Importing a car without any documents into the UK – any expe

[muhnkee2]

Hey folks,
I am originally from New Zealand, but I am long-time resident in England.
My grandfather (back in New Zealand) was restoring a 1956 Morris Minor 2 door (8hp side valve engine) before he died in 1990. On his death the title to the car was transferred to my grandmother, but my grandfather wanted the car to be given to me, my grandmother doesn’t contest this, she just happens to be the last physical owner.
The car sat in various garages and paddocks until last year when I finally saved up enough money to get it restored.
Here it is as of yesterday, in a work shop in New Zealand:



So it will be finished within weeks, and I would then like to bring it to the UK so I can use it as my daily driver.
Here is where I would like some wisdom and advice. The car is effectively un-documented, NZ changed its registration database back in 1991, and as it wasn’t registered or on the road at the time, the title was not transferred onto the new database. So there is no record of it existing in NZ.
My initial thought was to get it registered and on the road in NZ, then pretty much straight away ship it over to here, but I am running into a lot of difficulty trying to get it registered in my name, as I don’t have a NZ address or licence. So I wondered if I could just ship the car to the UK and start the registration process over here instead.
In terms of documentation I have letter signed by grandmother transferring ownership to me, and some historical registration documents, which show its history up until 1990, but no up to date documentation.
So does anyone have any experience in bringing a car into the UK which is unregistered and undocumented?
Any tips or wisdom greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg

[Crafty_]

Does NZ not have a procedure to re-register the car on the new system ?
Given you have old registration documents I would have thought they could do that ?

I don't think you will need a NZ registration to register it here - You will need the tax form that proves you've paid import duty on it (I assume its liable). From there thats all you need AFAIK, you used to have to have an MOT but of course thats not needed any more.

[Tyre Smoke]

AFAIK, if you can prove the age of the vehicle, your right of title, and pay the appropriate fee to the local DVLA office, you will get a non transferable age related plate.

Doubt if there is any import tax to pay on it to be honest. Also contact the Moggie Minor OC with the chassis number, they might be able to provide any back up documentation to assist your case - assuming it was built over here and shipped to NZ.

[neutral 3]

Re being built in New Zealand, from around 1966, the Austin Gipsy S.4 4x4 was being assembled from ckd packs ( but with a small local content ) at the Petone plant.

I'm guessing that other BMC cars were also / had allready been built up in New Zealand as well. ?

[Poison Tom 96]

Tyre Smoke said:

AFAIK, if you can prove the age of the vehicle, your right of title, and pay the appropriate fee to the local DVLA office, you will get a non transferable age related plate.

Doubt if there is any import tax to pay on it to be honest. Also contact the Moggie Minor OC with the chassis number, they might be able to provide any back up documentation to assist your case - assuming it was built over here and shipped to NZ.

If the OP contacts POMMreg on Here details may be available. HTH

[coetzeeh]

When I imported a 1967 Alfa Romeo from South Africa, the local DVLA office in Barnet refused to register the car in the UK without a registration document (they were very helpful otherwise) - I had to have this couriered over and go back to the DVLA - having said that, the registration document did not have my detail on it - it was used to confirm details of the car.

My guess would be that the old reg docs you have (prior to the changes you mention in 1991) would suffice.

I would suggest you go to a local DVLA facility and speak to a supervisor.

You my also want to check on the requirements to obtain an export permit in NZ - in SA you do need the registration documents to get a permit.

Good luck - lovely car!