Driving imported car on UK roads
Discussion
After an exhaustive search on DVLA/VOSA website can anyone assist with the following?
Status
UK import tax paid
Car has been SVA'd
Application to register car in UK is currently with DVLA - so no UK numberplate at present till paperwork is returned
Car is fully insured on the chassis/VIN number
Question
Can the car be driven from it's current off street location, on UK road, to an MOT station displaying a numberplate which has first 6 digits of the VIN?
any guidance greatly appreciated
Status
UK import tax paid
Car has been SVA'd
Application to register car in UK is currently with DVLA - so no UK numberplate at present till paperwork is returned
Car is fully insured on the chassis/VIN number
Question
Can the car be driven from it's current off street location, on UK road, to an MOT station displaying a numberplate which has first 6 digits of the VIN?
any guidance greatly appreciated
I recently MOTd an imported car to get it registered. I drove the car there on the original Colorado plates but the car failed. I was advised by the MOT man to remove the US plates on retest "to avoid confusion - it did not fail on the plates) which I did. I drove to/from the MOT station with no plates but carried the import paperwork just in case, and had no problems. Had a BIB seen me, I could have answered your question fully 
, but I believe no plates is OK for an MOT as you need MOT to get registration.
, but I believe no plates is OK for an MOT as you need MOT to get registration.I know you said you checked the DVLA website but did you see this:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...
"You can drive your vehicle to and from the pre-arranged appointment before the vehicle is registered."
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSell...
"You can drive your vehicle to and from the pre-arranged appointment before the vehicle is registered."
garymorgan said:
Yes to answer your question. You have 12 months to register an import in this country. Up until then you can drive it on it's original number plates. And as has been said you can drive a car between your home or garage to mot station. As long as the car is insured you are ok
Are you sure that you can drive it on original plates for a year? I had US plates on mine, was advised this and was stopped by the polis after 2 weeks. They charged me with 'Fraudulant use of number plates'!!! Didn't stick obviously but they still tried it...ViperPict said:
garymorgan said:
Yes to answer your question. You have 12 months to register an import in this country. Up until then you can drive it on it's original number plates. And as has been said you can drive a car between your home or garage to mot station. As long as the car is insured you are ok
Are you sure that you can drive it on original plates for a year? I had US plates on mine, was advised this and was stopped by the polis after 2 weeks. They charged me with 'Fraudulant use of number plates'!!! Didn't stick obviously but they still tried it...Right ill chip in here.
This is taken from my SVA ESVA booklet by department of transport from when my ute was imported.
"You will be allowed to travel (within Great Britain) to and from the test station (including accredited test laboratories for any required ESVA tests) without the vehicle having been registered and licensed, and, if necessary, to and from a garage or other place where modifications are done to enable compliance with requirements. You are responsible for ensuring that you have insurance cover and that the vehicle complies with the requirements if the Road Vehicles (Construction & use) regulations and the road vehicles lighting regulations when driven to and from the test location. Otherwise driving or keeping an unregistered vehicle on a public road is an offence.
You can also drive an imported car on uk roads for up to one year as long as appropriate insurance is in place before it has to then be registered on UK plates.
Same rule applies to a foreign driving license. you have one year to change it to a UK and pass the UK test.
This is taken from my SVA ESVA booklet by department of transport from when my ute was imported.
"You will be allowed to travel (within Great Britain) to and from the test station (including accredited test laboratories for any required ESVA tests) without the vehicle having been registered and licensed, and, if necessary, to and from a garage or other place where modifications are done to enable compliance with requirements. You are responsible for ensuring that you have insurance cover and that the vehicle complies with the requirements if the Road Vehicles (Construction & use) regulations and the road vehicles lighting regulations when driven to and from the test location. Otherwise driving or keeping an unregistered vehicle on a public road is an offence.
You can also drive an imported car on uk roads for up to one year as long as appropriate insurance is in place before it has to then be registered on UK plates.
Same rule applies to a foreign driving license. you have one year to change it to a UK and pass the UK test.
Umm the only thing on The Single Vehicle Approval Scheme booklet is SVA4 Revs - October 2003.
On the inside cover it says the following information can bee seen on the departments internet site.
www.dft.gov.uk/ under: 1 Roads and vehicles 2. Vehicles 3. Vehicle standards safety 4. Vehicle Imports and Single Vehicle Approval.
On the inside cover it says the following information can bee seen on the departments internet site.
www.dft.gov.uk/ under: 1 Roads and vehicles 2. Vehicles 3. Vehicle standards safety 4. Vehicle Imports and Single Vehicle Approval.
Give me a shout if you want a look as i work in altens so not far from you mate.
but following the link in the booklet i have this is what pops up. I havent looked through it but all the information should be there.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/...
but following the link in the booklet i have this is what pops up. I havent looked through it but all the information should be there.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/...
Edited by MidnightXR6 on Saturday 18th September 17:00
garymorgan said:
Yes to answer your question. You have 12 months to register an import in this country. Up until then you can drive it on it's original number plates. And as has been said you can drive a car between your home or garage to mot station. As long as the car is insured you are ok
+1 
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