Insurance.

[Dog lover]

Can any experienced traveller tell me if it is possible to travel as we intend (2-3 years) in europe without coming back to the UK to MOT the vehicle for insurance. Is there a company who will insure without an MOT as this is only a UK requirement? And while I'm on can we take our dog with us?

 

[Deleted member 207]

There are some previous threads about vehicle registration and road tax.

Whatever you do its an absolute must to get everything in writing from DVLA.

This was a response from the DVLA to an email posted on another overland travel website.

"Thank you for your email.

You would not be able to make a SORN declaration with regard to your vehicle because it is out of the country. SORN can only be declared on a vehicle when it is laid up within the confines of the UK.

Because you would not be able to tax your vehicle nor declare it off road let alone permanently export it you would need to write a letter into us. It would be necessary for you to quote the registration number and for you to explain what you intend to do with the vehicle over the next couple of years or so. You can even ask for this correspondence to be placed on the vehicle record so that you are not bothered about any fines or penalties with regard to this vehicle.

The address to write or fax into is;
Vehicle Customer Services, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA.
Fax No. 01792 - 782378.

I hope that this information has clarified matters for you.
Regards
David S Evans
Motoring : Directgov"

 

[AndyC]

Can any experienced traveller tell me if it is possible to travel as we intend (2-3 years) in europe without coming back to the UK to MOT the vehicle for insurance. Is there a company who will insure without an MOT as this is only a UK requirement? And while I'm on can we take our dog with us?

It's my understanding that, at least within the EU, visiting vehicles must be maintained in a 'road legal' condition as if they were in their home country. This means, for a UK registered vehicle, it must have a current MOT and road tax.

I think it's unlikely that you will find a company willing to insure a vehicle travelling around Europe for 2-3 years without returning to the UK.

Yes, you can take your dog, the DEFRA website explains about bringing it back into the UK.

AndyC

 

[Wintermute]

Can any experienced traveller tell me if it is possible to travel as we intend (2-3 years) in europe without coming back to the UK to MOT the vehicle for insurance. Is there a company who will insure without an MOT as this is only a UK requirement? And while I'm on can we take our dog with us?

I don't have directly personal experience with this but my Grandparents live most of the time in France and part of the time in the UK, and they have a UK registered motorhome which they are in the process of registering in France specifically because they can't get insurance on it without MOTing it every year, which means bringing it back to the UK once a year just for that. Right now they've let the MOT lapse as they are getting it registered over there, which means they are in limbo - it's not MOTd so no UK insurance, and it's not registered in France yet, so no French insurance. My Gran was complaining about it to me because the weather has been so nice and they can't use it (legally)

 

[AndyC]

I don't have directly personal experience with this but my Grandparents live most of the time in France and part of the time in the UK, and they have a UK registered motorhome which they are in the process of registering in France specifically because they can't get insurance on it without MOTing it every year, which means bringing it back to the UK once a year just for that. Right now they've let the MOT lapse as they are getting it registered over there, which means they are in limbo - it's not MOTd so no UK insurance, and it's not registered in France yet, so no French insurance. My Gran was complaining about it to me because the weather has been so nice and they can't use it (legally)

I did read somewhere that there was a French insurer which would insure a UK registered motorhome for a short period, as long as it had a Controle Technique (French MOT). I understand that it's virtually impossible to register a UK built motorhome in France, continental built ones are much easier apparently.

AndyC

 

[Geoff.W]

I did read somewhere that there was a French insurer which would insure a UK registered motorhome for a short period, as long as it had a Controle Technique (French MOT). I understand that it's virtually impossible to register a UK built motorhome in France, continental built ones are much easier apparently.

AndyC

The problem with trying to register a UK motorhome in France is the position of the habitation door. This MUST NOT be on the (French) offside ie. L.H. side whereas most UK ones ARE on the (UK) nearside therefore on the L.H. side which is not acceptable in France.

 

[Wintermute]

I did read somewhere that there was a French insurer which would insure a UK registered motorhome for a short period, as long as it had a Controle Technique (French MOT). I understand that it's virtually impossible to register a UK built motorhome in France, continental built ones are much easier apparently.

AndyC

They are trying to get the Controle Technique right now, as far as I know they are having to change everything over like headlights. It's an older van (1989 VW Transporter) and finding the parts is not easy I believe.

The problem with trying to register a UK motorhome in France is the position of the habitation door. This MUST NOT be on the (French) offside ie. L.H. side whereas most UK ones ARE on the (UK) nearside therefore on the L.H. side which is not acceptable in France.

.... this might also be what's taking so long. The side door is going to be on the road side in France obviously.

 

[Deleted member 207]

These people will sell you green card insurance - as at mid last year, you'd need to double check again. That gives the legal minimum of third party property and injury insurance throughout the green zone countries (Iceland to the Pacific coast of Russia, Norway to Morocco). If you want insurance for the vehicle then its a hunt to find someone who will insure you for that length of time for fully comp or fire & theft - would have thought that it would be easy money for an insurer if you had the the third party risk covered elsewhere.

ARISA Assurances S.A. - Luxembourg 22Eu a month

Also German ADAC at about 22Eu a month - the German AA/RAC, any of their offices will do it over the counter.

Knopf Tours do the same thing but have a minimum 6 month and an admin fee of a few hundred Euros - based in Germany. Email details to them and they mail back the green card.

Council Of Bureaux › Public Area has all the info you need on the green card zones.

Once you are outside the green card zone, you will have to buy "border insurance" which varies greatly in cost and cover available - most times its just another tourist tax, with very little insurance. Very few European based insurers will take the risk of providing comprehensive insurance in non green card zone countries.

The RAC travel dept has some very helpful staff who know about long term overseas travel, customs carnets, road tax and MOT issues.

 

[tsherar]

how did they get on

Hi,
How did your gparents get on with registering their motorhome, and where did they register it?
thanks terry

 

[mlynnf50]

Hello, our motor home is insured here in France with Groupama as are all our cars. We have a french CT on them and all you need to get a ct is you log book. we have had the french insurance on them since we moved here 5 years ago. dont know if that helps. good luck

 

[biggirafe]

Hi we have been looking into similar as we want to travel for about 1 year, We have been unable to find any uk based insurance company that will provide insurance for the vehicle to be driven if the MOT lapses. They will insure it if we are not on the road, ie having repairs carried out to get a new MOT but absolutley not if we are driving in europe when it lapses. because of this we have planned our route to bring us back into the UK at around the time we need to Tax and MOT the van. The cost of the ferry from Calais to Dover in not great and it just seemed far less hastle and the sensible thing to do. Of course if you are travelling to far away to be able to do this then it may not be that easy to do it it this way.