Taking a car abroad for 2 years - Advice Please
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to move to Turkey and take my car with me. Due to some stupid rules Turkish government wants more tax than the value of the car If I export it. Anyways, I’ve found an alternative way. You can enter Turkey with your car as a tourist and use your car for up to 2 years. That’s great for me as I don’t want to spend money on a new car in Turkey right away, and after driving it there for 2 years I’m planning to bring it back to the UK, sell it here, and then get a new LHD car in Turkey. HOWEVER, according to the rules in the UK, If I stay abroad with my car for more than 12 months, I need to declare to DVLA that the car is permanently exported. Does that mean I can’t bring it back to sell it? And I can’t keep it in Turkey for more than 2 years either so maybe I can sell it to countries that drive on the right hand side like Cyprus? But if I let DVLA know I exported it permanently, does that mean it’s not registered in any country and I can’t sell it to anyone from any country really. I’m really confused and any advice is highly appreciated thank you!!
I’m planning to move to Turkey and take my car with me. Due to some stupid rules Turkish government wants more tax than the value of the car If I export it. Anyways, I’ve found an alternative way. You can enter Turkey with your car as a tourist and use your car for up to 2 years. That’s great for me as I don’t want to spend money on a new car in Turkey right away, and after driving it there for 2 years I’m planning to bring it back to the UK, sell it here, and then get a new LHD car in Turkey. HOWEVER, according to the rules in the UK, If I stay abroad with my car for more than 12 months, I need to declare to DVLA that the car is permanently exported. Does that mean I can’t bring it back to sell it? And I can’t keep it in Turkey for more than 2 years either so maybe I can sell it to countries that drive on the right hand side like Cyprus? But if I let DVLA know I exported it permanently, does that mean it’s not registered in any country and I can’t sell it to anyone from any country really. I’m really confused and any advice is highly appreciated thank you!!
Edited by Gncx on Saturday 30th July 23:18
Lived overseas for 40 years, I've exported two cars from uk. One in container to Asia, shipping company won't take it without export docs. Other i just drove on to a ferry to Norway once i had the import sorted I deregistered in Uk.
I currently have a Uk lotus carlton in Asia, exported legally by some one else. My understanding is that because it was uk registered I can take it back to Uk duty free, but will need to reregister Mot etc. Ihave all the proof it was registered and on the road in the Uk.
A few things to look at. In Norway first time you go there to live, you can take one car duty free, from a country you lived in legally and subject to owning the car in the home country for 12 months prior to import.
Check if this is an option in Turkey. Also in Norway a citizen or resident can not drive a forign car umless accompanied by the Owner, have a look if Turkey has any rules like this. This was a problem for people in the 80s, oil workers drove over from Newcastle and car became illegal when the work permit went into their passport.
Uk had a rule that residents couldn't drive a forign car of the ferry, I had trouble driving my Norwegian car into Newcastle.
I know a few people who have Singapore bikes in Malaysia, they just pay the road tax and go back every two years for the vehicle test.
The problem isn't the authority, they aren't interested, it's if you have an accident you are uninsured.
Ok not Turkey but may point you down a channel worth investigating such as problems at borders or accident.
My advice, is don't do anything questionable,
I currently have a Uk lotus carlton in Asia, exported legally by some one else. My understanding is that because it was uk registered I can take it back to Uk duty free, but will need to reregister Mot etc. Ihave all the proof it was registered and on the road in the Uk.
A few things to look at. In Norway first time you go there to live, you can take one car duty free, from a country you lived in legally and subject to owning the car in the home country for 12 months prior to import.
Check if this is an option in Turkey. Also in Norway a citizen or resident can not drive a forign car umless accompanied by the Owner, have a look if Turkey has any rules like this. This was a problem for people in the 80s, oil workers drove over from Newcastle and car became illegal when the work permit went into their passport.
Uk had a rule that residents couldn't drive a forign car of the ferry, I had trouble driving my Norwegian car into Newcastle.
I know a few people who have Singapore bikes in Malaysia, they just pay the road tax and go back every two years for the vehicle test.
The problem isn't the authority, they aren't interested, it's if you have an accident you are uninsured.
Ok not Turkey but may point you down a channel worth investigating such as problems at borders or accident.
My advice, is don't do anything questionable,
caziques said:
Surely, if the vehicle is kept off UK roads you must SORN it. Then at the appropriate time, book an MOT - and I would suspect get some UK insurance.
Hopefully you could get insurance in Turkey with the chassis number.
Once you have a new MOT, start paying RFL again.
Thanks for the reply. I looked into that, it says you can’t SORN a car you’re taking abroad. It Needs to be ‘permanent export’. Hopefully you could get insurance in Turkey with the chassis number.
Once you have a new MOT, start paying RFL again.
I think the important aspect is how you are seen. If you are a tourist, the car simply needs to be taxed and MOT'd in the UK. Turkey will want the insurance to cover there, so either your UK insurance or buy locally.
Of course, your UK insurer is unlikely to be happy about more than 90 days cover - years ago Norwich Union did extend to a year for me without any issue but I'm not sure it would be so relaxed or free now.
Once you become resident in Turkey, it changes. You do often get a year as a resident to drive on foreign plates.
Of course, your UK insurer is unlikely to be happy about more than 90 days cover - years ago Norwich Union did extend to a year for me without any issue but I'm not sure it would be so relaxed or free now.
Once you become resident in Turkey, it changes. You do often get a year as a resident to drive on foreign plates.
TheDrownedApe said:
Seems overly complicated and each doesn't suit the other. Sell in UK and buy it Turkey would seem the best option. Plus atm the interest rate is in your favour
Car prices are ridiculously high in Turkey though. I don’t want to downgrade either. 2010 Vauxhall Insignia is worth £20k there same car is £2.5k here :/TheDrownedApe said:
Seems overly complicated and each doesn't suit the other. Sell in UK and buy it Turkey would seem the best option. Plus atm the interest rate is in your favour
Car prices are ridiculously high in Turkey though. I don’t want to downgrade either. 2010 Vauxhall Insignia is worth £20k there same car is £2.5k here :/Gncx said:
caziques said:
Surely, if the vehicle is kept off UK roads you must SORN it. Then at the appropriate time, book an MOT - and I would suspect get some UK insurance.
Hopefully you could get insurance in Turkey with the chassis number.
Once you have a new MOT, start paying RFL again.
Thanks for the reply. I looked into that, it says you can’t SORN a car you’re taking abroad. It Needs to be ‘permanent export’. Hopefully you could get insurance in Turkey with the chassis number.
Once you have a new MOT, start paying RFL again.
I've been trying to figure out a way to get a car from UK to my house in Italy to use there and leave there. But I don't think it's possible if the time gets over a few months. If it is please let me know.
ATM said:
Even if you continually tax the car in the UK while it is abroad. If the MOT expires you can't re-MOT if the car is abroad. And you can't drive it back to the UK without an MOT. So you'd need to ship or toe the car which starts to get complicated.
I've been trying to figure out a way to get a car from UK to my house in Italy to use there and leave there. But I don't think it's possible if the time gets over a few months. If it is please let me know.
I’ve looked at doing similar in Spain. Can’t see a way of doing it legally. Only loophole potentially is to get a classic that doesn’t require road tax or MOT, and a U.K. insurance policy such as Saga that gives year round European cover. I've been trying to figure out a way to get a car from UK to my house in Italy to use there and leave there. But I don't think it's possible if the time gets over a few months. If it is please let me know.
Even then though you’re breaking the rule requiring notifying of export once the vehicle has been outside of the country for greater than 12 months.
Gncx said:
NGee said:
If a car is exported will it still show up on the DVLA data base as SORN or would they wipe their hands of it once it's left the UK?
