Buying a UK registered car which is currently in Spain

[Rene Souffle]

Hi all.

I’m after a bit of advice as I can only seem to find references to importing a car from Spain. Which isn’t what this is.

A friend drove his car out to Spain back in 2015 or so and it’s sat there ever since unused.

He has said he’ll sell it to me for cheap but I’ll have to collect it.

The car has a V5 in his name registered to his UK address, but it is sorn and needs an MOT.

I’m trying to find out what I need to do apart from having a MOT booked on the day of my return.

I keep reading about cars that have been out of the country for more than a certain amount of time…etc etc. some say about they are declared as exported after a certain amount of time and others say you have to pay the tax on the value when it was bought new.

Then I’ll read something else along the lines of, just pull up to the Chunnel and drive on, no one will ask anything….

Has anyone done this or can anyone point me to a reliable source for an answer. After 45 mins on hold I got cut off from DVLA as the chap I spoke to needed to ask his manager, then click….

Oh and because this is PH, it’s a 2013 BMW 640D.

[bennno]

If he didn’t export it formally then it won’t need to be reimported. If he did then it’d be subject to vat at 20% of the purchase price via an agent who deals with nova. If the reg comes up on the mot history search it’s still a uk car.

It’s a long way to drive a car that’s been sat and more than likely it’ll need tyres, disks/pads, service before driving and the. To be pre booked in for a mot as soon as you arrive back and close to port of entry. I’d not go past a lot of anpr cameras untaxed and without an mot.

[Truckosaurus]

Isn't the easiest thing to do just submit the new keeper paperwork as normal, if the new V5 comes through OK you are good to go.

If he has SORNed the car then I can't see how they will have marked it for export - I am not sure they track cars coming and going that closely, they have only just started tracked humans leaving the country.

I'll leave other to comment on the validity of the 'driving to pre-booked MoT' loophole all the way from Spain.

[South tdf]

Family member left a car in Spain for a few years before get getting it back to the UK. No paperwork needed, just MOT and tax.

Worth a Google as there are companies that will collect and deliver on a transporter for a reasonable price.

[Trevor555]

Truckosaurus said:

I'll leave other to comment on the validity of the 'driving to pre-booked MoT' loophole all the way from Spain.

I'd really like to know the conclusive answer to this.

Even just in the UK, would a 200 mile journey to a pre booked MOT be acceptable to a Police officer?

[bennno]

Trevor555 said:

I'd really like to know the conclusive answer to this.

Even just in the UK, would a 200 mile journey to a pre booked MOT be acceptable to a Police officer?

Plenty will say yes, personally I’d book a mot locally in Folkestone or Portsmouth dependent on where your ferry arrives.

[cayman-black]

South tdf said:

Family member left a car in Spain for a few years before get getting it back to the UK. No paperwork needed, just MOT and tax.

Worth a Google as there are companies that will collect and deliver on a transporter for a reasonable price.

IMO this is the best option though I don't think it will be cheap.

[Truckosaurus]

cayman-black said:

IMO this is the best option though I don't think it will be cheap.

Although fuel and ferries (plus your time) to drive it yourself would be a fair chunk too.

[Oilchange]

bennno said:

It’s a long way to drive a car that’s been sat and more than likely it’ll need tyres, disks/pads, service before driving and the.

To be pre booked in for a mot as soon as you arrive back and close to port of entry.

I’d not go past a lot of anpr cameras untaxed and without an mot.

Can you explain having to book an MOT close to the point of entry please? This is nonsense, you can book one in Cardiff if you want.

Also, anpr cameras might well ping you but if you have a booked mot you are golden. You can drive, untaxed and un MOTd to a pre booked MOT and the distance to take is irrelevant. You do need insurance though.
Also, according to case law, you can stop to refuel and have a piss along the way.

[bennno]

Oilchange said:

bennno said:

It’s a long way to drive a car that’s been sat and more than likely it’ll need tyres, disks/pads, service before driving and the.

To be pre booked in for a mot as soon as you arrive back and close to port of entry.

I’d not go past a lot of anpr cameras untaxed and without an mot.

Can you explain having to book an MOT close to the point of entry please? This is nonsense, you can book one in Cardiff if you want.

Also, anpr cameras might well ping you but if you have a booked mot you are golden. You can drive, untaxed and un MOTd to a pre booked MOT and the distance to take is irrelevant. You do need insurance though.
Also, according to case law, you can stop to refuel and have a piss along the way.

So, when I did nearly exactly what the OP is planning my insurance stated I was able to drive to a pre booked MOT from my insured address.

Id just say the OP would want to check the terms of his insurance closely for the cover he has if the car is neither taxed nor MOT'd.

