Vehicle SORN'd While Abroad
Discussion
Spydaman said:
Not sure whether this is the correct forum for this but here goes. Daughter is doing a summer season in France and has taken her car with her. The tax has run out and rather than re-tax it we've SORN'd it as its not being driven on the road in the UK. Is this legal?
A SORN declaration is only valid if the vehicle is kept in Great Britain.And if the vehicle cannot be declared SORN, then it must be taxed.
The vehicle can only be used in the foreign country for a maximum of 6 months; at which point it has to be officially imported, or taken out.
Insurance is also an issue. Most "sheds" in the UK are a maximum of 90 days in any 1 year and no more than 30 days at any one trip. SAGA are 365 days per year but as it's your daughter, and SAGA have a 55 age limit, then that won't be her company. Liverpool Victoria do 185 days per year. There are a few specialist insurers that will give full Euro cover.....at a price. Check with your company.
Insurance is also an issue. Most "sheds" in the UK are a maximum of 90 days in any 1 year and no more than 30 days at any one trip. SAGA are 365 days per year but as it's your daughter, and SAGA have a 55 age limit, then that won't be her company. Liverpool Victoria do 185 days per year. There are a few specialist insurers that will give full Euro cover.....at a price. Check with your company.
Vehicle needs to be "legal" in its country of registration as already been posted. The Policia Local on the costa del sol have recently been shown that you can check MOT/Tax status on line and have been having a field day lifting cars which aren't taxed/on sorn or have no MOT. Some vehicles are obvious sheds that haven't been legal for years and years, but a few in the last Month have been newish and on sorn, including a couple of Ferrari's and Range Rovers, who obviously thought it would save them a few £££, but has now caused a whole load of headaches getting them back, plus uplift and storage charges.
Note that MOT does not equal roadworthiness - so long as the vehicle is capable of getting an MOT on return, the fact it might expire while the car is abroad is not an issue. Driving it when arriving back in the UK might be, and an MOT should be booked to cover the return leg to the MOT garage (which can be nice and close to home)
If the car is there for more than 6 months it should indeed be registered in the country in which it resides, but that usually involves making significant changes to the vehicle as, for example, beam deflectors shouldn't pass an MOT in the host country if the traffic drives on the opposite side of the road and if the car only has 1 rear fog light it'll be on the 'wrong' side.
To cover any potential issues with MOT if it will expire while away I'd get one done before going, just to allow you to produce an in-date document if pulled over.
If insurance is likely to be a significant issue it might be better to buy a snotter in France and insure it there, thus avoiding most of the issues
If the car is there for more than 6 months it should indeed be registered in the country in which it resides, but that usually involves making significant changes to the vehicle as, for example, beam deflectors shouldn't pass an MOT in the host country if the traffic drives on the opposite side of the road and if the car only has 1 rear fog light it'll be on the 'wrong' side.
To cover any potential issues with MOT if it will expire while away I'd get one done before going, just to allow you to produce an in-date document if pulled over.
If insurance is likely to be a significant issue it might be better to buy a snotter in France and insure it there, thus avoiding most of the issues
Adrian E said:
for example, beam deflectors shouldn't pass an MOT in the host country if the traffic drives on the opposite side of the road
Why not? They do here...https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...
Tester's manual said:
Masks or converter kits may be fitted to right hand dip headlamps to temporarily alter the lamp for use in the UK by removing the beam ‘kick-up’ to the right.
A headlamp altered in this way is not a reason for rejection, if:
a. the headlamp aim is not rejected for the reasons listed under diagram 1 (except that the top of the beam image will be a straight line)
b. the light output is not unduly reduced - not usually a problem with commercially produced kits
c. the mask or converter is securely attached.
A headlamp altered in this way is not a reason for rejection, if:
a. the headlamp aim is not rejected for the reasons listed under diagram 1 (except that the top of the beam image will be a straight line)
b. the light output is not unduly reduced - not usually a problem with commercially produced kits
c. the mask or converter is securely attached.
TooMany2cvs said:
Adrian E said:
for example, beam deflectors shouldn't pass an MOT in the host country if the traffic drives on the opposite side of the road
Not sure the same applies in other European countries for registration purposes. Certainly in Germany and Spain they weren't acceptable....
ETA - thinking about it, I believe it's the difference between what's required to honestly and legally state that the vehicle fully complies with C&U requirements and RVLR when registering the vehicle, vs what's acceptable at MOT as a minimum roadworthiness requirement.
Edited by Adrian E on Wednesday 7th June 14:12
Adrian E said:
It used to be the case here that to register an imported vehicle you had to produce evidence of the lights complying with left hand traffic, including replacement headlights if necessary.
There may be a difference for <10yo cars that are being imported with a CoC - but for 10yo+, it's only MOT that's needed.Likewise, the speedo needs to checked as dual MPH/KPH marked for import into the UK under 10yo, but Mr MOT doesn't care.
I had to change lights on a 2010 Rav last year in April in order to import. MoT guy bit of a stickler, but he went online to check. Stated that h/lamp stickers were now ok, but that lamp must have an uptick (in correction direction obviously).
I guess stickers allowed to correct other issues of blinding lights, but the new requirement (2016) was to mandate an uptick. That may seem a bit catch 22 but he checked and that was the new law.
I guess stickers allowed to correct other issues of blinding lights, but the new requirement (2016) was to mandate an uptick. That may seem a bit catch 22 but he checked and that was the new law.
CABC said:
I had to change lights on a 2010 Rav last year in April in order to import. MoT guy bit of a stickler, but he went online to check. Stated that h/lamp stickers were now ok, but that lamp must have an uptick (in correction direction obviously).
I guess stickers allowed to correct other issues of blinding lights, but the new requirement (2016) was to mandate an uptick. That may seem a bit catch 22 but he checked and that was the new law.
2010 is <10yo, so was that an EU import with CoC, or was it IVA?I guess stickers allowed to correct other issues of blinding lights, but the new requirement (2016) was to mandate an uptick. That may seem a bit catch 22 but he checked and that was the new law.
Well I would bother. Depends on your level of risk acceptance and the amount of hassle you are prepared to put up with. Having participated in several offspring-abroad adventures they generate enough hassle with the unexpected issues so I'd certainly do a simple thing like make sure the car is legal to use by taxing it!
johnwilliams77 said:
Spydaman said:
Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like we better tax it.
I wouldn't bother. I know a number of people who have done this with no issue.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff