Michael McAleer answers your queries
From Sinead:
I'm planning to move to France for at least six months, and would like to upgrade my car and hence would like to know what my options are.
I heard that if one buys a left-hand drive car in France itself, they must hold a French driving licence, which is more difficult and costly to obtain, and which I would like to avoid doing.
I recently passed the driving test here and hold a full Irish licence, but am not sure if I could adapt to driving on the other side of the car as well as the other side of the road (one step at a time!).
I would, however, like to insure the car there, as Irish insurance is more expensive and is only valid abroad for 30 days.
As for the car itself, would it be cheaper for me to buy a used five-year-old hatchback here and then drive it directly to France without having to pay VRT, car tax and insurance? What are the VRT rates in France?
I've heard that car tax has been abolished in France. Could I also use the insurance on my present car to cover me while the new car would be in transit to France?
What are the implications for registering the car and for my driving licence? After all, there are plenty of France people residing here who retain their French registrations, licences and insurance.
First off, as you hold a full Irish driving licence it is valid for use in all EU states and as such you do not require a French licence. In time you may have to change to a French licence, but that is simply a case of changing documents. You will not have to sit a new test.
Next, as a recently qualified motorist I would suggest that driving on the right will be hard enough to get used to, without finding yourself on the wrong side of the car. It is far easier to drive a left-hand-drive car on the Continent than you may think. I would suggest that sitting on the right-hand side impairs your vision and puts you in serious danger when overtaking. In terms of safety alone, you would be ill-advised to drive long term in a right-hand-drive car on the Continent.
In any case, car prices are cheaper in France than they are here, even used models. There's no VRT as such, nor is there any annual road tax. Instead tax is paid through higher fuel taxes and road tolls. So, both in economic and safety terms you would be best to buy a car in France when you move over.
If, however, you do bring over an Irish car, it must be registered in France within six months of moving. As for insurance, you should try and insure the vehicle in France as quickly as possible as it is much cheaper over there. Bon voyage.
From Rory Sheehan:
I was glad to read Cillian Daly's timely letter about fog lights, as I believe that this problem is rapidly becoming a major menace on Irish Roads.
The problem has several aspects to it: first and foremost, ignorance.
A prime example of this would be a car salesman who told my father that it's legal to drive in Ireland with fog lights on when it clearly is not foggy.
The other aspect to this problem was clearly identified by Mr Daly, namely, the supposed "coolness" attached to the use of fog lights when in fact, they are anything but.
A work colleague of mine bought a car earlier in the year which is equipped with fog lights which are constantly on. When I asked him about the use of the lights, his justification was that they look good!
In Britain, it's clearly stated in the Highway Code that fog lights may only be used where visibility is less than 100 metres.
Failure to obey this attracts a £50 on-the-spot fine - something for our own legislators to consider?
From Ted Murphy:
Having driven a wide range of cars, I contend that the "FOGLIGHT" switch should be segregated , internally illuminated (like the hazard lights) and placed in a visible location.
Many drivers appear to be totally unaware that these lights are on and cannot differentiate between front only and front and back together.
The sheer variety of switching arrangements in current use is dangerous and promotes driver error.
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie