richardmc

Just stating factual information that may help others avoid your unfortunate experience for a few quid

duztee

Yes I totally agree!
Even with everything correct the Hungarian bureaucratic system can still give rise to problems, this is where a local garage with experience of the system can work around any problems.

The only advantage to doing it personally is that IF it all goes to plan then the whole process COULD be completed in 4 or 5 hours.

duztee

Well after another day and 4 visits to the local council office who have made dozens of calls to the Budapest office, it seems my car now has the status of Victor Navorski! (The Terminal staring Tom Hanks)

The Hungarian system has imported it so it is no longer English, but the same Hungarian system cannot register it, so it is stuck being neither one or the other.

duztee

The Saga continues.
But at least I now know the problem.

Every vehicle made is given a VIN number which is stamped into the chassis, this is always 17 digits and encodes all the details of maker, engine, type, seating and a host of other information.

What I didn't know until this week that actually only 16 digits give this information, digit number 9 in the centre is a product of a mathematical equation of the other 16 and is used to check if the VIN is genuine or fake.

Mine is flagging up as a fake! even though it is obviously original and genuine.
So I am now waiting for the office to receive an answer from Mazda in Japan.

So my apologies to the Hungarian system, it is obviously more thorough than the English one which did the initial registration without checking it.

duztee

Well in the end it took 8 days to get a reply from Mazda in Japan.
but finally I can register the car and get my number plate, the cost to register it was a total of 21,085 ft
So added to the cost of testing and importing the all up cost was 65,075 forint. (around £185 depending on exchange rates.)

Rural Hungary

Congrats, glad you got there in the end.

Another calculator:

This one includes motorbikes

Pollypaprika

I understand that from July you can no longer re register a right hand drive car in Hungary. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

frank wiseman

Got this message this morning from Balaton Brits
Bit of bad news.
One of our members took his car to the garage opposite Lidl in Keszthely to arrange for re-registration.
This garage has been popular over the past twelve months for carrying out this service.
It now appears, according to the garage, that a change in the law in July prohibits re-registration of any car with RIGHT HAND DRIVE i.e. British.
Any car done before this date is acceptable.
I have no reason to dispute the comments of the garage owner, but will make further enquiries.
Please contact me or Brian if you have any info. regarding this matter.

richardmc

Phew, glad I got mine done in June

fidobsa

richardmc

dave1982

Not funny. this needs to be confirmed with proper evidence and source!

Pollypaprika

No I don't think it's funny either. I have asked around and as soon as I have any further information I will update you. If it is true it would be the most ridiculous law and I cannot see who it would benefit.

Rural Hungary

It was being discussed mainly, I believe, due to the number of RHD cars being registered after the tax changes in January. This was one of the points being discussed along with various others vehicle related regulations. However, I thought it had been thrown out as it would effectively affect the "free flow of goods" but then again, this is Hungary!

Will see what I can find out as I dont see the garage making false claims about this. Unless he didn't like a particular Brit

vorsman

No reason to suspect garage is only repeating what they have been told. However firstly Poland have brought in such a law apparently but this is against EU rules.
I have contacted solvit today and they will reply in 7 days. This has been under the freedom of movement of goods & services, the freedom of movement of individuals and the pre-existing (more honoured in the breach) laws of having to register in the new country if your car has been there for 180 consecutive days.

When the Spanish passed a law to make all foreign boat owners who were moored in Spanish waters to change to Spanish registration which was against the rules solvit had the law repealed in 10 days!!!

So all is not lost but it could have to go up the EU legal chain if the Hungarians are intransigent.