Driving a UK registered car
#31
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Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Disneylandia
Posts: 1,824
Re: Driving a UK registered car
I detect quite a lot of complacency throughout this thread. However, we are talking about the law, and we should be aware that the various types of police have different interests and policies in enforcing it.
The friendly local carabinieri might not be looking out for this type of offence but they would probably uncover it if they 'lollipopped' you for a routine check. Their computers have everything on them these days!
However, the traffic police, for example, are probably now on the alert. And so too, maybe, some of the many other types of police here in Italy.
Once you have got through the 'matriculation' paperwork and paid your dues, you then have to wait a couple of weeks for the new 'targa' and then you have to get the plates made up and fitted.
In the meantime, you might be able to get a permit to 'circulate'. But at that point, I think, your UK bureaucratic arrangements would no longer be valid. You would have to get insurance in Italy, the Italian 'MOT' (collaudo), and the Italian road tax (bollo). Can anyone confirm this?
The friendly local carabinieri might not be looking out for this type of offence but they would probably uncover it if they 'lollipopped' you for a routine check. Their computers have everything on them these days!
However, the traffic police, for example, are probably now on the alert. And so too, maybe, some of the many other types of police here in Italy.
Once you have got through the 'matriculation' paperwork and paid your dues, you then have to wait a couple of weeks for the new 'targa' and then you have to get the plates made up and fitted.
In the meantime, you might be able to get a permit to 'circulate'. But at that point, I think, your UK bureaucratic arrangements would no longer be valid. You would have to get insurance in Italy, the Italian 'MOT' (collaudo), and the Italian road tax (bollo). Can anyone confirm this?
Took me about 4 months and going on 1800 eurines. And I was lucky because it was a LHD vehicle anyway, but of course lighted up to UK requirements.
ciao for now,
'o nonno
#32
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Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Scotland
Posts: 42
Re: Driving a UK registered car
ononno, my congratulations on the job well done!
Would you mind to share a bit more details about what does this sum consist of? Or at least how strongly it depends on engine volume or hp or co2?
Would you mind to share a bit more details about what does this sum consist of? Or at least how strongly it depends on engine volume or hp or co2?
#33
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Location: Disneylandia
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Re: Driving a UK registered car
ciao for now,
'o nonno
#34
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Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Scotland
Posts: 42
Re: Driving a UK registered car
'o nonno, thank you very much, it is the most detailed description I have seen so far
#35
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Location: Disneylandia
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Re: Driving a UK registered car
If I had lived further North it would probably have been easier.
#36
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 339
Re: Driving a UK registered car
Thanks for all the useful advice and comments about this troubling issue. Having gained residency in December I was confidently thinking I had a year to sort out what to do with the two vehicles I have here. I was already thinking it would be better to sell one (our car) in the UK and perhaps register our campervan here...but now I think, having read onono's comments that we'll have to take them both back to the UK in the next few weeks...and our furniture arrives Wednesday and I start a new work contract the week after...sigh!!
Reading what was said about complacency, I wanted to make a point about insurance (as an ex insurance underwriter). If you have not completely openly declared that you are living here then you have misrepresented your position and technically your insurance is invalid, because one of the key rating factors in calculating quotes is where you live. You will probably get away with it if you are stopped by the Italian police, because your documents will look valid. But if you try to make a claim, and your insurer finds out...which they will if you are in the process of registering a car here...then they will reject your claim on the basis of your non disclosure...especially if they would not have quoted if they knew the full facts. They would probably have to pay a third party claim, especially if it is a large amount, but they would have the right to sue you for their money. This applies even if you do have an annual green card from the likes of SAGA.
Reading what was said about complacency, I wanted to make a point about insurance (as an ex insurance underwriter). If you have not completely openly declared that you are living here then you have misrepresented your position and technically your insurance is invalid, because one of the key rating factors in calculating quotes is where you live. You will probably get away with it if you are stopped by the Italian police, because your documents will look valid. But if you try to make a claim, and your insurer finds out...which they will if you are in the process of registering a car here...then they will reject your claim on the basis of your non disclosure...especially if they would not have quoted if they knew the full facts. They would probably have to pay a third party claim, especially if it is a large amount, but they would have the right to sue you for their money. This applies even if you do have an annual green card from the likes of SAGA.
#37
Re: Driving a UK registered car
The police are out hunting foreign number plates around Trasimeno. They are probably getting a bonus for everyone they find.
Targhe straniere, ancora sanzioni | umbriaON
Targhe straniere, ancora sanzioni | umbriaON
#38
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Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Rapagnano, Marche
Posts: 168
Re: Driving a UK registered car
We have insurance, underwritten by AXA, which provides for unlimited time cover outside of the UK (unlike Saga where it is limited to 90 days]. We have to have a UK address for this insurance, but that is also true for the registration and car tax as with everybody else, I guess. So its interesting that you imply that the insurance might be invalidated because that is not a residency address. My experience is that insurance premiums are to provide a legal right to drive but in the event of requiring to claim on the cover any slight deviation will be used to avoid settling a claim. It keeps the premiums down but doesn’t really do the policy holder any favours.