That’s exactly what I need to find out I. Will call them tomorrow. DVLA website says if a car is exported then it can’t be SORN. You could SORN it as soon as you leave the UK, but I’m not sure how you would insure it in Turkey. Your UK insurance won’t cover you for two years abroad.
P. ONeill said:
It would show up as being permanently exported.
You could SORN it as soon as you leave the UK, but I’m not sure how you would insure it in Turkey. Your UK insurance won’t cover you for two years abroad.
It would need to be legal in its ‘home’ country - ie taxed and MOTedYou could SORN it as soon as you leave the UK, but I’m not sure how you would insure it in Turkey. Your UK insurance won’t cover you for two years abroad.
1) Tax, MOT and insured it before you go. Run it for two years in Turkey.
Keep it taxed and insured in the UK.
Bring it back, get it MOTd.
In a world going to hell in a hand cart a limited bit of furbo attitude to bureaucracy goes a long way.
2) If the price differential is so extreme. Take an insignia for a year, run it, scrap it. Fly back and buy another one and run it for a year.
That way you are still winning?!
All good fun!
Keep it taxed and insured in the UK.
Bring it back, get it MOTd.
In a world going to hell in a hand cart a limited bit of furbo attitude to bureaucracy goes a long way.
2) If the price differential is so extreme. Take an insignia for a year, run it, scrap it. Fly back and buy another one and run it for a year.
That way you are still winning?!
All good fun!
ATM said:
Even if you continually tax the car in the UK while it is abroad. If the MOT expires you can't re-MOT if the car is abroad. And you can't drive it back to the UK without an MOT. So you'd need to ship or toe the car which starts to get complicated.
I've been trying to figure out a way to get a car from UK to my house in Italy to use there and leave there. But I don't think it's possible if the time gets over a few months. If it is please let me know.
Are you planning on staying more than 90 days in any 180?I've been trying to figure out a way to get a car from UK to my house in Italy to use there and leave there. But I don't think it's possible if the time gets over a few months. If it is please let me know.
If you apply for residency to stay longer you will need to sit an Italian driving test I believe?
Brexit has been of great benefit here and in Europe.
Stuart70 said:
1) Tax, MOT and insured it before you go. Run it for two years in Turkey.
Keep it taxed and insured in the UK.
Bring it back, get it MOTd.
In a world going to hell in a hand cart a limited bit of furbo attitude to bureaucracy goes a long way.
2) If the price differential is so extreme. Take an insignia for a year, run it, scrap it. Fly back and buy another one and run it for a year.
That way you are still winning?!
All good fun!
Dreadful advice to be honest. Keep it taxed and insured in the UK.
Bring it back, get it MOTd.
In a world going to hell in a hand cart a limited bit of furbo attitude to bureaucracy goes a long way.
2) If the price differential is so extreme. Take an insignia for a year, run it, scrap it. Fly back and buy another one and run it for a year.
That way you are still winning?!
All good fun!
The last step in the plan is to have an accident and be personally liable for all costs when the situation comes to light and the policy is voided.
ETA Turkey isn’t EU anyway so Saga (mentioned by a previous poster) don’t cover vehicles there for a start and I doubt any/many others would. In any case it is always in reference to trips. This is permanent to all intents and purposes.
Edited by Dingu on Sunday 31st July 12:08
Dingu said:
Dreadful advice to be honest.
The last step in the plan is to have an accident and be personally liable for all costs when the situation comes to light and the policy is voided.
ETA Turkey isn’t EU anyway so Saga (mentioned by a previous poster) don’t cover vehicles there for a start and I doubt any/many others would. In any case it is always in reference to trips. This is permanent to all intents and purposes.
My Saga comment was in response to ATM and his Italy post, hence quoting him. The last step in the plan is to have an accident and be personally liable for all costs when the situation comes to light and the policy is voided.
ETA Turkey isn’t EU anyway so Saga (mentioned by a previous poster) don’t cover vehicles there for a start and I doubt any/many others would. In any case it is always in reference to trips. This is permanent to all intents and purposes.
Edited by Dingu on Sunday 31st July 12:08
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