Importing and driving a 500 back from Italy - advice
Discussion
FYI - you're no longer allowed to drive a foreign registered car in the UK if you're UK resident..
That means if you arrive at a port, you have to get the car transported from the port to your final destination in the UK. You can't drive it until you register it in the UK.
This might sound like BS but please check with DVLA. I had to go through the same issue myself.
Alternatively, you might be able to do this with a german transit plate as mentioned above, I'd look at that, that may let you drive it home as it's on a temporary plate.
Adding to the problem, it will be very difficult to find a UK insurance company that will cover you from collection back to the UK port. I finally managed to convince Adrian Flux using their internal broker (Red star something) to cover me at the last minute.
I had to do this recently collecting a Mercedes and driving it back from Portugal. Was flabbergasted that you can't simply buy a car anywhere in the EU and take it home. Seems totally nuts.
That means if you arrive at a port, you have to get the car transported from the port to your final destination in the UK. You can't drive it until you register it in the UK.
This might sound like BS but please check with DVLA. I had to go through the same issue myself.
Alternatively, you might be able to do this with a german transit plate as mentioned above, I'd look at that, that may let you drive it home as it's on a temporary plate.
Adding to the problem, it will be very difficult to find a UK insurance company that will cover you from collection back to the UK port. I finally managed to convince Adrian Flux using their internal broker (Red star something) to cover me at the last minute.
I had to do this recently collecting a Mercedes and driving it back from Portugal. Was flabbergasted that you can't simply buy a car anywhere in the EU and take it home. Seems totally nuts.
Have the rules changed on foreign cars being driven by uk nationals ? I just flew out and drove my 550 home in a day when I bought it ( from the Netherlands) then drove it at home with transit plates on.
It really didn't seem that complicated ( I checked everything with DVLA) and insurance wasn't any issue at all.
This was about 2 years ago, so things may have changed.
Good luck bringing home, hope you do a full write up.
This is already is 100 times more interesting than the "which diesel estate shal I buy' threads !!
Good luck and keep us posted
Phib
It really didn't seem that complicated ( I checked everything with DVLA) and insurance wasn't any issue at all.
This was about 2 years ago, so things may have changed.
Good luck bringing home, hope you do a full write up.
This is already is 100 times more interesting than the "which diesel estate shal I buy' threads !!
Good luck and keep us posted
Phib
k-ink said:
Lagerlout said:
I had to do this recently collecting a Mercedes and driving it back from Portugal. Was flabbergasted that you can't simply buy a car anywhere in the EU and take it home. Seems totally nuts.
So much for the free trade in Europe myth!Good job you talked to an expert before buying. Well written funny
You've not been reading the heart over head thread have you?
Trailer it, please. Do you really want to be jousting with 42 tonners for 24hrs of driving in something with the performance of Eddie the Eagle and road presence of a gnat?
You do, don't you. Keep posting and good luck
regards,
Jet
You've not been reading the heart over head thread have you?
Trailer it, please. Do you really want to be jousting with 42 tonners for 24hrs of driving in something with the performance of Eddie the Eagle and road presence of a gnat?
You do, don't you. Keep posting and good luck
regards,
Jet
battered said:
Not at all. Just not "absence of procedure". We have been complaining long enough about foreign EU nationals bringing cars here and driving them untaxed past speed cameras, can't have it all ways.
That's not what is being said here.. A foreign national can still drive their foreign registered car in the UK, untaxed and past speed cameras. But a UK national cannot drive a foreign registered car and that is simply stupid. As longn as it is insured and taxed there is absolutely no reason a UK citizen should not be allowed to drive a foreign registered car in the UK. In any case I have dual nationality so one way or another I'll be driving it to the UK. My plan is to end up past Big Ben if it all works out.. For the finale.jet_noise said:
Good job you talked to an expert before buying. Well written funny
You've not been reading the heart over head thread have you?
Trailer it, please. Do you really want to be jousting with 42 tonners for 24hrs of driving in something with the performance of Eddie the Eagle and road presence of a gnat?
You do, don't you. Keep posting and good luck
regards,
Jet
You've not been reading the heart over head thread have you?
Trailer it, please. Do you really want to be jousting with 42 tonners for 24hrs of driving in something with the performance of Eddie the Eagle and road presence of a gnat?
You do, don't you. Keep posting and good luck
regards,
Jet
Cheers! I won't be doing it in 24 hours, also as it will be filmed. It will be done over 3-4 days.. And I'll be avoiding motorways at all costs
Took her for a drive tonight.. goes really well. Distributor cap was worn, the contacts inside were quite scored. I think it's because the springs were not clamping it down snugly enough so it had some movement. Bent them back a bit and now the new one is secure. Took it for drive, goes really well but heel and toeing seems essential for downshifts.. and the pedals make it very difficult. Any way of adjusting the throttle pedal so it sits higher?
Tomorrow an oil change and a bit more fettling.
Couple of pics from the drive
Tomorrow an oil change and a bit more fettling.
Couple of pics from the drive
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