NI Cars - anything I should watch out for?
Discussion
I know this is probably a stupid question to ask, but if I was to buy a car in Northern Ireland and then bring it back to England, is there anything extra I'd need to watch out for - are roads salted a lot? And if I wanted it inspected who would you advise having to do it over there?
Thanks,
southpaw
Thanks,
southpaw
Southpaw
Well - they'll all have been driven by Paddys so every one will have been through a few hedges backwards. If you do find a half decent one you'll have to fly an Englishman in to examine it - and if you do decide to buy it you'll have to buy all the seller's relatives a few rounds of drink and give a Luck Penny - and it'll have to be decommissioned under the Good Friday Agreement!
Seriously we'd love to sell you a car mate - the local UVF or Provos can do a vehicle check for you - after all they've stolen most of the cars at one time or another.
Jigs
Okay then seriously seriously - the MOT only applies to four years and older cars here BUT our MOTs are proper ones performed by Government Agency. You might get a nice number plate in the ABC 1234 format - AA/RAC do inspections here too.
Well - they'll all have been driven by Paddys so every one will have been through a few hedges backwards. If you do find a half decent one you'll have to fly an Englishman in to examine it - and if you do decide to buy it you'll have to buy all the seller's relatives a few rounds of drink and give a Luck Penny - and it'll have to be decommissioned under the Good Friday Agreement!
Seriously we'd love to sell you a car mate - the local UVF or Provos can do a vehicle check for you - after all they've stolen most of the cars at one time or another.
Jigs
Okay then seriously seriously - the MOT only applies to four years and older cars here BUT our MOTs are proper ones performed by Government Agency. You might get a nice number plate in the ABC 1234 format - AA/RAC do inspections here too.
Edited by jigsty on Sunday 11th June 21:21
Its not entirely unusual to have cars from NI go to England and vice-versa.
Having to wait for an MOT in NI means you might pick up a bargain car with the MOT ready to run out.
For example, I know that quite a few 106 Rallyes have made the crossing from NI to England including my own one. The NI dealers seem to be more willing and able to procure a car their customers want, 4 or 5 dealers in Yorkshire couldn't get a 106 Rallye with powersteering and airbag for me, they just wanted to supply what was available, the NI dealer got exactly what I wanted at a good price too.
Having to wait for an MOT in NI means you might pick up a bargain car with the MOT ready to run out.
For example, I know that quite a few 106 Rallyes have made the crossing from NI to England including my own one. The NI dealers seem to be more willing and able to procure a car their customers want, 4 or 5 dealers in Yorkshire couldn't get a 106 Rallye with powersteering and airbag for me, they just wanted to supply what was available, the NI dealer got exactly what I wanted at a good price too.
There are more car nuts in NI per population than rest of UK - confirmed by sales of exotica. Generally people look after their cars very well - in fact I know several compulsive disorder sufferers (Colin L will know who I mean
).
The government run MOT is very advanced with special tests for brakes and suspension that mainland MOT tests don't cover (at least they didn't three years ago before I moved back to NI).
I took four cars back from Manchester to NI with me. All were issued with a 'Certificate of Permanent Export' by the DVLA in Swansea and then had to be re-registered with the DVLNI in Coleraine. Interestingly, with a long MOT and Tax, I was able to drive for many months without being on any database - not sure if I saved any tickets but did reduce the paranoia for a while! Not sure what happens when you take a car from NI to mainland Britain - presumably the reverse applies.
In terms of tests, depends on what you are buying. If it's a Porsche or TVR, then there are two very good independents I can recommend. For any others, I could ask around if you tell me the make.
Hope this helps. Email me if you want more help.
). The government run MOT is very advanced with special tests for brakes and suspension that mainland MOT tests don't cover (at least they didn't three years ago before I moved back to NI).
I took four cars back from Manchester to NI with me. All were issued with a 'Certificate of Permanent Export' by the DVLA in Swansea and then had to be re-registered with the DVLNI in Coleraine. Interestingly, with a long MOT and Tax, I was able to drive for many months without being on any database - not sure if I saved any tickets but did reduce the paranoia for a while! Not sure what happens when you take a car from NI to mainland Britain - presumably the reverse applies.
In terms of tests, depends on what you are buying. If it's a Porsche or TVR, then there are two very good independents I can recommend. For any others, I could ask around if you tell me the make.
Hope this helps. Email me if you want more help.
The N.I MOT is now the toughest mot in Europe so any car just through it will have to be in very good order.
If you buy an N.I registered car all you have to do is get a form from the post office/tax office to fill in the car has been imported onto the mainland. You then send this all to Swansee who register the car. They will ask you if you want to keep the N.I number or re-reg the car.
ALL N.I cars are UK spec and you'll generally find they are of a highter spec than mainland cars.
Hope this helps.
If you buy an N.I registered car all you have to do is get a form from the post office/tax office to fill in the car has been imported onto the mainland. You then send this all to Swansee who register the car. They will ask you if you want to keep the N.I number or re-reg the car.
ALL N.I cars are UK spec and you'll generally find they are of a highter spec than mainland cars.
Hope this helps.
FLAT 6 said:
There are more car nuts in NI per population than rest of UK - confirmed by sales of exotica. Generally people look after their cars very well - in fact I know several compulsive disorder sufferers (Colin L will know who I mean).
The government run MOT is very advanced with special tests for brakes and suspension that mainland MOT tests don't cover (at least they didn't three years ago before I moved back to NI).
I took four cars back from Manchester to NI with me. All were issued with a 'Certificate of Permanent Export' by the DVLA in Swansea and then had to be re-registered with the DVLNI in Coleraine. Interestingly, with a long MOT and Tax, I was able to drive for many months without being on any database - not sure if I saved any tickets but did reduce the paranoia for a while! Not sure what happens when you take a car from NI to mainland Britain - presumably the reverse applies.
In terms of tests, depends on what you are buying. If it's a Porsche or TVR, then there are two very good independents I can recommend. For any others, I could ask around if you tell me the make.
Hope this helps. Email me if you want more help.
). The government run MOT is very advanced with special tests for brakes and suspension that mainland MOT tests don't cover (at least they didn't three years ago before I moved back to NI).
I took four cars back from Manchester to NI with me. All were issued with a 'Certificate of Permanent Export' by the DVLA in Swansea and then had to be re-registered with the DVLNI in Coleraine. Interestingly, with a long MOT and Tax, I was able to drive for many months without being on any database - not sure if I saved any tickets but did reduce the paranoia for a while! Not sure what happens when you take a car from NI to mainland Britain - presumably the reverse applies.
In terms of tests, depends on what you are buying. If it's a Porsche or TVR, then there are two very good independents I can recommend. For any others, I could ask around if you tell me the make.
Hope this helps. Email me if you want more help.
Who are the Porsche independents in N I
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