because there is no benefit to your insurance premium for doing so.
Mind you, in some ways, Irish customers have only themselves to blame. Back in the early 2000s, when anti-lock brakes were often an option, and not an especially expensive one at that, most buyers shunned them in favour of a sunroof or a better stereo…
Do I need to insure a car before scrappage?
Hi,
I'm enquiring about scrappage deals and am wondering if I need to have the car insured as I can't afford a new car until 2017 and the insurance is due for renewal on my car now and as I don't need the car until January I don't know if I need to reinsure it before then.
Rita
Rita Bo (Tipperary)Jul 2016 Filed under: scrappage
Expert answer
Hi Rita,
It varies from offer to offer – most deals specify that you need to be able to demonstrate ownership and use of the car and that it has to be driven onto the forecourt under its own power, so you need to check the fine print of any of the ‘scrappage’ deals you’re looking at to see exactly what proof they need. All will need at least current road tax, but not all will want to see insurance details.
My Audi A6 was rear-ended. Help...
Repair or replace?! I was rear ended in my Audi A6 and it needs a new bumper as quoted by an Audi dealer. Insurance company that is dealing with the claim has made the judgement that a repair will do, but I want a new bumper. What can I do?
Marc Sutton (Dublin)May 2016 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Marc,
Dealing with insurance companies is like trying to teach a Labrador the entire works of Shakespeare – you can do it, but it’s frustrating and rarely results in the outcome you were hoping for. I think in the first instance, get a letter from your Audi dealer (and make sure it’s the garage YOU want to deal with, not one your insurer is suggesting) and get a letter from them that you can show to your insurer saying that a replacement is the best option. Then prepare to spend a LOT of time on the phone and on email reiterating this to various claim adjusters and customer service bods for probably weeks on end. Eventually, you may get somewhere, but to be honest, the path of least resistance looks pretty tempting here…
What'll I buy as my first car, for €10,000?
Hi folks,
I'll be buying my first car in a few weeks. Ideally I'd like to find something under €10,000. Just something reliable to get me to and from work, preferably in a low tax band and will keep insurance costs as low as possible (22-year old male). Any advice?
Also, if I'm paying in cash can I expect to get a discount on the asking price in a dealership? If so, roughly what percentage could I hope for?
Thanks in advance, Rob
Rob Henry (Dublin)May 2016 Filed under: learner
Expert answer
Hi Rob,
Well, as far as discounts go, most dealers operate on about an eight per cent margin, so if you're asking for more than a seven per cent discount you're asking for a below cost price. You should get a decent discount for cash right enough, but explore the credit options too - dealers often get bonuses for selling a credit plan so if you can get a good one (at zero per cent interest obviously) and pay it off from your lump sum, it may give the dealer a bit more wiggle room for a discount.
As for the model, with a starter car and the current cost of insurance you need to be looking at no more than a 1.0-litre engine. Happily your budget will easily get you into a Volkswagen up! 1.0, one of the best small cars around (or equally you could go for a mechanically identical SEAT Mii or Skoda Citigo). Can't go wrong really, although if you're looking for other options you could try an Opel Karl (plain but decent), a Renault Twingo (fun but not as well made as the up!) or the Fiat 500 TwinAir (fabulous car, but get an insurance quote first).
Here are reviews of all of those to help you decide: