Southampton import question

[tokyotom]

Hi

I'm moving back to the UK from Japan in a couple of months and will be bringing back my '98 Cooper Sport. It's looking like this will be shipped in to Southampton so I'm after recommendations of a decent mini specialist not too far from the port so that I can get it MOT'd and registered when it arrives. I'd rather go to a mini specialist rather than a regular garage as it will need the rear fog fitting and a new windscreen (in addition to the km/h to mp/h speedo update). That said, if there's somewhere decent at the port itself then I'd be open to considering that instead.

I think I read somewhere that it's legal to drive from the port to the MOT test centre whilst the car is unregistered but if anyone has any experience of that I'd be keen to hear more.

Finally, since I have owned the car for over 6 months in Japan and it was originally manufactured in the UK I believe it should be tax exempt - if this is the case does anyone know what paperwork I would need to have in order to prove this? I have the original invoice for puchasing the car in Japan and records of my Japanese vehicle tax payments but I'm not sure what I would need to prove that it was a UK manufactured car - or is the fact that it's a Rover sufficiently obvious?

Any tips gratefully received

Cheers

Tom

[Cooperman]

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/...

Google this and it has the answers.
You must have insurance and if not on UK plates you can insure it under its VIN number.
An MoT can be anywhere in the country so long as it is pre-booked and it might be a good idea to have the MoT near where you will be living. Then, if any rectification work is needed it will be easy to take it back for re-test.

[casbar]

Slark Race Engineering is about 25 miles away (near Salisbury), they look after our mini, MOT's remedial work. They are pure mini specialists, Bryan the dad used to work for Downton Engineering, and Neil his son who now runs the garage, has raced minis for years. They also have a rolling road. Top guys.

Somerford Mini are in Chippenham, so about 50 miles

Twyford Mini is near Winchester, although have never used them, and not sure if they are a pure re-seller.

[tokyotom]

Great, thanks both.

I didn't realise you could insure off the VIN so that's useful. Will also look into the tax exemptions as it seems likely I can get off on the basis that I've been resident in Japan for nearly three years, owned the car over 6 months and paid all applicable Japanese tax at the time of purchase.

I have to surrender my Japanese license plates on the dock in Yokohama so - although I understand its legal - I was unsure of the practicality of driving from Southampton to London with no license plates, hence the plan to try and book it in somewhere closer to the port - if anyone has any experience of driving without plates I'd be interested to hear.

Will definitely check out those garages - so thanks for the heads up.

[Cooperman]

I bought a Porsche in Germany years ago. The previous owner was visiting England, so he drove it over, paid the duty (then about 10%), got the customs forms and delivered the car to me in Luton.
I insured it on the VIN and called the local Old Bill to ask how to get it to & from the MoT station. I was told to take the customs paperwork and ins. cover note, pre-book the MoT and just drive it there. I did so, got the MoT and then went to the local DVLA office where a number was issued and it was taxed. Got the plates made and all was well. The V5 arrived about 2 weeks later.