Any Advice - Road Trip gone wrong
Discussion
So I was on a road trip in a car with all it's documents present and correct, but we were pulled in Germany where the car was seized and they informed us they were crushing it.
I thought so long as a car had all it's documents correct from the country it was registered in, it was fine for it to pass through another EU country and that the German Police had no right to do what they have done.
Does anyone know about this area or where I could find advice on what I can do, I'm asking here because after wasting all my money on a trip that was cut short by 5 to 6 days I've got pretty much no money left to get legal advice.
Thanks.
I thought so long as a car had all it's documents correct from the country it was registered in, it was fine for it to pass through another EU country and that the German Police had no right to do what they have done.
Does anyone know about this area or where I could find advice on what I can do, I'm asking here because after wasting all my money on a trip that was cut short by 5 to 6 days I've got pretty much no money left to get legal advice.
Thanks.
opcorn:No speeding involved. They said they had "problems" with the car. It had UK MOT, Tax, Insurance and we all had our drivers licenses. Communication was poor from them, with no translator present and they were laughing and joking about it too. One of them also made a reference to the war.
Once we'd shown them our documents, they locked us in a room for 1 1/2 hours, and said they were taking it for a German MOT. Predictably, it failed, and they then said it would be 4,000 euro to fix, or they will scrap it.
But what I'm asking is, how is it legal for them to do this? The car had a valid UK MOT.
Once we'd shown them our documents, they locked us in a room for 1 1/2 hours, and said they were taking it for a German MOT. Predictably, it failed, and they then said it would be 4,000 euro to fix, or they will scrap it.
But what I'm asking is, how is it legal for them to do this? The car had a valid UK MOT.
8vFTW said:
No speeding involved. They said they had "problems" with the car. It had UK MOT, Tax, Insurance and well had our drivers licenses. Communication was poor from them, with no translator present and they were laughing and joking about it too. One of them also made a reference to the war.
Once we'd shown them our documents, they locked us in a room for 1 1/2 hours, and said they were taking it for a German MOT. Predictably, it failed, and they then said it would be 4,000 euro to fix, or they will scrap it.
But what I'm asking is, how is it legal for them to do this? The car had a valid UK MOT.
An MOT is no guarantee of being roadworthy.Once we'd shown them our documents, they locked us in a room for 1 1/2 hours, and said they were taking it for a German MOT. Predictably, it failed, and they then said it would be 4,000 euro to fix, or they will scrap it.
But what I'm asking is, how is it legal for them to do this? The car had a valid UK MOT.
It is with reference to a check against certain criteria at one moment in time.
What car was it?
Was it an old shed doing a banger rally or...?
As intimated; your car has to pass the laws of the land you're travelling, as do you as a driver (speed/alcohol limits, etc)
What happened after they seized it? Did you just let them take it? How did you get home?
Why didn't you demand an English-speaking representative?
Was it an old shed doing a banger rally or...?
As intimated; your car has to pass the laws of the land you're travelling, as do you as a driver (speed/alcohol limits, etc)
What happened after they seized it? Did you just let them take it? How did you get home?
Why didn't you demand an English-speaking representative?
Bill said:
Why did they pull you over in the first place?
(I'm guessing you were in some sort of home made bat mobile effort...)
Like I say, they said they had "problems" with the car. (I'm guessing you were in some sort of home made bat mobile effort...)
Muzzer79 said:
What car was it?
Was it an old shed doing a banger rally or...?
As intimated; your car has to pass the laws of the land you're travelling, as do you as a driver (speed/alcohol limits, etc)
What happened after they seized it? Did you just let them take it? How did you get home?
Why didn't you demand an English-speaking representative?
It was a Ford Galaxy. What do you mean let them take it? Were we supposed to steal their guns and shoot them in the face and ride away on a wave of glory?Was it an old shed doing a banger rally or...?
As intimated; your car has to pass the laws of the land you're travelling, as do you as a driver (speed/alcohol limits, etc)
What happened after they seized it? Did you just let them take it? How did you get home?
Why didn't you demand an English-speaking representative?
As for getting home, we had to book new flights, and find a hotel for that night. Plus the flights and hotel for our final destination were a waste, all of which I shall be sending them a bill for.
8vFTW said:
Bill said:
Why did they pull you over in the first place?
(I'm guessing you were in some sort of home made bat mobile effort...)
Like I say, they said they had "problems" with the car. (I'm guessing you were in some sort of home made bat mobile effort...)
Muzzer79 said:
What car was it?
Was it an old shed doing a banger rally or...?
As intimated; your car has to pass the laws of the land you're travelling, as do you as a driver (speed/alcohol limits, etc)
What happened after they seized it? Did you just let them take it? How did you get home?
Why didn't you demand an English-speaking representative?
It was a Ford Galaxy. What do you mean let them take it? Were we supposed to seal their guns and shoot them in the face and ride away on a wave of glory?Was it an old shed doing a banger rally or...?
As intimated; your car has to pass the laws of the land you're travelling, as do you as a driver (speed/alcohol limits, etc)
What happened after they seized it? Did you just let them take it? How did you get home?
Why didn't you demand an English-speaking representative?
As for getting home, we had to book new flights, and find a hotel for that night. Plus the flights and hotel for our final destination were a waste, all of which I shall be sending them a bill for.
What were the problems with the car?
Bill said:
Having worked out what car it was I'm changing my guess from batmobile, was it lowered and running stretched tyres?
I'm looking for advice on what has happened, and no it was not in my Golf so your assumptions are incorrect. IF you've got problems with my personal transport, feel free to waste your time PM'ing me/writing to your local MP.
This all sounds a bit fishy to me. OP Gets pulled over in Germany, then first thing he does is ask on Pistonheads to find out what to do?
The German MOT is extremely strict, however I can't imagine that they would require that all foreign vehicles pass it unless there was something about it which is obviously unsafe or illegal? I've also found that Germans by and large are nice people and although they have a reputation for officiousness and efficiency they are generally pretty reasonable people and are unlikely to put the boot in without some reason. Either you failed the attitude test or your car is really really dodgy.
It's not like Eastern Europe or Greece where you have to slip them a few euros to let you go...
The German MOT is extremely strict, however I can't imagine that they would require that all foreign vehicles pass it unless there was something about it which is obviously unsafe or illegal? I've also found that Germans by and large are nice people and although they have a reputation for officiousness and efficiency they are generally pretty reasonable people and are unlikely to put the boot in without some reason. Either you failed the attitude test or your car is really really dodgy.
It's not like Eastern Europe or Greece where you have to slip them a few euros to let you go...
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