Bringing your own car from the Uk.

The cost will vary depending on a number of factors but at best will be several hundred Euros and potentially run into a couple of thousand or more. 

It's true that used cars are generally more expensive here but against that you have to weigh the fact that come the time you decide to change you will get correspondingly more back to put towards the next one.

Against that although there is a market for RHD cars it only really exists because their values are so low meaning that if or when you did decide to change anything you my have saved could be entirely negated - and maybe more - so in practical terms I'd say that the only time it makes any real sense to import a UK car is if you intend to keep it and run it into the ground. 

As for driving RHD-v-LHD whether it's a problem or not is down to you as an  individual.

I have both and and it makes not a jot of difference either to me or my OH which we drive while on the other hand I think most of us know of someone (mostly ladies but meaning no offence to the fairer sex) who point blank refuse to drive on the right hand side of the road at all be it in a RH or LH drive car. 

Finally, and obviously it depends on exactly where you choose to settle, for most the majority of their driving is likely to consist of short trips to the shops or beach etc. where needs and opportunities for overtaking are seldom a feature of the journey.  

Thank you , for your response and helpful advice.

                                                Sean.

Do a forum search on "Jims Guide" and I am pretty sure you will find an excellent guide relating to this topic giving you helpful and factual information.

Hope it helps.

Dear Ray,

thank you for this, very helpful indeed. So many other things I did not think of re: RHD i.e. tolls and car kiosks/barriers. I have a 2016 VW Golf which I really like. Perhaps selling it here in th Uk and if enough purchasing a smaller car for example a VW Polo would be the better solution.

                                                               Regards, Sean.

I don't want to comment on the cost aspects of importing, that's for you to decide, but from a safety point of view, I'd always recommend to someone moving here permanently that they buy a LHD when they get here rather than import their British car.

It takes a while to get used to driving on the right, and in an imported RHD car it's very easy at a T junction for example to get confused and pull out onto the wrong side of the road. 

When I moved here, I bit the bullet and bought new rather than try and find a decent second hand vehicle in a constricted market, I've been well pleased with the Skoda Octavia I bought. Insurance cost is comparable with the UK, but fuel, servicing and road tax is considerably cheaper.

Thank you Jack...I'm beginning to see things differently.

                         Regards, Sean.