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Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 8:13 pm
by MarBri
Hi All

Now that we are both retired we are coming out to Quesada more frequently, to save on car hire costs we purchased a car in Spain in Jan 2019

This year we would like to drive the car home to Ireland for up to 90 days during the summer months

I have reviewed Revenue.ie & Citizens information to try and see if this is allowed without success

I would be interested in hearing from any of the forum members who have investigated this to see if it is allowed

We are both residents of SoI

Thanks in anticipation

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:11 pm
by Bee
If you normally live in Ireland and have a holiday home in Spain then unfortunately you can't bring the car you own in Spain into Ireland. Revenue would view it as importing a car. You could bring the car from Spain if it was a rental car but not one you own unless it is an Irish car still on Irish plates. If you are near an NCT Centre you could drop in and speak to a Customs Officer as they now have offices in the Centres for clearing imported cars. The phone no I have for VRT/Customs is for South West Region and is 061 488556.


Bee

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:28 pm
by MarBri
Thanks for that reply that is what I thought it would be

I did call into the local NCT centre the girl suggested that I bring the car home and keep my return ferry ticket in the car in case we are stopped

I will call in again and request to speak to the Customs officer to see if I get a different response

Many Thanks for the response

Brian

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:57 pm
by BohsPaul
As far as I know the people who are based in the N.C.T doing the V.R.T are only agents for Customs,so other than giving V.R.T. valuation probably ain't the people you need to talk to. Did say you are Spanish resident? If so I wouldn't imagine it would be a problem.

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:17 pm
by MarBri
Thanks BohsPaul

The local NCT suggested I ring NCT head office which I did and that is exactly what they said we just organise appointments
The Revenue website states that NCT should also answer questions

I will ring again tomorrow and ask to speak to the Customs officer to see if I get a different response

We are South of Ireland residents

Thanks for your response

Brian

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:45 am
by jpeg
Irish law like any other country in Europe says that if you are a resident in country X, your car must be registered within country X
End of story
Treaty of Rome allows you free travel with your car registered in country X where you also reside more than 180 days a year.
Not a single country in Europe allows you to drive an unregistered car that you own in country X without registering it. Not only this is tax issue, but also vehicle road worthiness but also insurance and liability.

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 10:00 am
by Bee
I have edited this to reflect what BohsPaul said that NCT centres are only agents for the collection of VRT for Revenue and are employees of NCT/Applus


Bee

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 11:52 am
by BohsPaul
Bee wrote:The Customs Revenue Officers at NCT Centres are not civilian employees. They are official Customs Revenue Officers and wear their uniform.


Bee


I have just left the N.C.T centre in northpoint and at least one of the two V.R.T people were wearing N.C.T uniform.

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:39 pm
by GLASSMAN
just spoke to neighbour who went back to uk in there Spanish reg car, he got stoped by uk police, showed all his documents greencard ins, itv, uk driving licence, and his chunnel ticket home in 2 months ,no hassle sent on his way,

Re: Driving Spanish Registered car in SOUTH of Ireland

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:43 pm
by GLASSMAN
just on reading jpegs post, perhaps the police don't even know the law? but have heard before if you can show your ferry or chunnel ticket back to spain they leave you alone,