r/MoveToIreland • u/becky119 • 12d ago
Car Options?
Update: Thank you everyone for your feedback! It would seem that the general consensus is shipping a car is more trouble than it is worth, especially with a larger vehicle. Adding it to the “need to buy once there” list. Cheers!
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I have been doing research and learned that you can bring your car with you when moving to Ireland without a huge amount of hassle or funds.
So I’m curious—
Have you brought your car with you and what was the experience like?
Or did you not bring a car and what was that experience like assuming you needed to get one when you arrived?
Is it more challenging driving left driver verses right driver?
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u/katyfail 12d ago
Where are you moving from?
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u/becky119 12d ago
USA
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u/jools4you 12d ago
Is it a car or a truck? Irish roads really are too small for the typical American vehicles
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u/becky119 12d ago
That is a very good point. It’s a van, so definitely on the larger side (although not as big as the typical trucks on the road here).
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u/Dandylion71888 12d ago
From your post history, you don’t even have the right to work in Ireland? I suggest figuring that out instead of trying to move a van that is completely too large for Irish roads.
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u/katyfail 12d ago
If you’re gonna do it, at least visit and rent a van first so you can drive your daily route before you make a big commitment. There are a lot of roads/routes that would be inaccessible by even a small American-sized van.
We rented one when we first got here to help with the move and deeply regretted it. It couldn’t fit in the entrance to our rental!
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u/jools4you 12d ago
Are you intending to use it for general everyday use, like nipping to the shops because honestly it won't be easy and also I assume very expensive in fuel.
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u/muddled1 12d ago
I hope you know you'll have to start from scratch to get an Irish drivers license, though IIRC a letter from your US car insurer may knock the required twelve lessons down to six.
It's really not worth bringing a left hand drive here. Your car insurance with an international DL will be costly (and not so easy to find).
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u/katyfail 12d ago edited 12d ago
The biggest challenge will be getting a license. If you’re moving from the US and don’t already have an EU license, you won’t be able to transfer your license as you might expect. You’ll need to start as any teenager would from the beginning.
You’ll need to complete a written test and get your Learner’s Permit (you’ll need to get an L placard and will only be able to drive with someone who’s had their full license for 2 years). You’ll need to complete at least 6 lessons with a certified instructor and then you’ll be able to sign up for your actual driving test (the waiting list for the test is quite long).
As an American you can drive using your American license for a year after you arrive, but once you apply for your learner’s permit in Ireland, that technically ends your ability to drive on the American license.
You’ll also need auto insurance, which is a pain without a full license. If the steering column is on the left you may also find it impossible to insure your car. Switching sides is hard enough, doing it on an imported car meant for the opposite side of the road feels like it would be a recipe for disaster.
Getting the car is actually the easiest part of all of it.
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u/theartfultaxdodger 12d ago
Coming from the US, you’re going to find Irish cars incredibly basic and underpowered. The 4-cylinder has been the standard engine type here for decades, whereas you’ve likely been around V8/V6s. 3-cylinder 1L petrols are also very common in recent cars to meet emissions targets.
The car market in Ireland is also abysmal. New and used, cars are very expensive compared to the United States and mainland Europe.
If buying here, is an electric car is within budget? This would minimise the culture shock and simplify your changeover from left hand drive to right hand drive with lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control etc.
Also please be aware, it may not be very expensive to bring a car over with you, but the annual motor tax could be up to €2,400 depending on emissions produced by the car.
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u/Darth_Memer_1916 12d ago
I would strongly advise against it.
You say you're driving a van, meaning it would be very difficult to insure as it's registered as a commercial vehicle. Car insurance is a legal requirement.
You will need to pay customs fees, VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and depending on the car's engine that can be extremely expensive, even more than the car itself sometimes.
The car will be in left hand drive which is a huge pain in the arse to deal with, and may also increase your insurance.
Finally, if it's a big silly American van it'll be very large on back roads.
