Moving to Ireland. What needs to be known?

[madgaz]

It's not me that's moving...it's my old man

He's moving to Kells which is to the north west of Dublin.

What's the crack over there with MOT's on cars and motorbikes? He's been told that they don't do one on motorbikes which I find strange but he has also been told that the car MOT is very hard compared to over here.

Anybody got any advice on either living over there or the MOT's over there?

At least I will get cheap holidays with great driving next year anyway
Flights from Leeds Bradford airport are only 1 euro at the minute which then equates to about 25 euros I think after you have paid the taxes etc

[tvr0408]

If he's moving to the south he won't have the MOT to worry about because the MOT doesn't exist!  In southern ireland its called the NCT. 

Some stuff pulled off the web about it -
The NCT is a National Car Test carried out on all cars in Ireland that are over 4 years old. It is carried out every 2 years. Cars over 30 years old do not have to be tested - which seems a bit scary to me.
The NCT was only introduced in 2000 - before that you could have any old wreck out on the road and nobody could do much about it.
The tests are similar to the MOT in the UK. Unlike the UK - the NCT tests are not carried out by garages - which is probably a good idea because if a garage does the test there is always the chance that they will find something wrong just so they can then charge you to fix it. NCT testing centres just carry out the test. If the car fails it needs to be repaired at a garage or by the owner.
The testing fee is currently €49 euro. A retest costs €27.50 - but must be booked within 21 days of the original NCT test otherwise you pay the €49 again. You must bring your registration certificate with you to the NCT test. Minor failures such as registation plates or wiper blades will not require a retest fee.

The NCT test is more concerned with safety and gas emissions than with road worthiness. Exhaust fumes are tested - as are headlight alignment, seat belts, tyres, brakes, windscreen.

An NCT "disc" is issued which must be displayed along with your tax and insurance discs in the car windscreen.

Plenty of info here - http://www.irishlinks.co.uk/

Hope this helps.   

[paul_gt4]

basically what trev said but barry or jacket would be the guys to ask cause they deal with them moreso, well if barry would reregister all his cars to the south he would...... border hopper ye

[bazza2541]

Tis true, tis true, but the rebel in me wouldn't lie still if I was totally above board. ;-)

Most important part is not to surrender your engerlish licence as (so far) points don't transfer.
NCT is a pain in the titties as its far stricter than the NI MOT which, I am led to believe is stricter again than the english version.

Oh, and be prepared for the street parties when/if Ireland beats England at ANYTHING!!!

[paul_gt4]

haha good sound advice there haha

[RobbieMcVee]

apparently they drive on the wrong side of the road too... well thats all i saw Paul do anyway

[paul_gt4]

good job you seen me in germany cause i do that back home here too just its alot faster around the corners..... hope he gets on well and gets a taste for real irish guinness