If he plans to drive from Spain to Barnsley with neither then he might not be covered, not to mention it might be unwise to do so.

[sixor8]

Does it actually say 'from your insured address?'

I'd say that is a T&C that counters the law, which makes no stipulation. Otherwise, you couldn't drive a SORN or untaxed car that you own from wherever it is stored, or a repair garage to a MoT test.

[E63eeeeee...]

I'd be more concerned about whether it's OK to drive a potentially unroadworthy car across Spain and France on the strength of an MOT booked in the UK. What are you going to say if you get pulled over before the ferry? They recognise UK MOTs, that's not the same as accepting UK MOT exemptions. And how does that affect your insurance.

As others have said, get it collected and delivered. Save days of your time, plus the risk of breaking down en route, fines, or maybe worse. Seems to me the UK authorities are the least of your problems.

[sixor8]

I drove a car back from Spain with no MoT and SORN, a cock up by me who thought the itv (Spanish equivalent) was acceptable, it isn't.

Anyway, I went through Dover with neither and 250 miles home, with no issue, however this was 2006, not sure if ANPR was very prevalent then. Being PH, you have to know it was a Peugeot 405 GTX DT.

I wouldn't do the same now, one of the things back then was diesel was 50p a litre in France and Spain.

[bennno]

E63eeeeee... said:

I'd be more concerned about whether it's OK to drive a potentially unroadworthy car across Spain and France on the strength of an MOT booked in the UK. What are you going to say if you get pulled over before the ferry? They recognise UK MOTs, that's not the same as accepting UK MOT exemptions. And how does that affect your insurance.

As others have said, get it collected and delivered. Save days of your time, plus the risk of breaking down en route, fines, or maybe worse. Seems to me the UK authorities are the least of your problems.

Thats good advice, failing that you'd want it fully served, brakes checked and with new tyres if it's been sat for 8 years in Spain as per the initial post.

[bennno]

sixor8 said:

Does it actually say 'from your insured address?'

I'd say that is a T&C that counters the law, which makes no stipulation. Otherwise, you couldn't drive a SORN or untaxed car that you own from wherever it is stored, or a repair garage to a MoT test.

Mine did, but perhaps an added term as it also wasn't registered.

[sixor8]

bennno said:

E63eeeeee... said:

I'd be more concerned about whether it's OK to drive a potentially unroadworthy car across Spain and France on the strength of an MOT booked in the UK. What are you going to say if you get pulled over before the ferry? They recognise UK MOTs, that's not the same as accepting UK MOT exemptions. And how does that affect your insurance.

As others have said, get it collected and delivered. Save days of your time, plus the risk of breaking down en route, fines, or maybe worse. Seems to me the UK authorities are the least of your problems.

Thats good advice, failing that you'd want it fully served, brakes checked and with new tyres if it's been sat for 8 years in Spain as per the initial post.

I should have added it was regularly used and maintained for the 3 years I had it in Spain. This one, being not inspected or serviced for so long, European breakdown cover would not be possible either because it has no valid MoT.

[sixor8]

bennno said:

sixor8 said:

Does it actually say 'from your insured address?'

I'd say that is a T&C that counters the law, which makes no stipulation. Otherwise, you couldn't drive a SORN or untaxed car that you own from wherever it is stored, or a repair garage to a MoT test.

Mine did, but perhaps an added term as it also wasn't registered.

Ah, I see, it's to stop you driving around in it, presumably. To add to above, there is no legal stipulation about distance to a pre-booked MoT test. Arriving when they are closed, late at night for a test the next day, may be taking the p*** though, but perhaps legal?

[E63eeeeee...]

Also, if you do collect it, take it a new battery. Mine did all sorts of random things when the battery was on its way out, and that was off the back of five years of regular use and still showing 60% life in the battery.

[Rushjob]

Spain, driving a vehicle without a current ITV test is illegal, the Guardia civil have access to DVLA and DVSA for SORN, MOT and VEL history and are seizing SORNed, untaxed and untested cars

For France, it is illegal to drive a car on a road without a current test certificate.

Persuading a Gendarme that you are allowed to drive over 1000km for a prearranged test, please post it on a live feed as I'd enjoy watching.

Yes, you probably won't get stopped.

How risk-averse are you?

[Rene Souffle]

Thanks for all the replies.

I tried again with VOSA today. Still no luck with getting an answer.

I might just pop in to our Police HQ which is just down the road from my work and leave a message asking for advice.

I could book an MOT in Portsmouth and get the ferry from Bilbao or Santander. Therefore avoiding France. I’m happy to strip and clean the brakes etc. The car runs and drives with no issues and is started and driven around his yard every 6 months or so just to keep everything turning.

The plan will be to do this in February, so plenty of time yet to sort it.