Car insurance on import before registering?

[Sunster]

Am well aware alot of people are importing cars from the UK. Just wondering what you do about insuring yourself to drive the car whilst you're waiting to 'irish' reg the car?
Do the insurance companies grant short term insurance for the interim?

 

[gipimann]

I've heard that motorcyclists importing bikes can temporarily transfer their existing Irish bike insurance to the bike with the UK reg to cover them until the bike is re-registered in Ireland.

I've also heard that the Welsh constabulary are getting very pernickety about insurance documentation, to the point of impounding bikes until a valid insurance document is available (a fax from Ireland will suffice). This could just be a biker thing though!!

 

[Aidomoss]

I done this last year.

 

[Aidomoss]

I done this last year. Just ring your insurance company with the UK reg number and the length of time you want cover for i.e a couple of days or till the end of you current policy. If you go to the end of your current policy then you can get them to change it to the irish reg when you get it.
If you do it in time you should receive a letter from the insurance company stating that you are covered to drive the car before you go to the UK and bring the letter with you. Depending on the insurance company and length of time left on the policy, they might charge you a fee for doing this. I was with Hibernian at the time and it was free if you changed it on-line but they charged E20 for changing it over the phone.

 

[Sunster]

I done this last year. Just ring your insurance company with the UK reg number and the length of time you want cover for i.e a couple of days or till the end of you current policy. If you go to the end of your current policy then you can get them to change it to the irish reg when you get it.
If you do it in time you should receive a letter from the insurance company stating that you are covered to drive the car before you go to the UK and bring the letter with you. Depending on the insurance company and length of time left on the policy, they might charge you a fee for doing this. I was with Hibernian at the time and it was free if you changed it on-line but they charged E20 for changing it over the phone.

Thanks for that. Just what I wanted to know.

 

[Birroc]

Thanks for that. Just what I wanted to know.

I had no insurance letter when I came through holyhead yesterday and nobody asked me for anything. I thought it odd. One customs guy just wanted to look in the boot (which was empty).

 

[Aidomoss]

I had no insurance letter when I came through holyhead yesterday and nobody asked me for anything. I thought it odd. One customs guy just wanted to look in the boot (which was empty).

If you were pulled by cops it could have been a different story. I wasn't pulled over or checked for insurance but it's peace of mind when your in another country!!!!

Changing the subject a bit but when I brought in my car I had my wife with me and when boarding the ferry no body pulled us in to check the details of anything. I handed my print out from the internet to a girl in the booth and she never asked for I.D of any sort from either of us. I thought it strange, a Paddy driving an UK reg car and no questions asked!!!!!

 

[daithi28]

As Aidomoss said, there is no problem transferring your insurance onto the car, even if it is a UK reg. Just get a copy of your insurance details in case you get stopped by Police.

I got pulled over in wales last year when I was bringing back my car (UK licence plates were too small apparently) and I had my bill of sale and copy of insurance details. I was let go to continue my journey to Holyhead by a friendy policeman within about 3 minutes.