MoT in Europe??

[Norris]

If our MoT runs out whilst we are in Europe, what happens? Will European Police fine us if we are stopped and found not to have a current certificate or will it not apply in Europe? Same with our Tax, will Eurocops nick us if our tax runs out whilst in Spain? Or will DVLA fine me for not renewing it even if I am out of the UK? Can I declare SORN online and sort it out when we come home? By a bit of really bad planning our tax, insurance and MoT all run out at the end of June and we are hoping to still be out of the country then. I can sort out the insurance online, and probably the tax if I can persuade DVLA to notify me by email but the only way I can see around the MoT is to re MoT the van three months early. Any pertinent advice please?

 

[Yorkshirepudding]

Furthermore, what is the situation if you land at Dover and all the above have expired?

 

[Belgian]

If our MoT runs out whilst we are in Europe, what happens? Will European Police fine us if we are stopped and found not to have a current certificate or will it not apply in Europe? Same with our Tax, will Eurocops nick us if our tax runs out whilst in Spain? Or will DVLA fine me for not renewing it even if I am out of the UK? Can I declare SORN online and sort it out when we come home? By a bit of really bad planning our tax, insurance and MoT all run out at the end of June and we are hoping to still be out of the country then. I can sort out the insurance online, and probably the tax if I can persuade DVLA to notify me by email but the only way I can see around the MoT is to re MoT the van three months early. Any pertinent advice please?

No problem Norris,
The farther you go from the UK the less they understand.
Only show your UK papers and they will be satisfied - they wouldn't simply admid they don't understand it.
(beware for Flanders, Netherlands and Scandinavia: they'll even understand a Welsh rabbit talking fairies)
Have a good trip

 

[John H]

If our MoT runs out whilst we are in Europe, what happens? Will European Police fine us if we are stopped and found not to have a current certificate or will it not apply in Europe? Same with our Tax, will Eurocops nick us if our tax runs out whilst in Spain? Or will DVLA fine me for not renewing it even if I am out of the UK? Can I declare SORN online and sort it out when we come home? By a bit of really bad planning our tax, insurance and MoT all run out at the end of June and we are hoping to still be out of the country then. I can sort out the insurance online, and probably the tax if I can persuade DVLA to notify me by email but the only way I can see around the MoT is to re MoT the van three months early. Any pertinent advice please?

The EU rules on tax, insurance and testing are straightforward - you have to comply with the rules of the home country wherever you are. SORNing is not an option. As you say, tax and insurance can be sorted out online but as yet there is no way round the MOT problem other than insuring that it is going to be in-date for the whole of your trip. You are unlikely to be stopped by the authorities but if you are involved in an accident you will frind your insurance is invalidated.

 

[John H]

No problem Norris,
The farther you go from the UK the less they understand.
Only show your UK papers and they will be satisfied - they wouldn't simply admid they don't understand it.
(beware for Flanders, Netherlands and Scandinavia: they'll even understand a Welsh rabbit talking fairies)
Have a good trip

Not good advice, Belgian. As I said in my previous post, you are unlikely to be stopped but if you have an accident do you really want your insurance to be invalidated? The insurance companies are very good at finding reasons not to pay up without us helping them.

 

[John H]

Furthermore, what is the situation if you land at Dover and all the above have expired?

You might be able to get away with the MOT if you say you are on your way to the nearest testing station (although I wouldn't try it). As far as tax and insurance are concerned - you will definitely not get away with it.

 

[mike732]

If the vehicle is tested earlier than one month before its due date, it will still only run for twelve months

Foreign Police will not be interested in enforcing UK road tax but if you SORN it or run out whilst abroad and do not renew and display the tax disc you then have to register and tax it where it is otherwise you are driving illegally,

I would ask a relative or friend to tax the vehicle for you and send you the new disc, while you lay up for a few days.

MOT does not mean your vehicle is roadworthy, here or abroad, except at the time of test. Its expiry wil not cause a problem to the foreign police as long as your vehicle meets foreign roadworthyness standards and you have their local equivalent which you can only get by re registering. Ie if without they will enforce your own law.

Lots of Brits in Spain have taken cars down and not returned so they are no longer MOT'd or taxed. The Spanish police are dealing with them for no Spanish ITV (MOT) or tax as they are clearly not temporary. That is a Spanish revenue and safety issue.

Remember just because you can SORN here does not mean that a SORN'd vehicle is legal abroad. How do you get it from home to the continent and vice versa at start and end as well and insurance? Insurance might be very iffy about insuring a SORN'd vehicle for on road use

i would speak to DVLA as we had a similiar issue with a passport running out they were happy to "bend" the rules.

Personally I would be very carefull, as in most instances a simple roadside check could lead to your vehicle being impounded

Mike732

 

[mike732]

Re Landing in Dover

That's easy, simply pre book an MOT prior to landing, I did this from Spain via Hull with no problems at all, Once you have the MOT just tax as normal.

Mike732

 

[John H]

Foreign Police will not be interested in enforcing UK road tax but if you SORN it or run out whilst abroad and do not renew and display the tax disc you then have to register and tax it where it is otherwise you are driving illegally,

Lots of Brits in Spain have taken cars down and not returned so they are no longer MOT'd or taxed. The Spanish police are dealing with them for no Spanish ITV (MOT) or tax as they are clearly not temporary. That is a Spanish revenue and safety issue.

