14 replies to this topic

[SpeedyVX]

Hi guys, Im lookin for a Trackday Car at the moment and I recognized your british VX220 are much cheaper than our Opel Speedsters. For this reason I want to import a VX220 from UK to Germany. Unfortunately, the overpass is not really simple and noboby here in Germany knows whats legal and whats not. In Germany, we have plates for dealers (for short test drives with different cars) and we have two kinds of plates for private person: Export-plates (to export a car from Germany to another EU-Country) and short-term plates for several days (for transfers and test drives within Germany). The bad point is: None of these german plates is accepted/legal in UK. Theoretically, I could arrange a "border-insurance" at ADAC (is like your AA) and this insurace is valid in UK. But to use this insurance, the VX220 needs MOT, roadtax and it's regular plates. The problem is: Many cars are out of roadtax or have private plates (VX ...) and the owner wants to keep these plates. So, which possibilities has a german to bring a car legal (!) to the ferry in dover when the car is out of MOT/roadtax or doesnt has plates on it (without trailer)? Exist there any short-term plates or export plates in UK? Can I get such a plate even if Im not a registrant in UK? And if the seller could get such plates, what are the costs for them and could I (as buyer) use these plates to drive the car legally? Thanks for your answers. Im sure, you natives know the score much better than we germans. Greets, Benny P.S. Sorry for bad english :-)

[christhegasman]

Most cars with private plates on are not sold with the plate but registered with the original plate again before selling So most bought in the uk will have registration docs and original plates this can then be driven to a ferry port if you get insurance in the uk then registered On german plateswhen imported into Germany

Edited by christhegasman, 23 February 2012 - 07:49 AM.

[Pidgeon]

I recommend you register on SELOC.org. Many Lotus' have been exported to the continent and someone will have set out the process on there. Comparatively few VX220 have been exported.

[SpeedyVX]

Thanks for your answers. One question is still open: What about the roadtax? I've read, the police in UK does inspections and checks the cars (or the plates) for valid roadtax while passing by. And the penalty is allegedly pretty high up to confiscation of the car. Is this true? Do I (resp. the seller) really have to pay the roadtax for a whole year just to drive a car a few miles to dover? Or is there another possibilitiy? Thanks, Benny

[christhegasman]

Well you could risk it but probably not a good idea but you can get the seller to put 6 months tax on for you which I believe would be refundable if exported ?

[jonnyboy]

The good thing about the UK is that there are no traffic police any more so running a car to the port with no tax would be no problem at all! I think you may need a certificate of conformity too and there may be issues with modifications as TUV approval is needed. As previously mentioned Seloc would be a good starting point. I know there are some German guys who buy Elises (and VXs actually) and convert them to left hand drive so if you can find them maybe they can help?

Edited by jonnyboy, 23 February 2012 - 08:32 PM.

[SpeedyVX]

Thanks for fast answering! the licensing of a UK-car in Germany in not the big problem. You need other headlights for left-hand driving, a rear fog lamp on the left side and a speedometer that shows km/h instead of miles. I dont need a conversion to left hand drive ... the TÜV (MOT) gives nothing about and for me personally it doesnt matter on which side I sit. I think, I had already contact to these German guys at Seloc (and in other Forums, like Jaguar or Oldtimer). But everyone has a different opinion. The first one says: "I use german short-term plates to drive a car in UK. I made this multiple times. I was stopped by the police but there was no problem". The second one says: "I get a border-insurance and drive the car with UK-Plates, even if its out of roadtax. I made this multiple times. I was never stopped by poilce, so there is no problem." And the third one says: "I tried both methods, was stopped by police at the port, the cars were confiscated by police and I had a lot of trouble." So, I dont know whats really dangerous, whats "tolerable" and whats legal in UK. The only thing I know is, that I can drive a Car with UK-Plates when it has roadtax and MOT and when I have a border-insurance ("green insurance card"). How much is the roadtax in UK for 6 month for a VX220? Is the roadtax equal for every car (except trucks etc.)? Thanks, Benny

[Gilgamesh]

you can convert the headlights to left-hand driving if you don't want to buy correct headlights, and the speedometer also shows km/h so you don't need to worry about that...but maybe in Germany it has to show only km/h? my headlights are converted and I don't use the rear fog lamp at all (no car in Sweden use that)

[Phear]

I converted an Ambulance last year into a Motorhome and then discovered I couldn't tax it because Ambulance tax is free but can only be bought by a licensed paramedic/operator. I had to reclassify the vehicle but had already booked a week off work to make use of it. Decided to risk it and drove about 1000 miles over the course of a week with no tax and drove past several police cars without incident. They quite simply aren't interested and if you stick to motorways etc you shouldn't have a problem, just don't draw attention to yourself. If you go past a police car on the motorway they won't have time to see the lack of tax disc or run your plates, they are mostly just looking for people speeding / driving like idiots. However if your really worried pay the £120 or so for 6 months tax.

[Pidgeon]

To tax a car in the Uk, you need to show the log book (V5C), insurance and MOT. If the log book is not in your name, it will be retained by the Post Office. Easiest is to pay the previous owner buy the tax, he can then hand the log book to you. Full months tax can be reclaimed, so you only pay for the month you use the car in the UK. Many police vehicles have ANPR (Automatic number plate recognition). I was last stopped ten minutes after I had bought a car, by a police car that was originally travelling in the opposite direction, as I set off the ANPR. I had just bought the tax disc and was very grateful I did not decide to skip a month.

[VIX]

Doesn't the seller have to send most of the log book back to the DVLA on sale?

[AliM]

However if your really worried pay the £120 or so for 6 months tax.

£160 if the car is newer than Y reg, not sure about the older ones

[Andy_sx]

The simplest way may be to pay someone to transport it for you to Germany (either your house, or to a garage / inspector direct)

I loaded this onto a 18t truck a few years ago http://nismo.by/foru...s/350z2_255.jpg but would have thought the best thing would be a european car carrier. Alot are running to PL / LT so could in theory be passing your way (depending on location)

That way, the car does not need tax / mot for the UK, and you would have less concerns in Germany re plates etc until it came time to register over there.

If its of any help, send me a pm and I can look into it properly for you (I am a freight forwarder by profession)

[KurtVerbose]

Easiest way: -



Having said that, I bought a motorcycle last year that I rode back. It had UK plates with valid tax disk. It didn't need an MOT as it was nearly new. I had a valid green card for the insurance which was the hardest thing to get. I had the bill of sale to proove ownership. I think that was perfectly legal.

Incidentally, I had much more hassle bringing in an empty trailer than taking one back with the VX on. 'What are you doing with that big trailer, where are you going'. Unbelievably ignorant about exchange rates.

[Jason]

I have not done this. But I have exported a German registered car to UK. I had export plates and drove to UK. THe insurance on the plates was valid for a month so I drove for a months in UK. I even got stopped for speeding in the UK the officer checked my docs and let me on my way with just a telling off.

I then drove a UK car on UK plates to Germany and got stopped at the port. I was asked to show insurance which I did, this was Germany based insurance including Green Card. It turns out under UK law you are not allowed to drive a UK registered car on non UK Insurance. I was allowed to drive on but the guy said he should of confiscated the car but seeing as I was driving with to Germany to a Army base and I was so sure of myself he let me go. I then had a long wait and a day in court due to driving without insurance on a mere technicality. Not good!

I would therefore advise driving on the German plates with Insurance of course. British police have little time for checking foreign vehicles as it means hassle.