CAR stuck in Italy - MOT expired
Discussion
Hi all,
i had taken my car to italy for summer holidays (S63 Convertible) with the idea of driving it back to UK sometime in september/october.
I just realised that MOT expired, hence technically i cannot take it back driving it.
Was thinking of putting it on SORN, and then find an insurance willing to cover me for the length of the trip (first stop once in UK will be the MOT)
Anyone knows any insurance that will cover me while the car is SORN?
Thanks in advance for anyone who has any idea that can help me!
i had taken my car to italy for summer holidays (S63 Convertible) with the idea of driving it back to UK sometime in september/october.
I just realised that MOT expired, hence technically i cannot take it back driving it.
Was thinking of putting it on SORN, and then find an insurance willing to cover me for the length of the trip (first stop once in UK will be the MOT)
Anyone knows any insurance that will cover me while the car is SORN?
Thanks in advance for anyone who has any idea that can help me!
Just book an MOT in the UK and as long as you drive it straight there it will be legal . No limits on the distance you can travel to a test as long as you go directly to the MOT station. Most insurances will cover you, it's a fallacy that your insurance won't cover without an MOT. Most require that the cari is roadworthy, but don't specifically mention the MOT. Just check the policy for exclusions.
Edited by Desiderata on Sunday 2nd October 06:58
Thanks i didn't think of it checking insurance terms...
or do you know any short term insurance that would cover me otherwise?
Thanks
[
quote=Desiderata]Just book an MOT in the UK and as long as you drive it straight there it will be legal . No limits on the distance you can travel to a test as long as you go directly to the MOT station. Most insurances will cover you, it's a fallacy that your insurance won't cover without an MOT. Most require that the cari is roadworthy, but don't specifically mention the MOT. Just check the policy for exclusions.
[/quote]
or do you know any short term insurance that would cover me otherwise?
Thanks
[
quote=Desiderata]Just book an MOT in the UK and as long as you drive it straight there it will be legal . No limits on the distance you can travel to a test as long as you go directly to the MOT station. Most insurances will cover you, it's a fallacy that your insurance won't cover without an MOT. Most require that the cari is roadworthy, but don't specifically mention the MOT. Just check the policy for exclusions.
Edited by Desiderata on Sunday 2nd October 06:58
[/quote]
Draxindustries1 said:
Booking an mot is fine.
However, don't infringe any traffic laws coming back through France as the Gendarmerie Nationale will be very keen to impound the car if you cannot show a valid mot...
With respect, the gendarmes don't care about a UK MOT. All they would ever ask for is proof of ownership, insurance and driving licence.However, don't infringe any traffic laws coming back through France as the Gendarmerie Nationale will be very keen to impound the car if you cannot show a valid mot...
I would suggest that driving a car through Europe declared SORN in the UK (if European forces can even check this) may be considered a greater infringement than driving a car with an expired MoT. If you declare it SORN, you won't have valid VED either. Once in the UK, any ANPR would pick this up, but unlikely an expired MoT, which is a minor infringement in the scheme of things; it's why you don't get official notification of an impending expiry, unlike VED and insurance. If it is booked in for a test, as mentioned above, you can drive it there. Do they have ANPR at the ports?
Another thread recently suggested that insurance is invalid with an expired MoT but this seems unenforceable to me. Some policies may state this but you are legally allowed to drive to a test without a current MoT. You are likely 3rd party only in Europe anyway (unless you have extended Fully Comp cover). You need valid MoT to buy VED but otherwise your insurance is fine, IMHO of course.
I drove a car all the way back from Spain safely with an expired MoT (I stupidly thought the ITV in Spain was also valid for UK plate cars
) but this was 15 years ago.
Another thread recently suggested that insurance is invalid with an expired MoT but this seems unenforceable to me. Some policies may state this but you are legally allowed to drive to a test without a current MoT. You are likely 3rd party only in Europe anyway (unless you have extended Fully Comp cover). You need valid MoT to buy VED but otherwise your insurance is fine, IMHO of course.
I drove a car all the way back from Spain safely with an expired MoT (I stupidly thought the ITV in Spain was also valid for UK plate cars
) but this was 15 years ago. Edited by sixor8 on Sunday 2nd October 10:41
ferrarino said:
Yes it is insured , just mot and tax expired . I will speak with insurance tomorrow and if they are ok with me driving I will take it straight to the Mot center
Scroll down to the bit about bringing your vehicle back into the UK without tax.Not sure if that applies in your case but worth checking.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-l...
It’s a jungle to navigate within all these laws
Monkeylegend said:
Scroll down to the bit about bringing your vehicle back into the UK without tax.
Not sure if that applies in your case but worth checking.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-l...
Not sure if that applies in your case but worth checking.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-l...
ferrarino said:
It’s a jungle to navigate within all these laws
That looks fairly straightforward, if not taxed or Mot’d you can’t drive it back into the country, you will need to transport it in on lorry/trailer, make it sorn, and not drive it until MOT/TAX updated (except to take for mot)Monkeylegend said:
Scroll down to the bit about bringing your vehicle back into the UK without tax.
Not sure if that applies in your case but worth checking.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-l...
Not sure if that applies in your case but worth checking.
https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-l...
MonkeyBusiness said:
Isnt there some sort of 'fair play mileage' when driving to an MOT station?
Surely driving half way across Europe or even greater than say 50 miles in the UK would be frowned upon.
No idea about driving across Europe but as I understand it the law is black and white - if you're driving from London to Aberdeen for a pre-booked MOT you're legal - as long as the car is roadworthy, obviously.Surely driving half way across Europe or even greater than say 50 miles in the UK would be frowned upon.
IANAL.
Pitre said:
Draxindustries1 said:
Booking an mot is fine.
However, don't infringe any traffic laws coming back through France as the Gendarmerie Nationale will be very keen to impound the car if you cannot show a valid mot...
With respect, the gendarmes don't care about a UK MOT. All they would ever ask for is proof of ownership, insurance and driving licence.However, don't infringe any traffic laws coming back through France as the Gendarmerie Nationale will be very keen to impound the car if you cannot show a valid mot...
catso said:
MonkeyBusiness said:
Isnt there some sort of 'fair play mileage' when driving to an MOT station?
Surely driving half way across Europe or even greater than say 50 miles in the UK would be frowned upon.
In which case what is the OP to do as he can't get a UK MOT in Italy?Surely driving half way across Europe or even greater than say 50 miles in the UK would be frowned upon.
Or take his chances.
edit: driving without an MOT is a fairly minor offence in the uk - just a fine.
Same in France for no CT (135 euro fine, just looked), so I can't imagine anyone being too interested as long as it's roadworthy.
Edited by monthou on Sunday 2nd October 14:23
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff