Returning UK car back after 12mo overseas
Discussion
Been going between DVLA and HMRC on this and i think i'm going to be in a world of pain now. Would be grateful for advice from anyone in the profession or with experience.
I took my car out of the UK back in August 2024 to be used in a single EU country (family bereavement, cheaper than hire cars). I left the car in a bonded facility whilst i travelled back and forth. To date, it has been there over 12mo (18mo so far) and am trying to understand the ramifications when it returns.
DVLA only care about the MOT and Road Tax so i'll likely need to book an appointment and have the car trailered on the day it arrives. However, if they are aware, they will consider the car "exported" since it appears there are no rules that allow the car to be used overseas more than 12mo at a time. If so, they may likely need the car to be "imported" again to be re-registered.
HMRC may then get involved due to VAT and duties but i've read there is tax relief ( Returned Goods Relief) if the car was brought back within 3 years and i was the "exporter" and nothing has changed. However, it is unclear whether this is 100% relief or if they will be made aware.
1. If the car was containerised on exit and the same on return, is it a given that either agency will know that the car was not in the country?
2. When it returns, will they consider it an import and so prohibit release at customs or is it a matter of self-declaration?
Am i up that creek without a paddle?
Cheers
I took my car out of the UK back in August 2024 to be used in a single EU country (family bereavement, cheaper than hire cars). I left the car in a bonded facility whilst i travelled back and forth. To date, it has been there over 12mo (18mo so far) and am trying to understand the ramifications when it returns.
DVLA only care about the MOT and Road Tax so i'll likely need to book an appointment and have the car trailered on the day it arrives. However, if they are aware, they will consider the car "exported" since it appears there are no rules that allow the car to be used overseas more than 12mo at a time. If so, they may likely need the car to be "imported" again to be re-registered.
HMRC may then get involved due to VAT and duties but i've read there is tax relief ( Returned Goods Relief) if the car was brought back within 3 years and i was the "exporter" and nothing has changed. However, it is unclear whether this is 100% relief or if they will be made aware.
1. If the car was containerised on exit and the same on return, is it a given that either agency will know that the car was not in the country?
2. When it returns, will they consider it an import and so prohibit release at customs or is it a matter of self-declaration?
Am i up that creek without a paddle?
Cheers
paul_c123 said:
Does the car have an export marker on it? (unlikely but worth my asking the question). This is something which is relatively easy to check.
I am planning to call the shipping company first thing to find out if it's their SOP to do that. I'd have driven it over there if it wasn't so far.I assumed not to call any of the agencies if in case it leads them on.
If it is still UK registered why have you gone to HMRC.?
Technically you cannot drive it back without tax and mot, but as UK Tax and mot is not legal in other Eu countries, I have driven to port, booked an MOT the other side.
Even had repairs done locally to make sure I got mot, taxed and driven home.
I have re imported ex Uk cars, started the registration process, the first time being told the vehicle is already UK registered, no export marker, but also registered in the EU, failure of that authority to notify DVLA.
In your case , if I read it correctly, you ate just bringing a UK registered car back?
No need to overthink it.
Technically you cannot drive it back without tax and mot, but as UK Tax and mot is not legal in other Eu countries, I have driven to port, booked an MOT the other side.
Even had repairs done locally to make sure I got mot, taxed and driven home.
I have re imported ex Uk cars, started the registration process, the first time being told the vehicle is already UK registered, no export marker, but also registered in the EU, failure of that authority to notify DVLA.
In your case , if I read it correctly, you ate just bringing a UK registered car back?
No need to overthink it.
I did this in 2008, so pre-Brexit.
I had intended to export the car to Spain, but after a change of mind, did not start the paperwork intending to return after 15-months.
I made the MoT reservation in the UK and just in case I was stopped in Spain, or France, I took it to an ITV station to obtain a certificate to prove that the car was roadworthy at the time of travel. I did inform my insurer what i had done.
I was not stopped on any part of the journey and the car passed its MoT with flying colours despite being 18-years old - now 36, and still going strong.
I had intended to export the car to Spain, but after a change of mind, did not start the paperwork intending to return after 15-months.
I made the MoT reservation in the UK and just in case I was stopped in Spain, or France, I took it to an ITV station to obtain a certificate to prove that the car was roadworthy at the time of travel. I did inform my insurer what i had done.
I was not stopped on any part of the journey and the car passed its MoT with flying colours despite being 18-years old - now 36, and still going strong.
I’ve brought two vehicles into UK which have arrived at Southampton docks on car transporter ships:
One was UK registered, taxed, MOT’d and coming back from 6 months in Australia.
The other was purchased while living in the US (and which I had owned long enough to avoid import taxes).
Both required customs clearances from HMRC despite no tax or VAT being due. I also needed a customs clearance for my container of household stuff also being shipped.
OP states the car was in a bonded store so just driving back on a ferry may not be an option.
If you are using a shipping company they can tell you what you need to get the car out of the docks.
One was UK registered, taxed, MOT’d and coming back from 6 months in Australia.
The other was purchased while living in the US (and which I had owned long enough to avoid import taxes).
Both required customs clearances from HMRC despite no tax or VAT being due. I also needed a customs clearance for my container of household stuff also being shipped.
OP states the car was in a bonded store so just driving back on a ferry may not be an option.
If you are using a shipping company they can tell you what you need to get the car out of the docks.
My dad did this about five years ago.
He insured the car, drove it from Spain to Oxford ( where my brother lives) had a pre booked MOT, visited my brother then onwards to Lancashire.
It was a UK registered vehicle that had been in Spain an unknown amount of time ( bought it to drive home and bring the last of his belongings) then sold it when he got home.
Thats all there was to it.
DVLA were ok with it being driven from Dover to Oxfordshire where it was MOTed and taxed.
HMRC weren t interested ( it wasn t worth much, Vauxhall Van ) and that was it.
Why are HMRC involved? Wasnt your car purchased in the UK?
Just reread. Different circumstances. You have imported it effectively?
In our case this was a Van that had been abroad for years.
Couldn’t you drive it back?
He insured the car, drove it from Spain to Oxford ( where my brother lives) had a pre booked MOT, visited my brother then onwards to Lancashire.
It was a UK registered vehicle that had been in Spain an unknown amount of time ( bought it to drive home and bring the last of his belongings) then sold it when he got home.
Thats all there was to it.
DVLA were ok with it being driven from Dover to Oxfordshire where it was MOTed and taxed.
HMRC weren t interested ( it wasn t worth much, Vauxhall Van ) and that was it.
Why are HMRC involved? Wasnt your car purchased in the UK?
Just reread. Different circumstances. You have imported it effectively?
In our case this was a Van that had been abroad for years.
Couldn’t you drive it back?
Edited by StuntmanMike on Tuesday 10th February 05:17
I've done it although some time ago now. As long as there is no Export Marker at the DVLA you just need to get MOT, Road Tax and Insurance and you should be good to go. I've had friends who've had a car in France for years and never got it re-registered there (not so easy now as the French are clamping down on Brits running around long term without re-registering), brought it back and had no real problems, I think they booked the MOT for Dover and the only issue was getting insurance with being away for a long time.
I think it may all hinge on the person who inspects your car when you bring it back...!
In the early 2000s I received a secondment offer from the company I worked for in Reading to Sydney Oz for a 4yr stint. I made my acceptance conditional on being able to take our Caterham SV with us, which my employer agreed and paid for it to be shipped.
It never occured to me to check DVLA nor did the shipper inform me it needed an export form from them. When it got to Sydney it went through all kinds of inspections, mountains of paperwork before getting its roadworthiness approval.
All was hunky dory until 4 years later when we returned and got a paniced call from shipping agent here asking for the V52 "return of exported vehicle" form, which didn't exist. Several frantic phone calls later, the receiving agent agreed to waive said form when presented with Oz docs. Somehow cooler heads prevailed and it was ignored we didn't do the right thing as they could've impounded our Caterham for an indeterminant period (plus the exhorbitant storage fees, etc...).
Moral / point is: Think it through and keep copies of everything is my advice.
In the early 2000s I received a secondment offer from the company I worked for in Reading to Sydney Oz for a 4yr stint. I made my acceptance conditional on being able to take our Caterham SV with us, which my employer agreed and paid for it to be shipped.
It never occured to me to check DVLA nor did the shipper inform me it needed an export form from them. When it got to Sydney it went through all kinds of inspections, mountains of paperwork before getting its roadworthiness approval.
All was hunky dory until 4 years later when we returned and got a paniced call from shipping agent here asking for the V52 "return of exported vehicle" form, which didn't exist. Several frantic phone calls later, the receiving agent agreed to waive said form when presented with Oz docs. Somehow cooler heads prevailed and it was ignored we didn't do the right thing as they could've impounded our Caterham for an indeterminant period (plus the exhorbitant storage fees, etc...).
Moral / point is: Think it through and keep copies of everything is my advice.
Popolou said:
Been going between DVLA and HMRC on this and i think i'm going to be in a world of pain now. Would be grateful for advice from anyone in the profession or with experience.
I took my car out of the UK back in August 2024 to be used in a single EU country (family bereavement, cheaper than hire cars). I left the car in a bonded facility whilst i travelled back and forth. To date, it has been there over 12mo (18mo so far) and am trying to understand the ramifications when it returns.
DVLA only care about the MOT and Road Tax so i'll likely need to book an appointment and have the car trailered on the day it arrives. However, if they are aware, they will consider the car "exported" since it appears there are no rules that allow the car to be used overseas more than 12mo at a time. If so, they may likely need the car to be "imported" again to be re-registered.
HMRC may then get involved due to VAT and duties but i've read there is tax relief ( Returned Goods Relief) if the car was brought back within 3 years and i was the "exporter" and nothing has changed. However, it is unclear whether this is 100% relief or if they will be made aware.
1. If the car was containerised on exit and the same on return, is it a given that either agency will know that the car was not in the country?
