14 September 2019
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
With all this talk of Brexit there are many UK Citizens applying for Irish driving licences. Well, the vice versa must also be true. If you are relocating from Ireland to Northern Ireland in the event of a no deal brexit will your Irish licence be valid? Another concern is car insurance. There’s a good chance you’ll want to take your motor with you when you make the move north. However, Northern Ireland isn’t the cheapest place to be a car owner, particularly since you’ll have to take out a new car insurance policy when you relocate.
With that in mind, here are five ways to make the cost of motoring more affordable when you move to Northern Ireland.
Avoid Adding Modifications to Your Car
When you make modifications to your car there’s a very good chance you’ll pay for it more than once – firstly for the work itself, and secondly in the form of higher insurance premiums.
It’s also important to bear in mind that you have to let your existing insurance provider know about any new modifications you make, and there’s a good chance they’ll revise your premiums upwards. But failing to notify them simply isn’t an option, because doing that runs the risk of invalidating your policy.
Get the Best Deal on Car Insurance
Once you relocate to Northern Ireland you’ll have to take a new insurance policy if you’re bringing your car with you. By using a local price comparison service like Compare NI who’ll be able to compare quotes from a wide range of insurance providers in a matter of minutes, making it more likely that you’ll find a suitable Northern Ireland car insurance policy at a reasonable price.
Don’t Be Afraid to Carpool
Carpooling is a proven method to reduce the wear and tear on your vehicle by reducing the usage. It also cuts down on petrol too, so you’re insulated against price hikes too.
You may not know a lot of people north of the border when you first move, but it’s worth looking into whether any of your new neighbours or work colleagues take a similar route as the one you would be taking. They would make ideal carpooling partners to take turns driving and reap some cost savings. This also provides a great way to get to know them better!
Do You Really Need Two Cars as a Couple?
While it’s always convenient to have your own vehicle, it’s twice the cost for not much extra independence. If you’re looking to cut costs or be able to stick something away for a rainy day, selling off one of the vehicles is an excellent means to do it.
You may just have stuck to this arrangement because as a single person, you always owned a car and as a couple, it was never reconsidered. However, doing so now could save a bundle.
Avoid Car Loans
It’s easy to get used to borrowing each time to buy a car. Hunting for better rates for a loan is one thing, but it’s still better to avoid the loan altogether.
Use cost-cutting in other areas of spending to start a fund towards your next car. Then when you need a replacement, there will be a reserve set aside to pay for it.
When managing the costs of motoring in your new town, it ensures you can continue to afford to drive and won’t lose your freedom. This is best appreciated on a rainy day when not needing to wait for a local bus!
