MOT whilst abroad
- Thread starter bluehaze
- Start date
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Might not be the correct way to do things but...
Find yourself an MOT station which will give you an MOT without seeing he vehicle, inner city under the railway arches type of place. I know this is what a few expats have done in the past.
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you will need to get the vehicle back for an MoT. If it has expired, you MUST NOT drive the vehicle in the UK. It will need to be transported back to the UK for the MoT.
The law states in EU the car must be legal to be driven in the country of registration mot,ins and road tax...if out of the UK for more than 6 months must be registered in the country it's in or returned to UK and kept there for the remaining 6 months... last month the police were pulling all foreign reg and checking details...don't know how long term EU traveling could get round that but most overlanders are out of Europe...
ObiWanKenobi
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I am in USA. Can I assume that MOT is basically a state Motor Vehicle Inspection? We have that here in each state as well. What I'm not clear on is the concern about expiration. Wouldn't you just get a small fine, and then have it inspected, and all is okay again? And if you are out of the country, who cares if the inspection date in your home country has expired? Wouldn't you just renew inspection in the country you are in, using their inspection system? Sorry for the ignorance here, but call me provincial.
Thanks!
Mike
Read my above post...you can't mot a car in a country it's not registered in...in Europe which is what we refer to as EU as in European Union no mot or road tax from country of origin means your insurance is invalid...if I drive my Portuguese reg car into Spain no problem take it to morroco I have to fill in forms to import it and take out other insurance...you bring your USA reg car to the EU you have to notify customs on arrival how long it will be in the EU and whether it's papers are legal for the time there...
Sorry edit you will get a fine in the EU but they will impound the vehicle and in some cases crush it...you must know the rules on importing series Landrover into USA don't you...
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ObiWanKenobi
Active Member
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Thanks, Shipper -
That helps. Just seems very strict. Also of note is that insurance validity is tied to inspection. Here in USA you can insure a junk yard piece of car that is not even roadworthy (declared as such). You wouldn't be covered, obviously, if you drove the car, having said you don't drive it. So the insurance is not technically tied to the inspection sticker. On the other hand, we have to register the car each year (road tax?) and in that you declare you have insurance coverage. So there is a registration stick on the license plate (and a card in your wallet or vehicle).
I will not be shipping my car overseas any time soon. Just reading the words impound and crush gave me chills.
That helps. Just seems very strict. Also of note is that insurance validity is tied to inspection. Here in USA you can insure a junk yard piece of car that is not even roadworthy (declared as such). You wouldn't be covered, obviously, if you drove the car, having said you don't drive it. So the insurance is not technically tied to the inspection sticker. On the other hand, we have to register the car each year (road tax?) and in that you declare you have insurance coverage. So there is a registration stick on the license plate (and a card in your wallet or vehicle).
I will not be shipping my car overseas any time soon. Just reading the words impound and crush gave me chills.
Jonmlb748
Well-Known Member
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Also don’t forget foreign police are savvy to checking up on mot’s tax etc online now.they might not care but if they get sick of seeing your foreign plated vehicle, beware.
last time I was at Faro airport Portugal they were stopping all foreign reg cars at the entrance...they know your picking up people and they have the Tec in their car to record on to their data base your details now ..I'm told...
NiallRussell
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I drove an Omani registered 110 into Norway from Russia. I had to buy insurance at the board that was for all the ECC - it cost me less that the insurance I'm paying now, but of course it was only for third party. To get it I showed them the car's documents (all in Arabic) and residence card for Oman.
I'm planning to drive again in a few years, and I too was not sure about what to do with the MOT, my experience with driving outside europe is things get a little bit smoother as people can't be bothered with the paper work.
but the DVLA has this to say...
If you're doing less than 12 months
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-less-than-12-months
or more than 12
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk
so i guess legally you're stuffed.
I'm planning to drive again in a few years, and I too was not sure about what to do with the MOT, my experience with driving outside europe is things get a little bit smoother as people can't be bothered with the paper work.
but the DVLA has this to say...
If you're doing less than 12 months
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-less-than-12-months
or more than 12
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk
so i guess legally you're stuffed.
Depends on how high your “risk it for a swiskit” is.
But bottom line is NO, you can’t do that.
Hope you haven’t left already
No haven't left in the Landy yet, I'm just working abroad at the moment. If all goes to plan I'll be working in and around the bolcans for a couple of years shortly and I'd like to take the Landy and explore, hence the concern over the MOT.
Best bet would be to actually get the vehicle regestered in the country you use as your base.
It can be a bit daunting of a task to start but best to get somebody who understands the process to do it for you, usually takes a day here.
You may find you need to be a resident depends on country. But there are ways to work around that I am sure.
Then just drive for the couple of years and when you bring it back do the reverse. You won’t get the same number you have now so hope you not attached to it.
I assume you mean the Balkans? And yes it can be great fun exploring that area in a Landy.
Better do it quick though as if Brexit goes pear shaped all the rules in place now may not apply to any car brought in from outside the EU. Then it might work out cheaper to buy a vehicle where ever you actually are. Lada Nivas are basic,fun,easy to work on and cheap. They can take a good beating too. (Sorry will now go and wash out my mouth for suggesting you buy a Lada) but there are plenty around and cheap.
Enjoy the exploring.
It can be a bit daunting of a task to start but best to get somebody who understands the process to do it for you, usually takes a day here.
You may find you need to be a resident depends on country. But there are ways to work around that I am sure.
Then just drive for the couple of years and when you bring it back do the reverse. You won’t get the same number you have now so hope you not attached to it.
I assume you mean the Balkans? And yes it can be great fun exploring that area in a Landy.
Better do it quick though as if Brexit goes pear shaped all the rules in place now may not apply to any car brought in from outside the EU. Then it might work out cheaper to buy a vehicle where ever you actually are. Lada Nivas are basic,fun,easy to work on and cheap. They can take a good beating too. (Sorry will now go and wash out my mouth for suggesting you buy a Lada) but there are plenty around and cheap.
Enjoy the exploring.
