Wondered whether Irish plates e.g HFZ6942 devalue vehicle in any way, or increase insurance costs?.

Can't see any logical reason why they should, but insurance and buyers think in mysterious ways !

Edited 15 November, 201213 yr by Monkeyboyo

Northern Ireland plates have no effect on insurance. As for value, the majority of people on the mainland just think they are cherished numbers. So I don't know.

As for southern Irish plates, well southern ireland is not part of the UK, so the usual rules apply with regard to using foreign registered cars in the UK.....you have 6 months (I think) grace, then you must register the car fully in the UK.

Living in Northern Ireland all my life I have never heard, in my 40 years of insuring cars, anything adverse about using NI plates in the UK mainland. My own NI plate is a 'cherished' one in the NI context; 3 Letters and 2 Figures.

Thank Ceannaideach & booke23.

Figured there was unlikely an issue either way, but worth asking for opinions.

I know that when i sold my last Octavia to a go from Southern Ireland, he wanted a UK registered car as Irish were apparently more poorly specc'd. Don't know.

I know that when i sold my last Octavia to a go from Southern Ireland, he wanted a UK registered car as Irish were apparently more poorly specc'd. Don't know.

That all depends, some car makes would be better spec'd for UK market, but some like the Octy VRS the Irish model has a better base spec than the UK model where there are more optionals (Maxidot,Jumbo Box, Rain Sensors etc.)

Either way to register a UK car here, we have to pay VRT (Vehicle Reg Tax) which is based on a % of the original market value so it all depends on the £ v € at the time of buying to make it worthwhile.