Lithuanian/Polish registered cars questions

[blahblop123]

there are quite a few Lithuanian/Polish registered cars around where i live, usually the same cars for the past 2/3 years and it made me wonder.. arn't you supposed to register your car in the UK after 6 months of it being in the UK within a 12 month period ? is there an exception for non-citizens maybe ?

[aleksboch]

Yes you are correct. They're lucky your local council/dvla is lazy for checking up on these things.

[folos]

There's a RHD Bulgarian registered X5 that's been here in Cardiff the last few months. It's got a bad spray job with greensshowing underneath the flaking white.

Still has a sytner sticker in the rear window, I wonder if it's stolen and repatriated?!

[mini1380cc]

aleksboch said:

Yes you are correct. They're lucky your local council/dvla is lazy for checking up on these things.

If the DVLA don't know they are here then how can the make checks?

Years ago I worked with a Spanish girl who brought her car. It was never taxed or MOT'd at any stage during its time here.

[blahblop123]

mini1380cc said:

If the DVLA don't know they are here then how can the make checks?

Years ago I worked with a Spanish girl who brought her car. It was never taxed or MOT'd at any stage during its time here.

i'm sure they do checks and have number plate recognition when they get off at Dover. Don't they take down the details there and then as they check their passports ?

I find this interesting because i was speaking to a Polish friend who said he's had no problems with the plates and the only reason he hasn't changed them is because then he won't be able to take out Polish car insurance, which he claims is £80.. a year.

Edited by blahblop123 on Saturday 12th July 22:21

[Miocene]

All registrations are taken at Border Control... But they ingeniously don't then talk to the DVLA.... Useful

[Nath88n]

blahblop123 said:

i'm sure they do checks and have number plate recognition when they get off at Dover. Don't they take down the details there and then as they check their passports ?

I find this interesting because i was speaking to a Polish friend who said he's had no problems with the plates and the only reason he hasn't changed them is because then he won't be able to take out Polish car insurance, which he claims is £80.. a year.

Edited by blahblop123 on Saturday 12th July 22:21

In Poland car insurance works a bit differently. The car is insured but anyone can drive it, providing they hold a full licence (Polish or EU). Third party is the norm there too.

I'm not aware of the insurance being 'that' cheap there though but it is cheaper than the UK.


The whole thing is a bit of a problem here and EU wide. How many UK cars are driving in Spain or France illegally?

[williamp]

Nath88n said:

blahblop123 said:

i'm sure they do checks and have number plate recognition when they get off at Dover. Don't they take down the details there and then as they check their passports ?

I find this interesting because i was speaking to a Polish friend who said he's had no problems with the plates and the only reason he hasn't changed them is because then he won't be able to take out Polish car insurance, which he claims is £80.. a year.

Edited by blahblop123 on Saturday 12th July 22:21

In Poland car insurance works a bit differently. The car is insured but anyone can drive it, providing they hold a full licence (Polish or EU). Third party is the norm there too.

I'm not aware of the insurance being 'that' cheap there though but it is cheaper than the UK.


The whole thing is a bit of a problem here and EU wide. How many UK cars are driving in Spain or France illegally?

this is PH. It doesnt work both ways. The problem is not Uk registered cars abroad as they are British.

[greygoose]

Miocene said:

All registrations are taken at Border Control... But they ingeniously don't then talk to the DVLA.... Useful

What would the DVLA do with all those registration numbers? How would they distinguish between the French family coming for a weekend in the UK and the Polish man coming to work? How would they even find out what address the vehicle is going to, EU nationals don't provide addresses on arrival in the UK?