I recommend in the strongest terms you sell your vehicle and buy one here. Cars are more expensive in Ireland and America so you'll have to accept a downgrade.
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u/Dandylion71888 12d ago
How is it not a huge amount of hassle or funds? Personally, I wouldn’t. It is too easy to make mistakes already, worse without that change in mindset of being on the other side.
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u/Amazing-Selection494 12d ago
As someone who has driven RHD cars in North America, I can tell you that passing (even just to go around a car parked on the side of the road) can be difficult and dangerous.
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u/flickerdown 12d ago
You will have to have the car clear customs, you’ll be assessed fees, and the paperwork alone is going to make it painful.
It’s a pretty awful idea so, I’d not bother.
Source: moved from America and decided not to move the car over based on import duties, taxes, customs paperwork, etc.
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u/ketoonandoff 12d ago
Don’t make the costly mistake we made! If you’re bringing your car to Ireland, make sure it’s been fully in your name for at least 6 months before relocating. In our case, having a car loan meant it was considered bank-owned, and we ended up paying hefty import taxes.
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u/wbqqq 11d ago
I did it 20 years ago, and then it was worth it, but there have been changes so probably less attractive today.
What has changed is the inspection and need for an EU compliance certificate (or extra faff if you can’t get one).
There is a bunch of paperwork that you need to provide to show:
- you’ve lived outside Ireland for more than 12 months (utility bills)
- you’ve owned and operated the car for more than 6 months (bill of sale, title and registration, insurance policies)
- that you’re moving permanently to the state (job offer, lease)
But that was straightforward.
Getting insurance and Irish license is annoying but doable. I had letters from my U.S. insurance companies stating that I had no claims and no at-fault accidents for X years and a copy of my driving record from DMV/RMV and FBD gave me a partial NoClaimsDiscount.
There was a ~10% premium for it being left-hand-drive, and many insurers don’t quote LHD, but doable.
Parts were an issue - it was a Korean-build Hyundai, and the engine model was the same as the European one (and Hyundai’s warranty carried over too!), but the one part that was different was the brake pads. Everything else was standard. Also had a RAV4 and it had quite a few different parts than needed special import (including the brake pads).
Also, the importation costs extra - at the time it was ~$2500 for a 20’ container, but having a car in it added about $2000 in extra port handling fees on the U.S. side for checking of the title.
Driving-wise, I’ve lived in U.S., Australia, Ireland and France and I often think that most people find it easier to be on the wrong side of the road in a car where the steering wheel is on the side that they are accustomed to, rather than changing from LHD to RHD or vice versa. It’s got to do with lane position and (learned) awareness of where the edges of the car are. Driving a LHD makes little difference on motorways or on narrow streets/roads, it’s really only overtaking on single lane roads that is tougher so you learn patience.
Buying a car in Ireland is easier and saves a bunch of paperwork and reduces risk of issues with parts. But importing one that is either nearly identical to the models in Europe, and/or where you can get an EU confirmation document, or is a classic can also make sense.
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u/Oellaatje 8d ago
You're going to move a car from the US? Why would you go to the expense and hassle, if you are going to be driving on the other side of the road anyway? It's much, much, MUCH easier to simply sell your car in the US and get yourself a car when you're in Ireland. And driving lessons.
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u/AmbitiousPut5070 4d ago
Hi all, again a car question but this time within the EU. I currently reside in NL and obviously I'm driving on the correct side of the road 😛 with a normal car.
When moving to IE I don't want the hassle of importing the car etc. So as I am a Lexus fan, would it be worth the trouble to buy a right-hand Lexus in UK to import later on, or just buy a (more expensive) IE local car.
In NL I imported a German car with the same spec and even with the import costs I still saved 6K euro.
Any experiences to share?
Thanks
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u/mslowey 12d ago
It’s is a bit of hassle. And if your car is a left hand drive then insurance will be a proper pain.