Importing a car from Germany into the UK
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I'm currently looking at importing an old German car into the UK.
I've found most of the info I need, I think I understand the process of informing the HMRC, doing the MOT and registering the car. However, I was planning to drive it to the UK from Germany, and I've just read in a doc on gov.uk this:
After notifying HMRC, you must register, tax and insure the vehicle before it is used on the road. A UK resident must not drive a vehicle displaying foreign registration number plates in the UK.
To avoid difficulties, we advise you to:
* transport, rather than drive, your vehicle from the port to your home or its first destination, and
* keep the vehicle off the road until it has been properly registered, taxed and insured.
By avoiding difficulty, I assume they mean not getting my imported car crushed within ten minutes of its arrival in the UK for not being taxed...
Fine, so it seems that I'll have to put it on a trailer when I get it off the ferry in the UK, and we'll tow it to the place where I'm going to get an MOT done. Happy to do that.
The question is, how do I get it to the trailer? Can I drive it off the ferry? If so, how far, and where could I meet a mate with a trailer?
Probably naiive questions but I'm struggling to find the specifics and I've never done anything like this.
Thanks for your help everyone it's much appreciated.
J
Doc, for those interested
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
I'm currently looking at importing an old German car into the UK.
I've found most of the info I need, I think I understand the process of informing the HMRC, doing the MOT and registering the car. However, I was planning to drive it to the UK from Germany, and I've just read in a doc on gov.uk this:
After notifying HMRC, you must register, tax and insure the vehicle before it is used on the road. A UK resident must not drive a vehicle displaying foreign registration number plates in the UK.
To avoid difficulties, we advise you to:
* transport, rather than drive, your vehicle from the port to your home or its first destination, and
* keep the vehicle off the road until it has been properly registered, taxed and insured.
By avoiding difficulty, I assume they mean not getting my imported car crushed within ten minutes of its arrival in the UK for not being taxed...
Fine, so it seems that I'll have to put it on a trailer when I get it off the ferry in the UK, and we'll tow it to the place where I'm going to get an MOT done. Happy to do that.
The question is, how do I get it to the trailer? Can I drive it off the ferry? If so, how far, and where could I meet a mate with a trailer?
Probably naiive questions but I'm struggling to find the specifics and I've never done anything like this.
Thanks for your help everyone it's much appreciated.
J
Doc, for those interested
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...
That is odd.
I imported a car from Ireland and it was on Irish plates. It was about 25 years old when I did this but I had to drive from the ferry directly to the MOT station and then when I (finally) got the MOT I could send the details off to DVLA then they (eventually) sent me a new registration number and I could get plates made up and tax it. Then I picked it all up and drove it home for the first time.
It was insured from the moment I paid the money in Ireland via a specialist broker. I was legally allowed to drive it from point of entry to the booked MOT station as I couldn't get it taxed without reg and MOT. Couldn't register it until it legally safe for the road so needed MOT first.
I imported a car from Ireland and it was on Irish plates. It was about 25 years old when I did this but I had to drive from the ferry directly to the MOT station and then when I (finally) got the MOT I could send the details off to DVLA then they (eventually) sent me a new registration number and I could get plates made up and tax it. Then I picked it all up and drove it home for the first time.
It was insured from the moment I paid the money in Ireland via a specialist broker. I was legally allowed to drive it from point of entry to the booked MOT station as I couldn't get it taxed without reg and MOT. Couldn't register it until it legally safe for the road so needed MOT first.
I imported a citroen a few years ago (about 5 if I remember).
There are no problems in driving off the ferry. But to be legal on UK roads it has to be insured and 'roadworthy'. I took that to mean, much like the MOT arrangements, a single trip - port to home. That still means insuring it on the VIN, which is expensive, unless you already have it insured in the country of origin in your name - I didn't. You can drive it home. But then all this stuff kicks in.
To get through the NOVA process the vehicle has to be insured - again the VIN thing. Depending on age and where it's coming from there may be type certificate or SVA as well. Once through the NOVA process then you can register it.
Once that is done then things get a lot easier - you might even be able to use it. Somewhere in amongst this there is also an MOT - I've forgotten the order! but suspect it is prior to registering it.
For this you need a garage that understands the rules otherwise all sorts of problems await with lighting, seat belts, emissions etc.
