No Tax, No MOT coming back into the UK

No Tax, No MOT coming back into the UK

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Discussion

Mark in Ireland

Original Poster:

315 posts

249 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Quick question, I'm bring back my motorbike which has been in storage getting rebuilt over in Ireland, its been out of tax for 3 years on a SORN. I have insurance and will be travelling back over to the UK on an evening ferry to get a MOT then Tax the next day, however, as I live 120 miles from the landing port and the MOT station is local to my home, and I will have it booked in for the following day, am I in breach of the Law. I plan to drive direct from the ferry to home, sleep, then straight to the MOT station.
Comments please...

wolf1

3,081 posts

251 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
I would say it is illegal as you are not going straight to the test centre. I'm not sure but I was informed that you can't take the micheal with the distance to the test centre either.

pdV6

16,442 posts

262 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
I think its very unlikely you'd get caught (unless you passed an APNR operation in full swing).

To be legal, though, have you got a mate with a trailer who could meet you from the ferry?

lanciachris

3,357 posts

242 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Really? I took my old lancia to the test centre 250 miles away.... And surprise surprise they didnt have the parts to fix it right there. Ah well.

BiB didnt seem at all bothered by this.

pdV6

16,442 posts

262 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
lanciachris said:
Really? I took my old lancia to the test centre 250 miles away.... And surprise surprise they didnt have the parts to fix it right there. Ah well.

BiB didnt seem at all bothered by this.

I think you can get away with it if you can demonstrate a particular need to go to a specific centre (specialist, maybe?). Other than that, I reckon they'd be unlikely to do you unless your car had a pretty serious fault that made it obviously dangerous to drive on the road.

steff

1,420 posts

264 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Hire a transit for the day?

Cooperman

4,428 posts

251 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Bring it back on Irish plates and insurance and be completely camera immune!

Mark in Ireland

Original Poster:

315 posts

249 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Couldn't afford the Import tax and insurance...they have it really bad over here. Government scams more than the UK...if that was possible!

cptsideways

13,551 posts

253 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Just book into an MOT station near where your going. Legal then.

Mark in Ireland

Original Poster:

315 posts

249 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
The ferry time means the garages will be closed at my landing port.
Looks like I'll have to be a law breaker and chance it. Bike is 100% absolutely no defects, insured and when I tax it I'll be charged from the 1st of Oct so no back tax as such lost.

cen

593 posts

236 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
I not 100% sure but I believe the Irish have a vehicle ministry of transport test. If this is so and the bike is without defect why not aquire a test certificate there. Then book a test with your local testing station by appointment.

The Irish drive on our roads by use of their own test certificate. Why can you also not drive a UK vehicle on the same certificate.

This way you would have been deemed to have shown due diligence in your attempts to bring the bike back in a safe and proper manner.

droopsnoot

11,971 posts

243 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Perhaps he can't get an Irish MOT certificate if the bike isn't registered in Ireland.

On the insured thing, isn't it the case that without an MOT, you're not actually insured as the bike isn't technically roadworthy? I suppose this is down to the individual that stops you. (Looking on the black side for a moment).

wiggy001

6,545 posts

272 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
If it is booked in for an MOT near to your home, and that's where you are heading, then surely in the very unlucky event that you get stopped, you simply state that you are travelling to your pre-booked mot.

Only thing is you are about 12 hours or so early (just to make sure you don't miss the appointment...)

Let's face it though, you're more likely to see Satan ice-skating to work down the M4 than see any trafpol, let alone get stopped.

Mark in Ireland

Original Poster:

315 posts

249 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
MOT's have just been introduced over here for cars, only Irish registered, but bikes don't need one! I'm thinking of leaving the bike this weekend and next weekend going up across the border to Northern Ireland and getting it tested there. I know their car MOT's are supposed to be different to the UK, stricter testing so I'm told but there is only a few things to test on a bike.
I'll check what the weather forcast is like...raining, leave the bike, sunny..take a chance.

Mark in Ireland

Original Poster:

315 posts

249 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Just found out that you have to use dedicated MOT stations in the north, and booking times can be up to a 6 week wait....so its going to have to be done at home in the UK! Wish me luck....

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

245 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Mark.

Go for it.

Make the initial appointment as you originally stated and get the MOT and Excise the day after landing.

Keep your ferry ticket as proof of date you enter England.

If you are stopped between Ferry - MOT/Tax then explain the position. Check can be made at Testing Garage that you have an appointment.

Regarding Tax, if stopped then Tax is a Revenue offence Plod will send form to DVLA about the stop by which time you will have renewed the Excise licence and DVLA records will show this when form arrives. All they are interested in getting in the revenue and you will have paid back duty to beginning of month so they don't lose out.

Under the circumstances you describe it would be a very constipated authority to take the matter further and if it did go to to Court I doubt they would convict.

DVD

kenp

654 posts

249 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
There are a couple of misconceptions. Eire is in the EU and therefore there is no import duty. A vehicle does not require a UK registration in order to take an MOT.
What you are doing is purchasing an inspection report on a piece of kit according to standards laid down by the M of T. You could take your sideboard if it had wipers and indicators.

>> Edited by kenp on Wednesday 13th October 21:20

wolf1

3,081 posts

251 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Some of you are giving very BAD advise! If the bike has no MOT then this will invalidate the insurance as well. So now if caught he will get done for No Tax, No MOT and No Insurance. It would be even more complicated if he was unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident.

DON'T DO IT! GET A TRAILER OR VAN AND TRANSPORT IT THAT WAY. It's far better than possibly losing your licence or having your pants sued off in the event of an accident.


PS Forgot to add the penalty for driving/riding a SORN declared vehicle on the public highway is at the best extremly large financialy.

>> Edited by wolf1 on Wednesday 13th October 22:12

g_attrill

7,683 posts

247 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
wolf1 said:
Some of you are giving very BAD advise! If the bike has no MOT then this will invalidate the insurance as well.

None of my insurance policies have required an MOT. For instance, how would you drive to an MOT test in a car with an expired MOT?

Gareth

wolf1

3,081 posts

251 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
g_attrill said:


wolf1 said:
Some of you are giving very BAD advise! If the bike has no MOT then this will invalidate the insurance as well.



None of my insurance policies have required an MOT. For instance, how would you drive to an MOT test in a car with an expired MOT?

Gareth


Maybe not but if you had an accident and were unable to prove that the vehicle was MOTd then they would invalidate your policy. Still doesn't get out of the what if you had an accident point now does it!

No matter how much it getts flowered up it would be ILLEGAL to do what he has asked. No if ands or buts just ILLEGAL end of story!

>> Edited by wolf1 on Wednesday 13th October 23:27