If you are thinking of joining the growing band of Irish motorists buying cars in Britain and the North, Paul Cullenadvises that you do your homework thoroughly before you rush to buy your ticket to travel.
BUYING A car in the UK is an increasingly popular option with Irish drivers, but the road back through Holyhead is full of pitfalls for the uninitiated. Do your homework and carry out the necessary checks, however, and you could be on to a bargain.
The biggest draw is the better value available in Britain, particularly in the second-hand market, though the savings are not as high as some claim, once travel and other expenses are taken into account.
However, motorists who have taken the import plunge say the choice is much greater across the water, so it's easier to find the exact spec you want. Some also claim cars in the UK tend to have higher specs and are better looked after.
Drawbacks include the time and effort involved, and the difficulty in organising a trade-in. However, the biggest problem area relates to warranty and after sales issues, for example, when the warranty isn't accepted in Ireland or the after-sales service is difficult to access.
The European Consumer Centre (ECC), an EU-funded network which helps consumers out when cross-border transactions go wrong, says almost half the complaints about cars it received last year related to imports, and warranty and after-sales issues cropped up with alarming regularity.
Car manufacturers do not have to provide pan-European warranties and garages do not have to pay for repairs to be carried out locally, which can put the consumer in a vulnerable position.
However, problems can be resolved with the help of the ECC network and drivers who research their purchases carefully end up with the happiest consumer experience. Some even argue that once you stick to some basic rules, the risk involved in buying in the UK is the same as here.
Most buyers now use the internet as a search tool to locate the car and model they want, and even the actual vehicle. As well as the well-known car sale websites, it's worth looking at car warehouse sites and manufacturers' lists of approved used cars.
An important point to remember is that consumer legislation does not apply to private sales (ie, not from a dealer) so extreme caution is advised. In addition, remember that the law that does apply to a sale is the one of the country in which the sale takes place; this means that Irish consumer law does not apply to car sales in the UK.
You are, however, protected by EU law covering consumer purchases which gives you a minimum two years in which to make a complaint.
The biggest savings are to be made in private sales or at auctions but for the car import virgin, arguably the best approach is to deal with a reputable motor dealer (look for membership of an accredited motor industry association).
Doing your own research and asking plenty of questions are essential: don't just accept what you're told. Just as when buying a car in Ireland, you need to know the number of previous owners, whether there is any outstanding finance on the car, etc - a full dealer service history (FSH) is a must.
An essential tool for checking information on UK cars is available at www.hpicheck.com. For a €25 fee, you can find out whether the car was written off, whether the engine was changed, whether it was previously used as a taxi, whether it was clocked, how many owners used the vehicle as well as running a finance check. All you need is the vehicle registration number, so you can run this check before travelling.
Also before travelling, you can get the AA or similar firm to do a full inspection of the car. For less than €250, you get a thorough report on the condition of the car.
Check the terms of the car warranty, again if possible before travelling. Sometimes this will vary from country to country, eg in the Republic there may be a three-year warranty but up North it may be only two years and non-transferable. It's best to get everything in writing, so exchange of e-mails is a good way of nailing things down.
Once you're happy with the car you think you'd like to buy or, better still, a shortlist, make your flight arrangements. Don't book any travel until you are confident the seller will be there to meet you.
If you can bring a mechanic to check the car, do so. "We hear of many instances of people buying second-hand cars in England and the car giving up completely by the time they've reached Holyhead," says Rosaleen Quinlan of the ECC's Dublin office.
Once you've made your purchase and driven home to Ireland, you have to register the car here and pay VRT by the end of the next working day following your return. An NCT test might also be needed depending on the age of the car.
If something does go wrong, and you have bought the car from a dealer, you should first check the terms of all relevant warranties (manufacturer's and/or dealer's) to ascertain if your particular issue is covered. If so, you should contact the dealer to seek a remedy.
Don't bring the car to a local garage for repair without checking your seller first. According to the ECC, this is generally not a problem for new cars but can be for second-hand cars.
"If you have bought your car privately and something goes wrong, your options are extremely limited," says Quinlan. "If you cannot resolve the matter privately, you might consider legal action if the car sold is not 'as described'."
If you can't resolve any problems with the seller, the ECC may be able to help (see www.eccireland.ie for contact details). The ECC's Irish and British offices liaise daily on car-related problems.