There are no problems in driving off the ferry. But to be legal on UK roads it has to be insured and 'roadworthy'. I took that to mean, much like the MOT arrangements, a single trip - port to home. That still means insuring it on the VIN, which is expensive, unless you already have it insured in the country of origin in your name - I didn't. You can drive it home. But then all this stuff kicks in.
To get through the NOVA process the vehicle has to be insured - again the VIN thing. Depending on age and where it's coming from there may be type certificate or SVA as well. Once through the NOVA process then you can register it.
Once that is done then things get a lot easier - you might even be able to use it. Somewhere in amongst this there is also an MOT - I've forgotten the order! but suspect it is prior to registering it.
For this you need a garage that understands the rules otherwise all sorts of problems await with lighting, seat belts, emissions etc.
I imported a citroen a few years ago (about 5 if I remember).
There are no problems in driving off the ferry. But to be legal on UK roads it has to be insured and 'roadworthy'. I took that to mean, much like the MOT arrangements, a single trip - port to home. That still means insuring it on the VIN, which is expensive, unless you already have it insured in the country of origin in your name - I didn't. You can drive it home. But then all this stuff kicks in.
To get through the NOVA process the vehicle has to be insured - again the VIN thing. Depending on age and where it's coming from there may be type certificate or SVA as well. Once through the NOVA process then you can register it.
Once that is done then things get a lot easier - you might even be able to use it. Somewhere in amongst this there is also an MOT - I've forgotten the order! but suspect it is prior to registering it.
For this you need a garage that understands the rules otherwise all sorts of problems await with lighting, seat belts, emissions etc.
There are no problems in driving off the ferry. But to be legal on UK roads it has to be insured and 'roadworthy'. I took that to mean, much like the MOT arrangements, a single trip - port to home. That still means insuring it on the VIN, which is expensive, unless you already have it insured in the country of origin in your name - I didn't. You can drive it home. But then all this stuff kicks in.
To get through the NOVA process the vehicle has to be insured - again the VIN thing. Depending on age and where it's coming from there may be type certificate or SVA as well. Once through the NOVA process then you can register it.
Once that is done then things get a lot easier - you might even be able to use it. Somewhere in amongst this there is also an MOT - I've forgotten the order! but suspect it is prior to registering it.
For this you need a garage that understands the rules otherwise all sorts of problems await with lighting, seat belts, emissions etc.
Thanks everyone.
I called the DVLA today to get a bit of clarification.
I suspect things have changed- or got a little stricter.
The lady said that whether or not it is insured, it can't be driven by a UK resident on it's German plates. End of story. I asked what people usually do and she said that most people would use a professional importer (fair enough) or would put it on a trailer to finish the UK part of the journey.
She also said that people used to drive it out of the port to the nearest services where they would put it on a trailer - but you can't get away with that now as there are number plate recognition cameras at the port exits.
She said that you have to contact the port to get permission to meet the vehicle and get it on the trailer before leaving the port itself.
Armed with that info I contacted Eurotunnel and Dover port. Eurotunnel told me that as soon as you leave them at Folkestone you are on public roads and so you can't do what I want to do. Dover port told me to ask the ferry provider... so I have asked P&O, waiting for a response.
It may well end up being a case of taking a trailer over to Calais, loading the car on then crossing back. Or get a German friend to do the UK bit of the driving(!) but that seems a bit ridiculous.
Once in the country, the order seems to be
I called the DVLA today to get a bit of clarification.
I suspect things have changed- or got a little stricter.
The lady said that whether or not it is insured, it can't be driven by a UK resident on it's German plates. End of story. I asked what people usually do and she said that most people would use a professional importer (fair enough) or would put it on a trailer to finish the UK part of the journey.
She also said that people used to drive it out of the port to the nearest services where they would put it on a trailer - but you can't get away with that now as there are number plate recognition cameras at the port exits.
She said that you have to contact the port to get permission to meet the vehicle and get it on the trailer before leaving the port itself.
Armed with that info I contacted Eurotunnel and Dover port. Eurotunnel told me that as soon as you leave them at Folkestone you are on public roads and so you can't do what I want to do. Dover port told me to ask the ferry provider... so I have asked P&O, waiting for a response.
It may well end up being a case of taking a trailer over to Calais, loading the car on then crossing back. Or get a German friend to do the UK bit of the driving(!) but that seems a bit ridiculous.
Once in the country, the order seems to be
- Inform HMRC within 14 days using NOVA, establish if there is any tax (not for me) and if so, pay
- Get MOT using VIN
- armed with MOT, register car and tax it
j-j- said:
Thanks everyone.
