Can a foreign national be the RK of a UK vehicle?

[the_lone_wolf]

Short and simple, the title really says it all

Can someone who is not resident in the UK be the registered keeper of a UK vehicle?

I'm suspecting not but can't find a definitive answer

[StefV]

Your title is ambiguous. You can be UK resident and be a foreign national, indeed millions are.

[ManOpener]

Don't see why not. People in the UK can be registered keepers of cars in other countries AFAIK.

[the_lone_wolf]

Sorry, I shall try to be more specific...

My partner is Croatian, non-EU

In March she and I will be settling permanently in the UK and she'll be passing her test and buying a car.

We've seen a car shes quite keen on and were wondering if she was able to buy it and keep it until we come back, obviously no licence means she can't drive it but I can, we have friends in a little village who are happy for us to leave it with them

Just curious really...

[StefV]

And by the way: I am resident in one country (non-EU), and own a car/am registered keeper of a car in another country (EU, non-UK).
All I used to register the car was an address in that country, there was no question of residency.

It is not the UK, but I would have thought that that kind of stuff was EU-level laws?

[the_lone_wolf]

Sounds reasonable, she has a permanent address here in the UK so maybe quite possible

If we decide to get a bit more serious I'll call the DVLA and ask...

[C8H18Head]

Would it be advantageous to bring a Croatian registered car to the UK?

Many European folk seem to enjoy the benefits, especially if one is from a non-road tax, low insurance, MOT every couple of years culture.

I've been tempted to bring a Czech car over for these reasons. That and paying a pittance for personalised plate (one can virtually chose their own plate there, http://www.lidovky.cz/agent007-honza01-vip-znacky-...).

PS. Subject to its ratification by all EU countries and Croatia, then Croatia will become the 28th EU member country on 1 July 2013, if one is patient!

Edited by C8H18Head on Sunday 11th November 20:00

[User33678888]

C8H18Head said:

Would it be advantageous to bring a Croatian registered car to the UK?

Many European folk seem to enjoy the benefits, especially if one is from a non-road tax, low insurance, MOT every couple of years culture.

I've been tempted to bring a Czech car over for these reasons. That and paying a pittance for personalised plate (one can virtually chose their own plate there, http://www.lidovky.cz/agent007-honza01-vip-znacky-...).

Is that lawful for a Brit?

[the_lone_wolf]

C8H18Head said:

PS. Subject to its ratification by all EU countries and Croatia, then Croatia will become the 28th EU member country on 1 July 2013, if one is patient!

Don't we just know it!!

[tom5885]

C8H18Head said:

Would it be advantageous to bring a Croatian registered car to the UK?

Many European folk seem to enjoy the benefits, especially if one is from a non-road tax, low insurance, MOT every couple of years culture.

I've been tempted to bring a Czech car over for these reasons. That and paying a pittance for personalised plate (one can virtually chose their own plate there, http://www.lidovky.cz/agent007-honza01-vip-znacky-...).

PS. Subject to its ratification by all EU countries and Croatia, then Croatia will become the 28th EU member country on 1 July 2013, if one is patient!

Edited by C8H18Head on Sunday 11th November 20:00

Great idea if you're a tourist and you don't want to pay for a hire car, however for any UK resident this is very, very illegal. To put it simply, the exemptions that allows you to drive a foreign registered car simply do not apply, so if you work and live in the UK a Czech number plate is as good as a fake plate you made up yourself or bought from some dodgy "diplay plate" website.

Once the exemption does not apply, you're looking at charges of failing to register the vehicle with the DVLA, failing to tax the vehicle, driving without an MOT, driving without insurance (UK residents must be insured through an authorised UK insurer that is a member of the Motor Insurance Bureau), and driving with number plates that do not comply with the DVLA regulations (because the colour/font will be wrong).

So basically if you *ever* get stopped for a routine check, you're screwed. And if you're unfortunate enough to ever be involved in an accident, even if it isn't your fault, the police will catch you out, seize your car and charge you with a long list of offences.

If you're a UK resident the DVLA recommends you get the car on a trailer to transport it from the port to your off-road driveway/parking bay (unless you have a non-resident friend who can drive it there for you), where it will stay until it has UK plates/tax/MOT/insurance.