- Oct 12, 2009
- 11,674
- 26,039
- Funster No
- 8,876
- MH
- A Class N+B Arto 69GL
- Exp
- Since 2009
BREAKING NEWS
For those who have read about our saga of trying to re-register our N&B Arto in Poland, I can now announce that we have done it. As a result we are exhausted.
We started trying to do this 18 months ago!!!
The load has mainly been on Basia as my Interpreter/ secretary. So enormous thanks to her!
For those of you of you who are of a nervous disposition and do not want to hear the gruesome details look away now.
HISTORY
The Polish government decided a long time ago that RHD vehicles were not safe, despite permitting their LHD trucks to drive across UK unhindered.
They we challenged and in 2008 the European Court of Justice ruled that that restriction was illegal. The government changed the law but only for M1 vehicles (cars) below 3500kgs but not M1 (Special Purpose) incl MHs. As a result 4 MOT-equivalent stations refused to test our MH in order to get re-registration.
OPTIONS
We were faced with the options of
SOLUTION
We have a friend who owns a bar/restaurant and small theatre venue for jazz/artistic performances, called ‘Oldtimers Garage’ and as a sideline imports veteran/vintage cars, refurbishes them for selling.
In a conversation he said why not register it as a ‘Veteran’? Can we as it is only 18 years old? Yes, because there is no stipulated age, yet.
PROCESS
He put is in touch with his guy who does the paperwork
Lots of to/fro with info.
We had to nominally cede 5% ownership to a tame ‘Museum’ which will revert in 2 months [As a lawyer I have that covered]
Then all paperwork to registration office last week for temporary registration to enable us to do MOT-equivalent. That is 30km to a specialist for veteran vehicles. Passed, with verbal ‘Advisory’ about handbrake cable. Inspection 10 mins., paperwork one hour.
Today to registration office to get registration as a Veteran vehicle – lots of questions about papers, date of import and clerk’s visit twice to Manager. Also resulted in £40 fine for late registration – because of their laws – thanks.
One and half hours later we emerged with new papers and number plates [As well as the number it depicts an approx. 1910 car – bit funny on a 2003 MH]
So we now have Polish Registration and Plates – Yippee!
FUTURE
Saga is not over. Our registration is only for 4 weeks as we have to return to the office to get ‘permanent’ papers.
Then we have to return after 2 months to have the ‘Museum’s 5% removed from the title.
COSTS AND SAVINGS
The above has cost us £1,500+
The savings are
Now we are off DVLA/DVSA radar we can plan our trips from here without considering the UK, unless we wish.
Geoff
For those who have read about our saga of trying to re-register our N&B Arto in Poland, I can now announce that we have done it. As a result we are exhausted.
We started trying to do this 18 months ago!!!
The load has mainly been on Basia as my Interpreter/ secretary. So enormous thanks to her!
For those of you of you who are of a nervous disposition and do not want to hear the gruesome details look away now.
HISTORY
The Polish government decided a long time ago that RHD vehicles were not safe, despite permitting their LHD trucks to drive across UK unhindered.
They we challenged and in 2008 the European Court of Justice ruled that that restriction was illegal. The government changed the law but only for M1 vehicles (cars) below 3500kgs but not M1 (Special Purpose) incl MHs. As a result 4 MOT-equivalent stations refused to test our MH in order to get re-registration.
OPTIONS
We were faced with the options of
- Selling – almost impossible for RHD in Poland
- Sell in UK to a dealer, expensive with trip and low price.
- Buy equivalent LHD – possible in Germany but not many quality MHs available in Poland
- Downplate to 3500kgs – leaving us with unusable payload
SOLUTION
We have a friend who owns a bar/restaurant and small theatre venue for jazz/artistic performances, called ‘Oldtimers Garage’ and as a sideline imports veteran/vintage cars, refurbishes them for selling.
In a conversation he said why not register it as a ‘Veteran’? Can we as it is only 18 years old? Yes, because there is no stipulated age, yet.
PROCESS
He put is in touch with his guy who does the paperwork
Lots of to/fro with info.
We had to nominally cede 5% ownership to a tame ‘Museum’ which will revert in 2 months [As a lawyer I have that covered]
Then all paperwork to registration office last week for temporary registration to enable us to do MOT-equivalent. That is 30km to a specialist for veteran vehicles. Passed, with verbal ‘Advisory’ about handbrake cable. Inspection 10 mins., paperwork one hour.
Today to registration office to get registration as a Veteran vehicle – lots of questions about papers, date of import and clerk’s visit twice to Manager. Also resulted in £40 fine for late registration – because of their laws – thanks.
One and half hours later we emerged with new papers and number plates [As well as the number it depicts an approx. 1910 car – bit funny on a 2003 MH]
So we now have Polish Registration and Plates – Yippee!
FUTURE
Saga is not over. Our registration is only for 4 weeks as we have to return to the office to get ‘permanent’ papers.
Then we have to return after 2 months to have the ‘Museum’s 5% removed from the title.
COSTS AND SAVINGS
The above has cost us £1,500+
The savings are
- No Road tax in Poland
- No recurrent MOT in Poland – crazy for Veteran
- No driving/ferry to UK for MOT
- Probable lower Insurance for Veteran
Now we are off DVLA/DVSA radar we can plan our trips from here without considering the UK, unless we wish.
Geoff
