Taking car home from UK to Ireland

[LouisCribben]

I'm Irish, living in the UK for the past couple of years

My brother in Ireland wants to buy a UK car.
A UK friend of mine is selling a car, and the car matches my brothers requirements.

The plan is I buy it for him, and take it home on the ferry (we will then pay the VRT in Ireland, and register the car there)

When I buy the car in the UK, do I need to get the car into my name (before taking it over on the ferry) ? Could I leave it in my friends name until we register it in Ireland ?

The car is not road taxed in the UK, will I need to tax the car to complete my 600km drive to the ferry ?

 

[mathepac]

...
When I buy the car in the UK, do I need to get the car into my name (before taking it over on the ferry) ? Could I leave it in my friends name until we register it in Ireland ?...

No do not re-register it the UK, leave it in your friend's name - but make sure you get the V5C from your friend, and maybe run a HPI check on the car if you haven't done so already (no criticism of your friend, but maybe there are problems he is not aware of regarding title, finance, insurance write-off, etc,)

...
The car is not road taxed in the UK, will I need to tax the car to complete my 600km drive to the ferry ?

As you know, using a car on the road with no road tax is illegal in the UK and as your friend is still the registered keeper until you re-register it here, it is both your interests to have it legal for its last UK journey.

 

[Mez!]

I'm Irish, living in the UK for the past couple of years

My brother in Ireland wants to buy a UK car.
A UK friend of mine is selling a car, and the car matches my brothers requirements.

The plan is I buy it for him, and take it home on the ferry (we will then pay the VRT in Ireland, and register the car there)

When I buy the car in the UK, do I need to get the car into my name (before taking it over on the ferry) ? Could I leave it in my friends name until we register it in Ireland ?

The car is not road taxed in the UK, will I need to tax the car to complete my 600km drive to the ferry ?

Just like in Ireland, you must pay for road tax a vehicle to drive on the public roads in the UK. If the car is not taxed at the moment, there is a possibility you will be caught. Once in Ireland however you will have a few days grace, but don't milk it. Offically it's 24 hours (I think) but most gardai will be okay with a little longer than that.

As long as you're insured to drive it in the UK and Ireland you don't have to transfer ownership into your name. So if you have or can get a preferably fully comp policy that will cover you to drive his car, there is no other reason why.

As a side note - any UK resident who owns, taxes and insures a vehicle in the UK for 6 months or more is not subject to VRT if they move and bring that vehicle to Ireland. They cannot sell the vehicle in Ireland for one year though. Just some food for thought.

 

[RS2K]

I'm Irish, living in the UK for the past couple of years

My brother in Ireland wants to buy a UK car.
A UK friend of mine is selling a car, and the car matches my brothers requirements.

The plan is I buy it for him, and take it home on the ferry (we will then pay the VRT in Ireland, and register the car there)

When I buy the car in the UK, do I need to get the car into my name (before taking it over on the ferry) ? Could I leave it in my friends name until we register it in Ireland ?

The car is not road taxed in the UK, will I need to tax the car to complete my 600km drive to the ferry ?

The car should be registered in your brothers name, as he's the owner. I assume he'll be paying for it.

Road tax isn't optional.