Importing from the US

Teh Russ

Been spending some time out in the US, and will be coming back home in the next few months.

I've got rather attached to my car out here (rather nice Dodge Intrepid) and was thinking about bringing it back with me. The shipping itself is pretty cheap, but I would need to know what to do with it when I got it back to Ireland.

I know, in the UK, an imported car has to go through an SVA test, have various lighting modifications, etc, before it can be registered - what's the deal with this in Ireland? Are there any places that specialise in American cars and making them road-legal for Ireland? Can you get Irish number plates in the size required to fit an American car?

Also, I know about the VRT rules as they relate to bringing a car in from the UK (must have owned for 6 months to avoid it) - is this the same for cars imported from other places? By the time I get back, I'll have had the car for well over 6 months.

I think it'll be a weekend driver at best (don't want to drive a big car with a 3.5L V6 too often in Ireland with the current petrol prices), but it'd certainly be nice to have something a bit different.

Any suggestions you have are welcome.

nytraveller

Forgive me, but Dodge Intrepid????? ......You could'nt do better than that?
Dodge discontinued making these in 2004 so Im guessing what you have cant be worth more than 8 grand if even. They have a really bad resale value. Not to mention they're pure junk
My advice would be to forget about it. Save your money and buy something when you get home.

Now if you were talking about a 69 Mustang or a 67 Corvette then I would be more excited.

Teh Russ

nytraveller wrote: »

Forgive me, but Dodge Intrepid????? ......You could'nt do better than that?
Dodge discontinued making these in 2004 so Im guessing what you have cant be worth more than 8 grand if even. They have a really bad resale value. Not to mention they're pure junk
My advice would be to forget about it. Save your money and buy something when you get home.

Now if you were talking about a 69 Mustang or a 67 Corvette then I would be more excited.

I like my Intrepid. Probably going to get something when I get home anyway, something small-ish, probably, but it'd be nice to have the big American car for the weekends.

So, any advice for the import?

zilog_jones

Teh Russ wrote: »

I know, in the UK, an imported car has to go through an SVA test, have various lighting modifications, etc, before it can be registered - what's the deal with this in Ireland? Are there any places that specialise in American cars and making them road-legal for Ireland? Can you get Irish number plates in the size required to fit an American car?

People have imported cars from North America before so it's possible - I don't know what needs to be done to make them roadworthy though. There's a US-spec Honda CR-V going around Limerick with Irish plates, and the only apparent modification is those sticker things on the headlights.

If you have red rear indicators you'll certainly have to get them changed to pass the NCT.

I think US number plates are similar in size to Japanese ones (165 x 330 mm - dunno what US ones are), and there's a lot of people who make plates for Japanese imports. However they seem to be mounted differently.

Also, I know about the VRT rules as they relate to bringing a car in from the UK (must have owned for 6 months to avoid it) - is this the same for cars imported from other places?

AFAIK this is only applicable within the EU.

Also, don't forget about how much the road tax will be for a 3.5!

Max_Damage

I've been noticing more and more American-spec cars in this country lately. I guess its all the Irish returning home since the bad times.

With the lights, those Intrepid's would have the red indicator lights that are integrated into the brake lights. That will fail the NCT, but a simple re-wiring job and some small amber lights (got in Halfords maybe?) should do the trick. The amber/red sidelights can be left alone as far as I know.

I'd say go for it, it will be a change from seeing the usual stuff going around in this country, even if it is a standard Dodge. Hell, I've seen worse US-spec cars here, such as Ford Taurus' and even a Pontiac LeMans (the re-badged Opel Kadett).

If you lived and owned the car for over 6 months I think, you don't have to pay the VRT AFAIK. You'll need to prove that though.

Esel

zilog_jones wrote: »

AFAIK this is only applicable within the EU.

Nope, applies worldwide.

Teh Russ

Maybe I won't bother - it's starting to sound quite expensive. About €800 or so to import it, then close to €2000 to tax it! :eek: That's all money I can put towards something a bit more Ireland-friendly (smaller, more economical, right-hand-drive, etc). Had my eye on a Polo before I went abroad...