We will be in Ireland 11 through 14 June, arriving at Shannon and staying in Ennis. We will be driving to Dingle one day, Ashford Castle the next and on to Dublin the last day for an evening plane to Paris.
I have my garage festooned with license plates and it occurred to me that reflecting my heritage with an Irish EU plate would be grand. The only problem, where to get an Irish license plate?
Any suggestions are well appreciated.
Assuming no legalities specific to the EU or Ireland, you could try a second hand store or an antique store. Aside from that, in tourist shops they typically sell license plate facsimiles, not with a number, but with the EU symbol and Ireland abbreviation...not the same, I know, but if you find nothing else?
Licence plates are the same from when the new vehicle is first registered until it is scrapped. This is the same system in most European countries, you don't normally ever change a car's licence plate. The only time you need to buy a new plate is if the old one gets damaged. You can get this done at a car accessories shop, it is not issued by the government. But, you may need to prove ownership of the car (show registration document with plate number), a measure to stop stolen cars having false plates.
Therefore the only place you are likely to find an old licence plate is in a car junk yard.
Except: Some countries like Switzerland, the licence plate belongs to the vehicle owner. When a car is sold the old owner takes off his licence plate and the new owner puts on his one. In Switzerland a person keeps the same licence number for the whole of his life.
Chris, a very interesting and in depth reply. I had no idea. Thanks for taking the time.
I was in a "hardware store" in Killarney on New Street (I can't recall the name but it's near the Failte Ireland tourist office) and they sold copies of license plates. They were able to be made into custom plates (like the "Susan's Parking Place!" signs you see in america). They were actually high quality. I assume most hardware shops would sell similar!
Susan
You can get plates on line. It depends on the type of plate you want.
Prior to 1987 and still valid on cars that age they had a different format. At the end of 1986 the last old style, displayed black on red at rear in Co Kildare was 9342 ZW. The following day the first was 87KE1. The black on red format if you can get it might be more fun!
For current plates, the county/county borough abbreviation must match the Irish name at the top : Atha Cliath D, Corcaigh C, Loch Garman W/WD.
Also any plate for any of the six counties of Northern Ireland is not one that is issued. At the moment.
I just looked on Ebay, and there are a few vintage ones for sale.