I called the DVLA today to get a bit of clarification.
I suspect things have changed- or got a little stricter.
The lady said that whether or not it is insured, it can't be driven by a UK resident on it's German plates. End of story. I asked what people usually do and she said that most people would use a professional importer (fair enough) or would put it on a trailer to finish the UK part of the journey.
She also said that people used to drive it out of the port to the nearest services where they would put it on a trailer - but you can't get away with that now as there are number plate recognition cameras at the port exits.
She said that you have to contact the port to get permission to meet the vehicle and get it on the trailer before leaving the port itself.
Armed with that info I contacted Eurotunnel and Dover port. Eurotunnel told me that as soon as you leave them at Folkestone you are on public roads and so you can't do what I want to do. Dover port told me to ask the ferry provider... so I have asked P&O, waiting for a response.
It may well end up being a case of taking a trailer over to Calais, loading the car on then crossing back. Or get a German friend to do the UK bit of the driving(!) but that seems a bit ridiculous.
Once in the country, the order seems to be
an alternative would be have a friend accompany you who wasn't a UK resident? I think this is up 2 years in the UK so you might know someoneI called the DVLA today to get a bit of clarification.
I suspect things have changed- or got a little stricter.
The lady said that whether or not it is insured, it can't be driven by a UK resident on it's German plates. End of story. I asked what people usually do and she said that most people would use a professional importer (fair enough) or would put it on a trailer to finish the UK part of the journey.
She also said that people used to drive it out of the port to the nearest services where they would put it on a trailer - but you can't get away with that now as there are number plate recognition cameras at the port exits.
She said that you have to contact the port to get permission to meet the vehicle and get it on the trailer before leaving the port itself.
Armed with that info I contacted Eurotunnel and Dover port. Eurotunnel told me that as soon as you leave them at Folkestone you are on public roads and so you can't do what I want to do. Dover port told me to ask the ferry provider... so I have asked P&O, waiting for a response.
It may well end up being a case of taking a trailer over to Calais, loading the car on then crossing back. Or get a German friend to do the UK bit of the driving(!) but that seems a bit ridiculous.
Once in the country, the order seems to be
- Inform HMRC within 14 days using NOVA, establish if there is any tax (not for me) and if so, pay
- Get MOT using VIN
- armed with MOT, register car and tax it
got personal breakdown cover? could you break down at the terminal and need recovery to home....
Earthdweller said:
The ANPR cameras would not recongnise the German plates she is talking nonsense
More than that, I'd be pretty impressed if those cameras were able to detect whether or not the driver was a UK national! Conversely, nobody from Europe wold ever be able to bring their car over here. Her response sounds made-up at best!
Freddie Fitch said:
I suspect that this has been answered before but where can I find the exact wording of the UK or other law or regulation that specifically prohibits me driving my French registered car in UK as a UK resident?
closest i can find on quick searchhttps://www.staffordshire.police.uk/media/4765/INF...
Very interesting question.
There are routine road test articles where a British journalist is test driving a car registered on foreign plates. Now, assuming they haven't moved abroad for the purposes of the DVLA, how does that work? I'm sure I even saw a Top Gear or Grand Tour where one of them was driving a foreign registered car in the UK. And similar, maybe on Youtube with Mr Harris.
There are routine road test articles where a British journalist is test driving a car registered on foreign plates. Now, assuming they haven't moved abroad for the purposes of the DVLA, how does that work? I'm sure I even saw a Top Gear or Grand Tour where one of them was driving a foreign registered car in the UK. And similar, maybe on Youtube with Mr Harris.
