Insurance question

FreudianSlippers

My cousin is 25 and is moving to Ireland from the US. He got a provisional licence at 15 and a full licence the week he turned 16 (pretty standard stuff over there).
Had a few tickets in his 20s but not a whole lot - in fact he's still insured there because his parents live there and he'll be going back quite often. He's gonna get a provisional licence as soon as he gets here with intent to get a full licence.
Problem is his job requires him to travel and he'll need a car like the week he gets here. Can he get insurance on some cheap old car from an Irish company?
Someone also mentioned to me that they knew someone from the US who got insurance on his Irish car from his US insurance company.

Sounds weird to me, but any info is appreciated!

Henry Ford III

Maybe, but who is going to accompany him in his car (legal requirement)?

eringobragh

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Maybe, but who is going to accompany him in his car (legal requirement)?

Really hate to say it, but after watching 'Traffic Blues' and hearing that the Garda have no power to do seize the vehicle of a Learner Permit, why bother driving accompanied?

Sue there's a €1000 fine involved but thats a lottery at best :mad: It really beggars belief :eek:

R.O.R

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Maybe, but who is going to accompany him in his car (legal requirement)?

My initial thought was that he's allowed to drive for up to a year on his "foreign" licence before he requires a full Irish licence to drive unacompanied, but looking through the info (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/driver-licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit) it looks like this only applies if you are here on a temporary basis - less than 12 months.

If you are here permanantly then the above link doesn't seem to apply, you must apply for an Irish licence straight off, although I suppose there is nothing to say you can't tell the Gardai you are not planning on staying the whole year.

OP - try ringing a couple of insurance companies to see if anyone will insure based on a full US licence and your friend can apply for the Irish test during his first 12 months here.

...stephen...

That legal requierment is a load of bull! Nobody cares about it! And everybody drive regauardless. The gaurds dont care, ive been driving on the road for just over a year on a provisional lisence! Have done about 35000miles only got stop once. Not a thing said! And the fine ever heard of one person getting it! You would have to might some rare gaurd to give that one!

FreudianSlippers

R.O.R wrote: »

My initial thought was that he's allowed to drive for up to a year on his "foreign" licence before he requires a full Irish licence to drive unacompanied, but looking through the info (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/driver-licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit) it looks like this only applies if you are here on a temporary basis - less than 12 months.

If you are here permanantly then the above link doesn't seem to apply, you must apply for an Irish licence straight off, although I suppose there is nothing to say you can't tell the Gardai you are not planning on staying the whole year.

OP - try ringing a couple of insurance companies to see if anyone will insure based on a full US licence and your friend can apply for the Irish test during his first 12 months here.

That's what I was assuming the best way around it was. Just was wondering if anyone had an idea of what companies would be the best to ring or if anyone had heard of getting insurance for an Irish car through a US company.

galwaytt

...if he Served, there is a company for US servicemen that will cover him here. Don't have the details, but I'm sure the Embassy does.

If not, frankly, you're possibly goosed