Taking classic Alfa to Europe

[Benspickup]

Myself and a few friends are looking at a trip to Germany to have a look at the Nurburgring in April. I'd plan to take my Alfa 2000 gtv. Its tax and mot exempt in the UK but what happens when you want to take it abroad? Do I need to mot it or is there no issue.

Thanks in advance

Ben

[courty]

I never bothered. As long as you are road legal, lights tyres brakes etc., plus the mandatory high viz, triangle, etc.
I was stopped by a French traffic cop and he checked my number plates and that the address on my V5 matched the address on my driving licence. He wasn't bothered about insurance or mot. He didn't care about the tiny Italian-sized front plate either. It certainly wasn't the first time I have been pulled over by French cops, but it was the only time they haven't relieved me of 100 euros cash.
You won't be exempt for French clear air zones, i.e. Rheims centre or Lille, but Germany is OK with UK historic vehicle status for Green sticker areas.
Edit: Make sure your car is taxed. If it flags as not taxed, you may not get on the ferry. I have forgotten to renew the tax on mine in the past and there is nothing to stop it getting pinged/fines through the post or clamped, even of it is zero-rated.

Edited by courty on Wednesday 10th January 01:01

[courty]

Also, be careful on the N' Ring if you get there early on a cold damp day, I found it much more twisty and very much more slippery than expected.

[Benspickup]

Thanks for the top tips.

Easy thing to forget to tax them as they are free.

French police sound very similar to the ones in Africa when I visited if that's the case.

Appreciate the words of wisdom. I've not been before and only really interested in the road trip and trying to take in some nice scenery along the way. I've watched a few bits on YouTube where cars are skidding off at what seems like very slow speeds so I will proceed with caution

All the best
Ben

[Retro_Jim]

When I went to Le Mans last year in the Cortina I put a fresh MOT on it so I could show it was road legal but also to see if anything needed work before going on such a long journey.

I hope your trip goes well and I'd recommend a steak and a beer at the Pistenklause when you get to the ring!

[tapkaJohnD]

benspickup,
Your Alfa is the same age as my Triumph Vitesse, and I've taken it abroad many times, to France and Holland, with no probs. How it differs is that it is the last race Vitesse in the UK, with others in the US, New Zealand, Malta and France. It's fairly modified, with race numbers etc, but no gendarme or smeris ever stopped me.
Another difference might be that I have an MoT! Or, I have a local garage do an 'MoT'-style inspection every year, as I do all the maintnenance/repairs
and want a professional's eye to check my work. The cost is low for the peace of mind it brings!

JOhn

[HBG12]

We just had a few days in Belgium in my '76 Fulvia. It's tax exempt so doesn't have any, Hagerty insurance covers Europe fully comp and gives breakdown cover. It doesn't need an MOT and didn't have one until the week before when I had it done so that in the event of an accident I could prove it was road worthy.

Need to be careful of low emissions zones. Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels have them so we stayed away.

Was a throughly good experience, will be going further next time.

[david.h]

An MOT can be useful in case of any drama (accident) as it will show the car was roadworthy (ok, on the day of the MOT!) Similarly make sure your tyres are under 10 years old (Germany, ideally under 8) Most EU countries seem happy with a copy of the V5 showing Tax Exempt status. Germany & Holland can be sniffy about clean air zones, but I have never bothered getting a sticker & no one has stopped me in such a zone (although the Mercedes Museum asked me to put protection under the ZA Magnette to make sure it didn't soil their pristine car park....as if a 60 plus year old B series BMC engine would drip oil....!)https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/12.gif

[RONV]

We travel twice a year for over 25 years May and September always have MOT and take everything for the car in a folder just to be sure if we are stopped and over over 2000 miles each trip. Mostly drive through towns and villages to see the country not speed down the motorways. If you have a classic car take the spares you cannot get overseas and what you can fit in the car you can buy cloths but not spares.Best of luck and drive safely

[RONV]

[RONV]

On a rally with our French Motor Club.

[Benspickup]

We are heading through the tunnel and onto Germany but not far into Germany as only a visit to the nurburgring. Can anyone pass comment on some places to pop into and visit on the way? I've never been into Europe with a car before and would like the odd nice stop off, not just motorways all the way

Thanks

Ben

[dinkel]

Maybe drop by when you're in The Netherlands: I'm happy to organise a meet-and-greet with the Alfa Romeo community over here.