I’d imagine she has got confused with the rules around migrant workers and settled status
You can drive a foreign vehicle whilst living in the Uk, and you can have a car on foreign plates for up to 12 months ( depending on circs, student, short term contract etc)
However, once resident ( residency 6 months or moved permanently) you have to re register your vehicle if you are bringing it in with you
None of that affects you because you are bringing a vehicle in with the intention to immediately re register it . You have no intent to hide the import or evade any duty
Technically she has a point. As a British resident your car must be UK registered ( look at all the east Europeans driving illegally)
I wouldn’t worry, the police will have no interest nor will customs at the port
If you are stopped just be honest and tell them what you are doing .. it’s not an issue
You can drive a foreign vehicle whilst living in the Uk, and you can have a car on foreign plates for up to 12 months ( depending on circs, student, short term contract etc)
However, once resident ( residency 6 months or moved permanently) you have to re register your vehicle if you are bringing it in with you
None of that affects you because you are bringing a vehicle in with the intention to immediately re register it . You have no intent to hide the import or evade any duty
Technically she has a point. As a British resident your car must be UK registered ( look at all the east Europeans driving illegally)
I wouldn’t worry, the police will have no interest nor will customs at the port
If you are stopped just be honest and tell them what you are doing .. it’s not an issue
In order to drive a car from Germany to the UK you would need to purchase 'Ausfuhrkennzeichen' which is the German export plates with the red band showing their expiry. These can only be purchased provided the car has a current TUV (MOT) and will do so on the day the plates are set to expire. The plates can be purchased with third party insurance valid throughout Europe including the UK (for now) although it's probably advisable to insure the car on the VIN for a belts and braces approach once it arrives in the UK. Insurance providers I have spoken will only cover the VIN once in the UK.
Technically at that point the car is not 'German registered' it is 'registered for export' and you see plenty of vehicles on the roads sporting these around the ports and I know a good number of people doing this regularly for popular vehicle types. Germany is the easiest country for vehicle exportation in Europe, as you would expect.
And yes, for instance Jeremy Clarkson drove an Italian Registered Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio around Wales:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9FmrRLaJE
Technically at that point the car is not 'German registered' it is 'registered for export' and you see plenty of vehicles on the roads sporting these around the ports and I know a good number of people doing this regularly for popular vehicle types. Germany is the easiest country for vehicle exportation in Europe, as you would expect.
And yes, for instance Jeremy Clarkson drove an Italian Registered Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio around Wales:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9FmrRLaJE
AddieB said:
In order to drive a car from Germany to the UK you would need to purchase 'Ausfuhrkennzeichen' which is the German export plates with the red band showing their expiry. These can only be purchased provided the car has a current TUV (MOT) and will do so on the day the plates are set to expire. The plates can be purchased with third party insurance valid throughout Europe including the UK (for now) although it's probably advisable to insure the car on the VIN for a belts and braces approach once it arrives in the UK. Insurance providers I have spoken will only cover the VIN once in the UK.
Technically at that point the car is not 'German registered' it is 'registered for export' and you see plenty of vehicles on the roads sporting these around the ports and I know a good number of people doing this regularly for popular vehicle types. Germany is the easiest country for vehicle exportation in Europe, as you would expect.
And yes, for instance Jeremy Clarkson drove an Italian Registered Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio around Wales:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9FmrRLaJE
I thought Clarkson wasn't a British resident (doesn't he live on the Isle of Man?).Technically at that point the car is not 'German registered' it is 'registered for export' and you see plenty of vehicles on the roads sporting these around the ports and I know a good number of people doing this regularly for popular vehicle types. Germany is the easiest country for vehicle exportation in Europe, as you would expect.
And yes, for instance Jeremy Clarkson drove an Italian Registered Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio around Wales:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9FmrRLaJE
AlexiusG55 said:
I thought Clarkson wasn't a British resident (doesn't he live on the Isle of Man?).
I suspect a lot of his neighbours in Chipping Norton wished he lived on the Isle of Man, rather than in The Cotswolds - Especially when he deliberately blew his house up to build a bigger house! 
So, having chosen the car, I have realised that it is slightly over 40 years old and so is exempt from needing an MOT.
Given that the MOT is the main reason that I would need to have a car in the UK to get it registered, is there anything to stop me registering the car with the DVLA now based on the VIM, waiting until I have the reg then get some plates, and take them with me to Germany - driving it back with the new UK plates on? I've probably overlooked something.
Given that the MOT is the main reason that I would need to have a car in the UK to get it registered, is there anything to stop me registering the car with the DVLA now based on the VIM, waiting until I have the reg then get some plates, and take them with me to Germany - driving it back with the new UK plates on? I've probably overlooked something.
j-j- said:
Thanks Chippy.
Can I do those things without bringing the car into the UK though? Neither require proof that the car is in the UK at the time do they?
Not sure about the Nova ?? from a legal point. Can I do those things without bringing the car into the UK though? Neither require proof that the car is in the UK at the time do they?
"You have 14 days to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after you bring a vehicle into the UK permanently. You cannot register the vehicle until you’ve done this."
But yes as long as you have the german log book (orginal not a copy) then yes
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