Driving foreign vehicle in the uk
Discussion
I recall there were limits on driving a foreign registered car in the UK. From a quick google it seems car needs to be taxed and insured in home country, you can't live in the UK and you can only be in the UK for less than 6 months.
If that is all correct, how come Tesla are running demonstrators on Dutch plates?
If that is all correct, how come Tesla are running demonstrators on Dutch plates?
The rule is that a UK resident cannot drive, in the UK, a car registered in the EU. However, dispensations are available for business use in order to comply with the EU requirement for there to be 'no barriers to open trade within the EU'.
For non-EU cars imported into the UK by their owners for their person use for a maximum period of 6 months, named UK residents may drive so long as the owner is in the EU at the time.
For non-EU cars imported into the UK by their owners for their person use for a maximum period of 6 months, named UK residents may drive so long as the owner is in the EU at the time.
Out of interest how is this enforced? As there is a brabus badged merc 500 on Lithuanian plates near me and its been here a lot longer than 6 months and what is the problem anyway? so long as its taxed ( Ahh just answered my own question methinks).Road tax may be a lot cheaper in Lithuania ??
cahami said:
Out of interest how is this enforced? As there is a brabus badged merc 500 on Lithuanian plates near me and its been here a lot longer than 6 months and what is the problem anyway? so long as its taxed ( Ahh just answered my own question methinks).Road tax may be a lot cheaper in Lithuania ??
You really don't want to have a non fault accident with a foreign registered vehicleCooperman said:
The rule is that a UK resident cannot drive, in the UK, a car registered in the EU. However, dispensations are available for business use in order to comply with the EU requirement for there to be 'no barriers to open trade within the EU'.
For non-EU cars imported into the UK by their owners for their person use for a maximum period of 6 months, named UK residents may drive so long as the owner is in the EU at the time.
I guess they've a dispensation then. The sales guy wasn't aware of any restrictions or that they'd overcome them and it was a tad unusual anyway to be offered a test drive in a left hand drive car. For non-EU cars imported into the UK by their owners for their person use for a maximum period of 6 months, named UK residents may drive so long as the owner is in the EU at the time.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Cooperman said:
The rule is that a UK resident cannot drive, in the UK, a car registered in the EU.
Really. I have friends visit from Holland and the come by car. Whilst they are here, if we go out for the day, I often drive their car. Never given it a second thought. Slidingpillar said:
Don't blame me when you nicked, but the ban on a UK resident driving a foreign registered car does not seem to be widely enforced. Be interesting if that bit of law is contrary to EU rules as well.
I think talk of restricting residents of one member state from loaning a vehicle registered in another member state came about because of supposed tax implications resulting from cross border 'loans without consideration' (ie freebies) - this originated from EU legislation, not domestic.Bit of digging and it looks like the ruling at EC appeal was that the specifics of the loan (especially the duration) were key elements in deciding whether a member state could levy a tax on a resident for driving a foreign registered vehicle in their own country.
Ruling.
cahami said:
Out of interest how is this enforced?
It isn't enforced. Neither the Police, VOSA, DVLA or your local council are interested. There's a loophole that prevents them from taking action, so they don't bother.If the car is taken out of the UK for just one day, then the six month allowance period starts again. Problem is, none of the agencies who could take enforcing action can prove that the car wasn't removed from the UK and as the burden of proof is with them they're stuffed.
mikeveal said:
It isn't enforced. Neither the Police, VOSA, DVLA or your local council are interested. There's a loophole that prevents them from taking action, so they don't bother.
If the car is taken out of the UK for just one day, then the six month allowance period starts again. Problem is, none of the agencies who could take enforcing action can prove that the car wasn't removed from the UK and as the burden of proof is with them they're stuffed.
Not interested you say? Loophole you say? That's really odd, because in the last six months we've seized hundreds of the things. If the car is taken out of the UK for just one day, then the six month allowance period starts again. Problem is, none of the agencies who could take enforcing action can prove that the car wasn't removed from the UK and as the burden of proof is with them they're stuffed.
You really should brush up on your 'six month' knowledge. If they live or work here, then they have to register it the day they arrive.
http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Vehicles-...
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motoring/motoring-new...
Elroy Blue said:
mikeveal said:
It isn't enforced. Neither the Police, VOSA, DVLA or your local council are interested. There's a loophole that prevents them from taking action, so they don't bother.
If the car is taken out of the UK for just one day, then the six month allowance period starts again. Problem is, none of the agencies who could take enforcing action can prove that the car wasn't removed from the UK and as the burden of proof is with them they're stuffed.
Not interested you say? Loophole you say? That's really odd, because in the last six months we've seized hundreds of the things. If the car is taken out of the UK for just one day, then the six month allowance period starts again. Problem is, none of the agencies who could take enforcing action can prove that the car wasn't removed from the UK and as the burden of proof is with them they're stuffed.
You really should brush up on your 'six month' knowledge. If they live or work here, then they have to register it the day they arrive.
http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Vehicles-...
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motoring/motoring-new...
I apprecaite the legislation is possibly more aimed at "migrant workers" than someone just visiting the UK for a few days, but is it actually illegal to let them drive?
sunbeam alpine said:
So, Elroy Blue, you seem to know, am I not allowed to allow my friends to drive my car when I'm visiting the UK?
I apprecaite the legislation is possibly more aimed at "migrant workers" than someone just visiting the UK for a few days, but is it actually illegal to let them drive?
Your friends are most definitely not allowed to drive your car if it is registered in the EU, but not in the UK and if they are resident in the UK. However, if it is a hire car hired in the EU and driven by a UK resident into the UK then that is OK. There are dispensations for company-owned vehicles registered in the EU (not in the UK) and driven in the UK by UK resident employees of the firms who own them for the purposes of carrying out the business activities. I apprecaite the legislation is possibly more aimed at "migrant workers" than someone just visiting the UK for a few days, but is it actually illegal to let them drive?
If you were not resident in the EU nor in the UK and were bringing your car in for 6 months or less it could be driven by a UK resident so long as he/she was named on the HMRC Form 308 for temporary importation of a 'means-of-transport' and so long as you were present within the EU whilst the named person(s) were driving it within the EU, including the UK.
This information was established when a friend temporarily imported a car fro the USA last year and I was named on the customs import documentation as a driver. I am a UK resident.
Elroy Blue said:
Not interested you say? Loophole you say? That's really odd, because in the last six months we've seized hundreds of the things.
You really should brush up on your 'six month' knowledge. If they live or work here, then they have to register it the day they arrive.
http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Vehicles-...
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motoring/motoring-new...
Well that is refreshing and I stand corrected.You really should brush up on your 'six month' knowledge. If they live or work here, then they have to register it the day they arrive.
http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Vehicles-...
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motoring/motoring-new...
Any chance of convincing plod in Southampton to do similar? Because they don't seem to be interested.
Cooperman said:
Your friends are most definitely not allowed to drive your car if it is registered in the EU, but not in the UK and if they are resident in the UK.
Are you 100% on that ? According to the link I posted earlier, if it is evident that the 'loan' of the [EU registered] vehicle is for a short period only then, subject to valid insurance & <6 months in the UK, it shouldn't fall foul of any EU directives or cross-border rules & regulations.
Would be interested to know if the prohibition on UK drivers driving EU registered vehicles originates within UK legislation.
Edited by SS2. on Monday 1st June 13:11
SS2. said:
Cooperman said:
Your friends are most definitely not allowed to drive your car if it is registered in the EU, but not in the UK and if they are resident in the UK.
Are you 100% on that ? According to the link I posted earlier, if it is evident that the 'loan' of the [EU registered] vehicle is for a short period only then, subject to valid insurance & <6 months in the UK, it shouldn't fall foul of any EU directives or cross-border rules & regulations.
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