Vehicle on French plates that has been in UK for ages
Discussion
We have noticed a car in the vicinity that is on French plates, left hand drive, but been around for about a year. The owner is, I suspect, a woman in her 60s who married someone in France, but came over here in the car and has lent it to her son in law. It is always kept in the same place overnight and seems to have become his daily driver. It therefore has become a bit of a permanent fixture rather than something that is here for a few weeks then disappears for months on end.
I am fairly confident that this is the correct assessment of the situation. I was wondering what the position is with VED and insurance for use like this. Do French cars have their own road tax and if so would it be valid here for months and months or are the users taking the mickey? Is this a matter for plod, after all, we pay our VED to use our roads?
I am fairly confident that this is the correct assessment of the situation. I was wondering what the position is with VED and insurance for use like this. Do French cars have their own road tax and if so would it be valid here for months and months or are the users taking the mickey? Is this a matter for plod, after all, we pay our VED to use our roads?
Well thank you to those who submitted intelligent replies, understood and answered the orginal question. I wish the remainder well when they get their GCSE results and hope they did listen to their teachers when told to "always read and answer the question". I was not seeking opinion on ethics, but an answer on a point of law. For those who voluntarily gave their opinions - well done. It was not necessary, possibly a waste of pixels, but appreciated nonetheless. I sincerely hope that you get invited back to school to undertake a programme of A level General Studies, when you may fill your boots and indulge yourself in the school debating team pondering tricky situations such as "if your a nice bloke, is it OK to drive an untaxed car", or "If I am a lazy oaf with a nice car, it is OK to use Child and Parent Spaces, sometimes disabled ones too if McDonalds is busy".
Perhaps if I rephrase the question it will make it easier for the hard of understanding:
Statement of Fact: It is accepted in the UK that to operate a car on the road, it must be taxed (i.e. VED) and insured. The Treasury fails to collect all of the VED as people cheat the system. The Police try an enforce this, using ANPR to check the tax, MOT and insurance status of a car on the road. If you have a car but choose not to tax it, then it must be SORNed.
If someone should bring a non-UK registered vehicle into the UK, what steps does that owner/keeper/user undertake to ensure that they are complying with UK law and what is the cut off point time wise when they should comply e.g. registering on UK plates, having UK insurance, and taxing the bloody thing?
Perhaps if I rephrase the question it will make it easier for the hard of understanding:
Statement of Fact: It is accepted in the UK that to operate a car on the road, it must be taxed (i.e. VED) and insured. The Treasury fails to collect all of the VED as people cheat the system. The Police try an enforce this, using ANPR to check the tax, MOT and insurance status of a car on the road. If you have a car but choose not to tax it, then it must be SORNed.
If someone should bring a non-UK registered vehicle into the UK, what steps does that owner/keeper/user undertake to ensure that they are complying with UK law and what is the cut off point time wise when they should comply e.g. registering on UK plates, having UK insurance, and taxing the bloody thing?
Thanks for the replies. It looks like this is a bit complicated! Interesting too.
When I have been around the Braford area I see many cars on Lithuanian, Polish, Slovakian and even Bulgarian plates. I guess these guys are foreign nationals overe here working and nothing wrong with that. It looks like a grey area if they are over here on a long term basis though. I would not want to get into an insurance claim least not with them.
As re the French car I suspect they are just skint and trying to make ends meet. I cant help thinking that may be a false economy though if they get stopped and fined.
When I have been around the Braford area I see many cars on Lithuanian, Polish, Slovakian and even Bulgarian plates. I guess these guys are foreign nationals overe here working and nothing wrong with that. It looks like a grey area if they are over here on a long term basis though. I would not want to get into an insurance claim least not with them.
As re the French car I suspect they are just skint and trying to make ends meet. I cant help thinking that may be a false economy though if they get stopped and fined.
Edited by TUS373 on Thursday 10th July 13:01
A common lawyer said:
n the introduction, in bold:
A British resident must not drive a vehicle displaying foreign registration number plates in the UK.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_...
That said, I don't quite know what legal provision would prevent a British resident from returning home in an insurance-provided hire car after an accident in France. As with many bits of government leaflet, it may not be entirely accurate.
Back to OP -- if it's there more than six months in twelve, it should be re-registered. If it has been permanently imported/its registered keeper is resident, it should be re-registered immediately. Loads of brits drive around on brit plates abroad, which irritates some especially those who go to trouble of re-registering...).
Thanks for that. Great information. A British resident must not drive a vehicle displaying foreign registration number plates in the UK.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_...
That said, I don't quite know what legal provision would prevent a British resident from returning home in an insurance-provided hire car after an accident in France. As with many bits of government leaflet, it may not be entirely accurate.
Back to OP -- if it's there more than six months in twelve, it should be re-registered. If it has been permanently imported/its registered keeper is resident, it should be re-registered immediately. Loads of brits drive around on brit plates abroad, which irritates some especially those who go to trouble of re-registering...).
Yup. Pretty much my question really. UK enforcement of VED is done by ANPR so very clear cut. But how are foreign registered cars Policed and where is the line getting crossed between genuine circumstances and someone evading VED? From what I glean in the thread the HMRC are quite clear but it looks like there are tons of potentially legitimate exceptions so a policing nightmare.
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