My car is UK based, there is nothing that connects it to my Italian address. So, the problem is my residency not the status of the car.
True story: a friend of mine was injured when a car swerved across the road and hit him head on. The other driver was said to have had a heart attack just before he lost control of the car so, as he was dead at the point of impact, would not have been covered by his insurance, dead people not being able to get cover. The claim was paid,eventually, but only after being taken to court.
My car is UK based, there is nothing that connects it to my Italian address. So, the problem is my residency not the status of the car.
True story: a friend of mine was injured when a car swerved across the road and hit him head on. The other driver was said to have had a heart attack just before he lost control of the car so, as he was dead at the point of impact, would not have been covered by his insurance, dead people not being able to get cover. The claim was paid,eventually, but only after being taken to court.
#39
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Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Rapagnano, Marche
Posts: 168
Re: Driving a UK registered car
The police are out hunting foreign number plates around Trasimeno. They are probably getting a bonus for everyone they find.
Targhe straniere, ancora sanzioni | umbriaON
Targhe straniere, ancora sanzioni | umbriaON
#40
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: essex and calabria
Posts: 423
Re: Driving a UK registered car
We have insurance, underwritten by AXA, which provides for unlimited time cover outside of the UK (unlike Saga where it is limited to 90 days]. We have to have a UK address for this insurance, but that is also true for the registration and car tax as with everybody else, I guess. So its interesting that you imply that the insurance might be invalidated because that is not a residency address. My experience is that insurance premiums are to provide a legal right to drive but in the event of requiring to claim on the cover any slight deviation will be used to avoid settling a claim. It keeps the premiums down but doesn’t really do the policy holder any favours.
My car is UK based, there is nothing that connects it to my Italian address. So, the problem is my residency not the status of the car.
True story: a friend of mine was injured when a car swerved across the road and hit him head on. The other driver was said to have had a heart attack just before he lost control of the car so, as he was dead at the point of impact, would not have been covered by his insurance, dead people not being able to get cover. The claim was paid,eventually, but only after being taken to court.
My car is UK based, there is nothing that connects it to my Italian address. So, the problem is my residency not the status of the car.
True story: a friend of mine was injured when a car swerved across the road and hit him head on. The other driver was said to have had a heart attack just before he lost control of the car so, as he was dead at the point of impact, would not have been covered by his insurance, dead people not being able to get cover. The claim was paid,eventually, but only after being taken to court.
#41
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Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Rapagnano, Marche
Posts: 168
Re: Driving a UK registered car
Apologies, yes, it was unlimited when we had it for the 8 years we spent the summers in Greece but you had to be a UK resident, I think.
Anyway, our AXA insurance was cheaper!
Anyway, our AXA insurance was cheaper!
Last edited by arjacey; Jan 21st 2019 at 4:04 pm.
#43
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,507
Re: Driving a UK registered car
This from the Independent today:
The Foreign Office is advising British people living in EU countries to give up their UK driving licences in order to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
British embassies in a number of member states have said that “holders of UK driving licences who are resident in an EU country should exchange their UK licences for a driving licence from the EU country you are living in before 29 March 2019”.
The advice is being issued because in the event of a no-deal Brexit it will become impossible to exchange your UK driving licence for a local one without re-taking your driving test – a potentially expensive and difficult experience.
The Foreign Office is advising British people living in EU countries to give up their UK driving licences in order to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
British embassies in a number of member states have said that “holders of UK driving licences who are resident in an EU country should exchange their UK licences for a driving licence from the EU country you are living in before 29 March 2019”.
The advice is being issued because in the event of a no-deal Brexit it will become impossible to exchange your UK driving licence for a local one without re-taking your driving test – a potentially expensive and difficult experience.
#44
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 339
Re: Driving a UK registered car
Yes, I am also insured with Saga and they include unlimited cover for trips in Europe...many uk insurers do at the moment. But on the basis that you gave accurate information when you completed the proposal form. First question on the proposal form after your name would have been something like, 'Where is the vehicle usually/normally parked overnight?' If you gave your uk address but in fact you usually keep the car here in Italy...well you can see the potential issue. There are people who have holiday homes here who may be able to win an argument with their insurers about this if they spend most of the time in the UK...it should be quite clear cut. But if you are resident in Italy...
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 200
Re: Driving a UK registered car
This from the Independent today:
The Foreign Office is advising British people living in EU countries to give up their UK driving licences in order to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
British embassies in a number of member states have said that “holders of UK driving licences who are resident in an EU country should exchange their UK licences for a driving licence from the EU country you are living in before 29 March 2019”.
The advice is being issued because in the event of a no-deal Brexit it will become impossible to exchange your UK driving licence for a local one without re-taking your driving test – a potentially expensive and difficult experience.
The Foreign Office is advising British people living in EU countries to give up their UK driving licences in order to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
British embassies in a number of member states have said that “holders of UK driving licences who are resident in an EU country should exchange their UK licences for a driving licence from the EU country you are living in before 29 March 2019”.
The advice is being issued because in the event of a no-deal Brexit it will become impossible to exchange your UK driving licence for a local one without re-taking your driving test – a potentially expensive and difficult experience.