Michael McAleeranswers your motoring queries
The long wait for car price listings
From L Williams: When can we expect to get a full price listings for new cars? The changes are only weeks away but I still have yet to see prices for several car firms. How can I be expected to make a decision on what to buy if I don't know the prices?
One dealer I called into said he couldn't give me the official price but would "work something out for me". Is this the best that the multi-million euro car industry can offer? If they can't organise their prices, what chance have they of organising a warranty and the like?
I agree that the car firms have been slow to issue prices, though they are starting to appear in spurts.
Last week Mazda and Ford launched their new price lists, joining BMW - which was first off the blocks several weeks ago - and Fiat.
Admittedly, that is hardly the full picture for a potential buyer.
The delay is surprising, particularly when you consider that Revenue must sign off on any new price calculations before publication.
They must also agree that "magic figure" known as the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP), which is largely an arbitrary figure agreed between the car company and the Revenue officials.
Remember, OMSP is not the retail price of the car, but it is the figure from which taxes are estimated.
If you are hoping to make a proper comparison between models, then you may just have to wait until next month. One company we spoke to last week said they probably would not have their pricing ready before June 20th.
Given that everyone has had over six months to organise for this, several car firms seem very tardy when it comes to pricing and are adding to the undoubted confusion out there about the changes.
From C Sweeney: I'm buying a used 2003 Alfa Romeo for €5,000 and the dealer is offering a two-year warranty on the car. Is it worthwhile?
Yes, but check the paperwork first to be sure of exactly what the warranty covers.
Some offer parts cover while others include labour costs as well. Don't take anything for granted when it comes to warranty costs.
Finally, if a warranty is being offered with the car, check what the warranty covers (parts, labour, or both parts and labour), and for how long.
Make sure to get details of any warranty in writing. Remember, if you buy from a private seller, you generally will not be given a warranty, so have the car checked professionally before purchasing.
From L McCann: I'm importing a used car from the North, where it recently underwent an MOT, paid for by the dealer. It was one of the reasons I went for the car, considering that it must be of adequate mechanical repair to pass the test.
Now a colleague tells me that I still need an NCT certificate when I bring it here. Is that correct?
I'm afraid so. According to the operators of the Irish car test system: "The NCT is due on the anniversary date of first registration in the country of origin (once it is of NCT eligible age bracket), regardless of whether it previously received an MOT or any other vehicle test."
You can book the test once you have the car re-registered. By re-registering the car, you are still not on the NCT database however, so you will need to call over to one of the test centres and get the car logged onto the system. Then you can register the car for a test.
From P Duffy, Dublin: Your answer on May 28th refers to the need to get a diagram document when renting a car. Over the years I have rented cars in different countries but have never seen a diagram document; perhaps you would explain what it is and which companies provide it.
It is generally part of the contract you receive when collecting the car.
On one of the pages there will be what looks like an aerial drawing of a car.
On this drawing you and the person from the firm should mark out the points where there is damage to the car already, and this should be signed.
It's common on most car rental documents and I'm surprised you have not come across it.