2. When it returns, will they consider it an import and so prohibit release at customs or is it a matter of self-declaration?
Am i up that creek without a paddle?
Cheers
By containerising the car, you've made it quite different from driving it home.I took my car out of the UK back in August 2024 to be used in a single EU country (family bereavement, cheaper than hire cars). I left the car in a bonded facility whilst i travelled back and forth. To date, it has been there over 12mo (18mo so far) and am trying to understand the ramifications when it returns.
DVLA only care about the MOT and Road Tax so i'll likely need to book an appointment and have the car trailered on the day it arrives. However, if they are aware, they will consider the car "exported" since it appears there are no rules that allow the car to be used overseas more than 12mo at a time. If so, they may likely need the car to be "imported" again to be re-registered.
HMRC may then get involved due to VAT and duties but i've read there is tax relief ( Returned Goods Relief) if the car was brought back within 3 years and i was the "exporter" and nothing has changed. However, it is unclear whether this is 100% relief or if they will be made aware.
1. If the car was containerised on exit and the same on return, is it a given that either agency will know that the car was not in the country?
2. When it returns, will they consider it an import and so prohibit release at customs or is it a matter of self-declaration?
Am i up that creek without a paddle?
Cheers
It's like you can wander in and out of the UK with a Rolex on your wrist, but if you post one into the country, the revenue men get excited.
I suspect that if you drove the car through the ferry port or accompanied it on a flatbed, nobody would care.
By involving a freight company you're entering into their paperwork system. Which is tightly integrated with the VAT and all that. Import companies do HMRC's donkey work for them and are unlikely to collude with further bending of the rules. A breakdown recovery might not ask or care how long the car had been out of the UK. The people at the ferry port gate may or may not have a joined up set of data so they might or might not know the car didn't come home for a week 9 months ago.
The import/export/vat thing is mostly separate from the road tax, mot and insurance angle.
Isn't this similar to the overlanders that go travelling in their UK registered 4x4's or vans for years at a time, and then drive them home ? From what I've seen, they just do as mentioned above and get an MoT booked on their return and drive straight there. Then when it (hopefully) passes, get it taxed and off you go.
Thanks all, some useful experience and opinions. Yes, car is a full UK vehicle, bought 2014 and owned from new. Used in the Med very recently whilst dealing with a bereavement which took much longer than expected to resolve (probate, etc). The catch is that on my return, i am unsure if i can simply drive it out of the UK customs/docks to get the MOT - it's the earlier stages that fills me with dread.
DVLA appeared not to care too much (other than enforcing MOT/road tax rules) but also couldn't expand on what may happen because of the hypothetical permutations. HMRC queries were unspecific and again hypothetical but they explained that there is relief IF it was to be considered to be a reimport. No idea on % or if it is a punitive measure.
I appreciate i could be over-thinking this especially as this was entirely unintended however the tools, forms, records etc available to them would suggest it cannot be a simple workaround to ship to France and driven/trailered back?
Do we have any customs agents here?
OutInTheShed said:
By containerising the car, you've made it quite different from driving it home.
My fear exactly. There is no export marker and it was not declared for export (driven on Visitors places) but surely it is a procedural item that someone at UK customs (if not the container co) will notice the car was out of the UK for +12mo and so there could be this limbo where it should officially have been registered overseas (very £££) only to be able to return it. UK shipping company i used to send it out are none the wiser and want to make enquiries with DVLA etc before they could advise. Not confident they will work with me on this.DVLA appeared not to care too much (other than enforcing MOT/road tax rules) but also couldn't expand on what may happen because of the hypothetical permutations. HMRC queries were unspecific and again hypothetical but they explained that there is relief IF it was to be considered to be a reimport. No idea on % or if it is a punitive measure.
I appreciate i could be over-thinking this especially as this was entirely unintended however the tools, forms, records etc available to them would suggest it cannot be a simple workaround to ship to France and driven/trailered back?
Do we have any customs agents here?
WyrleyD said:
Yes, I would say you are overthinking this, just drive it back.
I'd love to, really but it's in Cyprus and i think my options are limited to shipping it.WyrleyD said:
How is the car currently insured?
ETA: in the normal way with a UK insurer. They are fine with the car being overseas as long as notice is given. They themselves don't bother with the road tax or MOT status but the insurance shouldn't be invalidated if they fall overdue.Edited by Popolou on Tuesday 10th February 12:38
OutInTheShed said:
By containerising the car, you've made it quite different from driving it home.
The import/export/vat thing is mostly separate from the road tax, mot and insurance angle.
I think in hindsight you're onto something there! Both directions our car was in a smaller 20ft container whilst our belongings were in a 40ft'er. The import/export/vat thing is mostly separate from the road tax, mot and insurance angle.
I believe if there was a way to drive in/out no one will care but of course I might be hallucinating, again
iguana said:
I'd be tempted to get it shipped to mainland Greece then road transport back to UK. It would be more ££ than container back tho, but should avoid import issues.
Yes, i am wondering if i do that with France say and drive it back otherwise they may ask why there appears to be a perfectly good car on a trailer!Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff