Going into retirement, I'd like to spend half my year in the EU country where I currently live and the other half in Ireland.
It seems that owning and insuring a car in both countries is quite a challenge. Read on.
I checked into buying and insuring a car in Ireland.
First, it seems I would need to have an official residence in Ireland to buy a car. Ok, that's solveable (family).
Insurance is the tougher nut.
Where I currently live, I insure a car. Having been here a couple of decades, my drivers license is also from this EU country. I originally held an Irish licence but it's the rule (at least in EU) that you have to exchange it when you live elsewhere. To insure my car here, I need to keep this license.
But most Irish insurers I approached won't even quote me, even if I tell them I am a returning emigrant and don't mention splitting my time across two countries.
I found just one that will quote me - and they say that I must replace my foreign license with an Irish one within 6 months... and if I didn't they wouldn't renew. They told me that any other insurer that accepts me will require this too.
But the crux is - I also need to keep my foreign license. And I can't (legally) have two. I could go to a Garda station and claim my old Irish license was stolen or lost, etc... not too keen on trying that after >2 decades.
One would think there would be a solution to this within an EU context, but I haven't found it.
And of course the insurance companies also won't accept my claims bonus from abroad. But let's say, that's "only" a question of cost.
Any ideas?
It seems that owning and insuring a car in both countries is quite a challenge. Read on.
I checked into buying and insuring a car in Ireland.
First, it seems I would need to have an official residence in Ireland to buy a car. Ok, that's solveable (family).
Insurance is the tougher nut.
Where I currently live, I insure a car. Having been here a couple of decades, my drivers license is also from this EU country. I originally held an Irish licence but it's the rule (at least in EU) that you have to exchange it when you live elsewhere. To insure my car here, I need to keep this license.
But most Irish insurers I approached won't even quote me, even if I tell them I am a returning emigrant and don't mention splitting my time across two countries.
I found just one that will quote me - and they say that I must replace my foreign license with an Irish one within 6 months... and if I didn't they wouldn't renew. They told me that any other insurer that accepts me will require this too.
But the crux is - I also need to keep my foreign license. And I can't (legally) have two. I could go to a Garda station and claim my old Irish license was stolen or lost, etc... not too keen on trying that after >2 decades.
One would think there would be a solution to this within an EU context, but I haven't found it.
And of course the insurance companies also won't accept my claims bonus from abroad. But let's say, that's "only" a question of cost.
Any ideas?