Insurance might be very iffy about insuring a SORN'd vehicle for on road use


Personally I would be very carefull, as in most instances a simple roadside check could lead to your vehicle being impounded

Mike732

1. By EU law they HAVE to report an infringement to DVLA and you cannot register a vehicle in a foreign country without a residence permit
2. It is not just a Spanish ITV issue - it is an insurance issue (you won't have any valid insurance and that is an offence in any country!)
3. Insurance MIGHT be iffy????????????????????
4. This is the only sensible bit of advice in your post. I hope I don't ever get involved in an accident caused by you!

 

[mike732]

Re No MOT

Oh! I forgot to add that your vehicle number plate will be scanned on departure, at the ferry terminal, so "they" will know anyway!

 

[mike732]

1) Police (Gendarmes and Police Municipale (not Rurale))are interested in only insurance, drivers license and vehicle registration document.
2) Customs (Douanes) are interested in the above AND checking your diesel (for red diesel)
3) I have never been asked for an MOT (CT in France)
4) It is possible to get a CT (Controle Technique) for a UK vehicle. Use insulating tape to stop your headlights deflecting to the left. This pleases the French Authorities and stops them accusing you of not having a road worthy vehicle, but means nothing in the UK.
5) The only 'vaguely' legal way to return to the UK is to book an MOT in Dover, get off the ferry and go straight there!!

 

[BedfordMJ]

If you are going for less than 12 months just get an MOT before you go and do the RFL for 12 months too. You could also do it online and get it posted to you.

 

[John H]

1) Police (Gendarmes and Police Municipale (not Rurale))are interested in only insurance, drivers license and vehicle registration document.
2) Customs (Douanes) are interested in the above AND checking your diesel (for red diesel)
3) I have never been asked for an MOT (CT in France)
4) It is possible to get a CT (Controle Technique) for a UK vehicle. Use insulating tape to stop your headlights deflecting to the left. This pleases the French Authorities and stops them accusing you of not having a road worthy vehicle, but means nothing in the UK.
5) The only 'vaguely' legal way to return to the UK is to book an MOT in Dover, get off the ferry and go straight there!!

It doesn't really matter if the French police are not interested in enforcing the EU rules (and I wouldn't bet on it)- the big question is, do you want your vehicle to be properly insured if you are involved in an accident?

 

[BedfordMJ]

It doesn't really matter if the French police are not interested in enforcing the EU rules (and I wouldn't bet on it)- the big question is, do you want your vehicle to be properly insured if you are involved in an accident?

Exactly and you can imagine the outrage in the newspapers here if a foreign registered vehicle caused an accident and wasn't insured.

 

[mike732]

The insurance is not invalid just because the vehicle has no MOT or Road Tax,
The question is, what can he do about his dilemma, I am advising him from from experience and first hand knowledge, having lived in Germany, France and Spain for 23 years, there are some police officers who will wave you on with a cheery smile! But many others will be delighted to see your pride and joy towed away.

In short if your MOT runs out while you are overseas then they are taking a big risk, as the question will eventually boil down to road worthiness and proof thereof and really that is the crux of the matter.

Contrary to popular belief the foreign police do know what an MOT is!

 

[John H]

The insurance is not invalid just because the vehicle has no MOT or Road Tax,

Try telling that to your insurance company!!!

I once again re-iterate my original post. On matters such as generators, gas systems, alarms etc etc we can all have a good debate and agree to disagree but on matters as potentially serious as this it is vital that people know the real facts not just anecdotal stories about how someone once got away with it.

 

[mike732]

In short if your MOT runs out while you are overseas then they are taking a big risk, as the question will eventually boil down to road worthiness and proof thereof and really that is the crux of the matter.

Contrary to popular belief the foreign police do know what an MOT is!

 

[CliffyP]

Tax & MOT

If a vehicle is not taxed or MOT the insurance is invalid, a simple check following an accident would show this. You can sort a new MOT before going ( you can MOT at any time, and not just when it runs out, insurance again is easily done. If you tax on line the vehicle will be taxed and you will have a reference and proof of this that you can print out, you wont get stopped by an automatic vehicle check as it will show up as Taxed/Insured and MOT'd. The worst you can get is a fai.lure to display if you are stopped between the ferry and home and its a bit harsh if they do you under the circumstances and I dont think they would.

 

[John H]

In short if your MOT runs out while you are overseas then they are taking a big risk, as the question will eventually boil down to road worthiness and proof thereof and really that is the crux of the matter.

Contrary to popular belief the foreign police do know what an MOT is!

If you had limited your original advice to those two sentences then we could all have agreed. Happy and SAFE travels.

 

[mike732]

So if you have no MOT (UK), no ITV (ES), no TUV (D) or no CT (F) then you have no proof of road worthiness = invalid insurance, if you are using the vehicle for anything other than going directly to a test station or garage for subsequent repairs.

It is safe to say that if your vehicle is illegal here then it is illegal there and you could be prosecuted.

As we merrily type away there are thousands of motor vehicles not complying with the law on both sides of the channel, and my sound advice is don't take the chance, as there is no way round your predicament