Taking a Kit Car on Holiday in europe

[mogjay]

Hi simple question but im thinking of buying a Midas mk2 on a Q-plate for a bit of fun, and was wondering what rules there are for me taking the car abroad and if such a car could be driven on a short term basis (2 weeks ). also if certain countries would or would not allow it. Iv tried google but infuriatingly all the results are trying to sell me breathalyzer kits for driving in France.

Thanks

Edited by mogjay on Wednesday 15th July 15:05

[Quinten]

A road legal car in the UK is road legal everywhere else. No special documents required... you may want to arrange for some breakdown cover though

[marshalla]

If it's legal in the home country, within the EU, then it's legal throughout the EU(for holidays at least). Usual rules about headlamp beam conversion and carrying of locally mandated warning triangles, hi-vis vests etc. apply.

[mogjay]

Thats great news , was worried it would be a regulations nightmare pulling up to some border crossing explaining what it is

[marshalla]

mogjay said:

Thats great news , was worried it would be a regulations nightmare pulling up to some border crossing explaining what it is

You'll probably get that anyway, but out of curiosity and not because of regulations. A lot of the border control guys seems to be petrolheads. Don't forget that once you're out of the UK and into the Schengen zone there are relatively few border checks anyway.

[FlossyThePig]

A friend of mine drove his Midas all the way to, and beyond, the Arctic circle. He lives in Bath.

[Mistrale]

Just don't take a Ferrari Replica to Italy - seem to remember some have been impounded.....

[f1rob]

Several years ago I ran a VERY scabby Dutton Sierra as a general workhorse on the farm where I hired the shooting
One day as I pulled out from a muddy track onto the main road just after a police car had passed I knew what was going to happen.
And sure enough it did as I drove along an watched him in the rear view mirror as he did a quick u turn and set of in pursuit of me !
Farmhouse had been raided by burglars the week before and police were on the lookout for anything strange,
After a quick flash of the blue lights I pull over and the police man stops behind me and proceeds to do a complete circle of the Dutton looking it up and down before stopping by my window with his opening gambit being
"all right then what the hell is it !!!???"

[qdos]

There's several Midas owners in Europe. In fact they can also be found in the USA and New Zealand too.

[gtmdriver]

I've taken a Dutton Sierra and a Mini Marcos to France and a Triumph Spartan to Holland. The police are more likely to be curious than officious.

Check to see whether you need a breathalyser kit in France. I seem to remember they had a bit of a hiatus bringing that law in.

[GinG15]

not really true:

if the car has been modified with loud exhaust (even the noise limit is according to UK rules), very low suspension or such bonnet catchtes (to name only a few things)



the police can stop and fine you.

if you have such catches fitted tape them and everything is fine.


there are plenty of UK road legal cars withdrwan from public roads around the Nürburgring, because the german law doesnt allow as much mod´s as the british one.

lowered cars which are still legal in germany will get fined in austria, for example.

if your car looks like a "normal" kitcar without heavy mod´s or extreme loud exhaust and extreme low suspension you will be fine.

[Fury1630]

I've taken the Fury to France & Belgium, there's nothing special for a kit, just:-
Tell your insurance Co.
Get euro breakdown cover.
Get the things you need for France (warning triangle, dayglo vest, breathalysers - maybe, light bulb kit.
Check the ground clearance - usually the folk on the tunnel direct low cars to the downstairs bit to avoid getting stuck on the ramps.

[NoCorseChris]

The Stratos copy I built did a pretty grand tour of europe with its new owner. Went as far as Greece, no problems as far as I know.

[JontyR]

Just one point to note.

A lot of British cars are built using unf etc threads. Rose joints in particular! I crashed at the Ring, and they looked at me and laughed when I asked for an imperial rose joint!