Where on Earth do you get an MOT....?

[JemDog]

Hi all picking up my Fiat Ducato panel van this week, ready to start conversion for full timing....one of the many things puzzling me, is if I (as intended) stay away from the UK for longer than a year, how do I get an MOT to keep my insurance valid?

 

[Mikeco]

You come home.

 

[bobandjanie]

You have to come back to the UK for it. ? Bob.

 

[The Wino]

Or re_register it in another country

 

[Silver-Fox]

Can you get insurance to last that long ?

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[tonka]

Drive home from Luxembourg with a load of fags and booze. ?????

 

[Speve]

The only way to avoid it is buy a new van then you have three years grace.?

 

[Wild Brambles]

Are there any tax advantages if you register it in another country, For example, can you reduce the cost of the road tax?

 

[bobandjanie]

It varies in Spain, our road tax is low, our insurance is more, but it does cover the vehicle so anyone can drive them. ?
But it not as simple as just getting a vehicle registered in another country. ? Bob.

 

[Allanm]

To register a vehicle in another country, you will normally need an address there otherwise you will have to return yearly to the UK for an mot. You will still have to pay UK road tax
Also, your extended trip around Europe may soon be subject to time limitations if the UK leaves the EU. Long term travellers ( visits of over 3 months) will need to apply for visas from the countries they wish to visit.

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[Innkeeper]

Were coming back in feb for ours (MOT).
But on noticed MOT stations in Gibraltar do they do an MOT for an English van?
But anyway we where thinking MOT the van in UK sell it and then buy one over here dont even know if its possible

 

[Wild Brambles]

Touring might be easier with a left hand drive van.

 

[Littlewheels]

Were coming back in feb for ours (MOT).
But on noticed MOT stations in Gibraltar do they do an MOT for an English van?
Sadly not, there is no way around having to return to the UK annually for the MOT and further complications for longer stays that are Brxxxxt dependant, it’s all a bit depressing for long term travel.

 

[Innkeeper]

Touring might be easier with a left hand drive van.

Yes agree. Dont want to hijack the thread but can a none resident say buy a van in spain?

 

[jumartoo]

Yes agree. Dont want to hijack the thread but can a none resident say buy a van in spain?

Yes. You need an NIE number though (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero). And an address.

That's how things stand at the moment though!!!

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[jumartoo]

Were coming back in feb for ours (MOT).
But on noticed MOT stations in Gibraltar do they do an MOT for an English van?
But anyway we where thinking MOT the van in UK sell it and then buy one over here dont even know if its possible

Any van can have an MOT in Gib or, even, an ITV in Spain, but it's not valid to make a British vehicle legal for insurance etc.

 

[gus-lopez]

ay away from the UK for longer than a year, how do I get an MOT to keep my insurance valid?

You can't.

 

[gus-lopez]

Are there any tax advantages if you register it in another country, For example, can you reduce the cost of the road tax?

It varies in Spain, our road tax is low, our insurance is more, but it does cover the vehicle so anyone can drive them.

What Bob hasn't mentioned is that his road tax might be low but mine is extremely high.There is no uniform road tax across spain & even varies in regions as each local council can set there own amount. My mate used to pay 30% per year of what I paid for exactly the same vehicle.
Insurance is far dearer but as Bob stated , covers the vehicle for anyone to drive over the correct age.
Also to bear in mind is that anything based on what the spanish class as a "commercial" vehicle is unlikely to be able to be re-registered. That will also vary area to area.

 

[Just smiffy]

Can you get insurance to last that long ?

You’d be amazed at the number of vans in Europe being driven around by all sorts, and thinking..... that/they haven't got the proper paperwork..... some haven’t got a clue while some chance it...

I’ve spoken to couples on the road and they haven’t got a clue about insurance/C1/payload....?

 

[nicholsong]

I have been in Poland for 8 years and have to drive UK-registered MH back to UK every year.

I may soon be re-registering it in Poland which seems to be easier than in Spain, France etc.

There is no road tax here. Medical for C1 is every 5 years. MOT equivalent seems no more or less onerous. Insurance is still under discussion.

Getting an address in any country should not be too difficult if you pick one where the registration authorities do not need an equivalent of NI number or Council Tax. DVLA do not in UK - but they are just Tax Collectors and want somewhere to send the bill.

It all needs a bit of research and planning, but that is half the fun of beating bureaucracy.

Signed: Geoff, (Bureaucratic Anarchist, First Class and Star.)

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[olley]

A few years ago a company was offering UK mots in Spain, totally illegal but I assume they had a deal with a bent garage over here who put them through without seeing them, or they just gave them a fictitious certificate.

 

[The Wino]

A few years ago a company was offering UK mots in Spain, totally illegal but I assume they had a deal with a bent garage over here who put them through without seeing them, or they just gave them a fictitious certificate.

Like most scams it's okay until you get caught. Insurance invalid no mot attempted fraud etc. If we do end up limited to 90 days it won't be a problem

 

[JemDog]

Can you get insurance to last that long ?

Hi; no but at least I could renew over the phone!

 

[JemDog]

Or re_register it in another country

Yeh, did consider that....but probably a red tape nightmare!

 

[JemDog]

You come home.

Guess I may have to; but its what I wanted to avoid...

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[JemDog]

Are there any tax advantages if you register it in another country, For example, can you reduce the cost of the road tax?

You would need an address an probably residency/citizenship.

 

[JemDog]

Were coming back in feb for ours (MOT).
But on noticed MOT stations in Gibraltar do they do an MOT for an English van?
But anyway we where thinking MOT the van in UK sell it and then buy one over here dont even know if its possible

Good call! Gib is British surely?

 

[JemDog]

Touring might be easier with a left hand drive van.

Hi Wild Brambles each to their own, I prefer the familiarity of a right hooker. Also better to see the edges on barrier-less roads...

 

[Mikeco]

Good call! Gib is British surely?

Not as far as the MOT is concerned, unless your van is less than 3 years old and you wish to stay legal there is no alternative.

 

[Allanm]

Were coming back in feb for ours (MOT).
But on noticed MOT stations in Gibraltar do they do an MOT for an English van?
But anyway we where thinking MOT the van in UK sell it and then buy one over here dont even know if its possible

Only if you live here!

The only way you can get an mot on a UK reg vehicle is to take it to a garage in the UK

What you are proposing about buying a vehicle for you to use abroad will not be legal, to get the benefits of unrestricted travel in the EU will soon mean you have to live here.

Which is what we have done.

To buy a vehicle in France you will need a French address to buy and register a van and a French address to insure it and shortly you will also need to swap your driving licence to a French ( or other EU country)one.
We don’t pay road tax in France but insurance ( which covers use in all of Europe, including Russia!, and allows any family member to drive the vehicle, with the right licence, and includes breakdown cover) is more expensive.

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