Driving unregistered import without plates

[chrisdk]

Apologies for what could be a repeated question but I’m having conflicting advice from someone in the motor trade and Google searches.

I have an imported car sat 80 miles from my home:

• It has an MOT
• It was imported about six weeks ago
• It will be insured on the VIN number
• Docs have been sent to DVLA for first reg (v55 form)
• It has no legal number plates I can use

For personal ease, and lack of availability of the trade plate driver I’ve used before, I was hoping to jump on a train on Sat and bring it straight back home.

I’ve been told I can legally move the car for this purpose but I’m sceptical. Maybe if it didn’t have an MOT and I was driving it to my local MOT centre ? Is this the fatal flaw in my plan ?

Cheers,

Chris

[AF1]

Lack of road tax / trade plates might be the issue.

[chrisdk]

Thanks for the prompt reply - a fairly obvious challenge that I’ve looked past.

I don’t think “the cheque for the VED is in the post, officer” will cut it (even if it is truthful) ?!

[RoadToad84]

If I were in your position, I'd probably take the risk of going to get it, in the knowledge that it's technically illegal, but you've done all the right things - mot, insurance etc. I'd also accept that in the unlikely event of there being an actual police officer on the street to pull me over, then I'd be liable for whatever penalty is due.

[smokey mow]

You can drive an unregistered car to a statutory test but that’s about it.

This is covered in Section 6(2) of The Motor Vehicle (Test) Regulations 1981 which specifically exempts vehicles from needing to comply with Section 44(6) of The Road Traffic Act 1972 (Amended 1988), ie. compliance with the requirements for an MoT and registration etc.

[MattyD803]

Will it have ANY plates on it? If not, I'd suggest you'd probably get pulled by the first police car that notices you.....it's the gamble of whether you'll pass any. If not, your scott free...but i'm not convinced i'd take that risk......80 miles is a fair way / time.

[wyson]

I’d just have it recovered.

https://www.anyvan.com/

[carl_w]

Are transit plates still a thing? Back in the day when I imported an Impreza from NL it came on Dutch "transit plates" which were good to drive home on until I could get it registered (I had to drive to the local VRO and back on them too).

Somebody else locally did the same thing around the same time and drove round on the transit plates for 3 months until he could get the newer registration letter.

[Steviesam]

Just drive it.

Hardly any real police on the roads, and with no number plates the ANPR cameras arent going to be a problem.

[trails]

I used a delivery service to have my import picked up from Southampton and delivered to Essex. It wasn’t that expensive after considering my time and fuel costs.

I think they were called Body Shoppe.

[Saleen836]

Back in 2006 I drove my imported car from Southampton docks to my home (approx 50miles) brand new car no plates but insured on the chasis number, only problem I had was having to leave ID and debit card with the cashier while I filled up with petrol

[Oceanrower]

Just book it in for another MOT…

[QBee]

Why risk the penalty?

Either get it collected by one of the many car transport companies with a one car beaver tail truck,
or if you already have a tow bar on a suitable vehicle, hire a trailer and collect it yourself.
I would get it collected if it was mine.

Could getting the penalty on your licence for getting caught driving it in any way lllegally end up prejudicing future insurance costs?

[Grumps.]

How long does it take to get a reg number assigned these days?

[trails]

Grumps. said:

How long does it take to get a reg number assigned these days?

six weeks for me...last summer.

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

AF1 said:

Lack of road tax / trade plates might be the issue.

I'm no expert, but won't lack of road tax then invalidate insurance if used on road? You maybe able to insure a car on VIN number, but that's possibly for when it's just being left/used at a private property & risk against damage, theft etc, & not road use?

However, if you can legally drive to an MOT Station close to you without plates (& legally still be insured doing this when not having road tax), you may then have to have the MOT time & cost, but then you could get it towed/recovered cheaper from there to your house?

Could you find a dealer with trade plates (if this is an legal option) who will go with you for say an hourly rate?

[carl_w]

TrotCanterGallopCharge said:

I'm no expert, but won't lack of road tax then invalidate insurance if used on road?

Not this again

[QBee]

Another "this again" - how can it be legal to drive a car on the road in the UK without either trade plates or number plates?

[OutInTheShed]

carl_w said:

TrotCanterGallopCharge said:

I'm no expert, but won't lack of road tax then invalidate insurance if used on road?

Not this again

I would imagine anyone insuring a car on the VIN would speak to the broker and understand what was covered?
You can get full comp insurance for e.g. a kit car going to and from an SVA before it's registered.

As I see it, the issue is driving an unregistered, untaxed vehicle on the roads other than for a specifically permitted purpose.
Going to a required test is a permitted purpose.
I'd need convincing that delivery to a home address is specifically permitted.

There's probably a reason why there's a whole industry of delivery firms out there offering the appropriate services.

Either find a man with a flat bed or a tow car and trailer, hire the same, or speak to a local car dealer and ask who they use for deliveries.
There are firms out there who send drivers out with a trade plate to pick up cars.
They tend to employ old blokes with a senior railcard and a clean licence.

The naughty option would be to use some convenient number plates from another vehicle....

[Olivera]

How can it have an MOT without plates or being registered with the DVLA? Do you mean it has the equivalent of an MOT in the exporting country?