Angeldimana

Sorry if this as been covered before. I'm sure it has but wondered if anyone has experienced of this ??

Our car is due its first MOT in January and i was reluctantly taking it back at Christmas to sort it out.
I rang our insurance broker Stuart Collins and they said that although a MOT certificate was preferred if we get an Italian check done as per the the 'revisione' (without the cert) - Then this is acceptable by the insurers.
All we have to do is keep a copy of the invoice for the safety check and if possible a tick list showing what has been reviewed in the check.

Anybody done this rather than going back to the UK for the MOT?

If so, how did the Italian testing agency feel about testing a non Italian car?

Thanks

Nigel

Scudiero

Hi there,

We have a local testing center who have no worries about testing foreign vehicles. If this is a first time though have you a right or left hand drive and more importantly are you headlights set up for Europe. It is unlikely they will be able to pass a car with lights set up for the UK. However if you do change the lights keep them for when you might want to take the car back.

Good luck

Pica

Where are you based please? We recently did the drive back to the UK just for an MOT (RHD) and we'd had the headlights realigned at Francavilla (for Italy) just a few months ago but of course the UK centre had to put them back to UK settings DOH! Now we have to change them again. Sheesh!

Angeldimana

The car is a RHD. I presume that the stick on light deflectors wont do then?

Not sure how much it would cost for the lights swapped!!

Pica

No stick ons don't truly do the job

Angeldimana

Where do you take the cars for testing here? Just a local garage?

I thought they went to a local ACI testing station?

Mr Posh

Hang on...whats this....we do not need to take the car back to the UK for MOT? is this 100% right

Angeldimana

Thats what Stuart Collins told me. As long as you get a local version (witout the cert) and can prove it.

ononno

I am well aware that I often put my foot in it. But I cannot keep quiet on this subject. Surely; even though one particular insurance company may accept a revisione rather than a certified MOT; that does not make you road legal in the eyes of the DVLA?
If you do not have an MOT certificate, you cannot be road legal in UK. Ergo, if you are not road legal in UK, your GB reg. vehicle is not road legal in Italy either.

I would be interested to hear anyone who can prove otherwise.

ciao for now,
'o nonno

Angeldimana

I questioned that with Stuart Collins and they that it was fine and have experience of it.
They recommend that on return to the UK you get an MOT asap but people who have been questioned by the police have treated leniently on proving that they have a 'local' test as an equivalent.
They did also say that local police in Italy, Spain, France or wherever you are may interpret it differently but by the sound of it there had been no major problems.

They sent me an email as proof although i have to say that the email is quite vague and the attachment isn't on headed paper so i'm not sure how much proof that would hold.

They said that the insurers have had no problem with this and will continue to honour the cover.

Mr Posh

I just spoke to Italsure and they said:

As written in email:

You are expected to keep the car in good roadworthy condition, maintaining it regularly and attending to problems as they arise. This would always apply. My knowledge of road traffic regs, suggests that you are required to have an MOT wherever you are. The enforcement of this I am less clearly about but nonetheless we are hardly in a position to suggest you should not have one.

Angeldimana

So, where would you go to get the test?

My normal local garage, main dealer or ACI for the test?

duffer

All 3?

45 Euro at ACI, 65 Euro at an authorised testing centre or more at your local garage if they do it, generally they'll charge you the 65 Euro plus extra, around 15-20 Euro, for the time and cost of taking your car to an authorised testing centre.

You do need the logbook though...

Angeldimana

Is there anyone else who currently does not MOT their car and get a check up here?

If so, any problems so far?

jiminalpago

So, where would you go to get the test?

My normal local garage, main dealer or ACI for the test?

Not every garage does it; there are registered testers, just as in UK.

But I agree with ononno.
The broker's opinion implies that you could keep a UK registered and insured car here indefinately. At this time last year I made enquiries of a number of UK insurers and the best I could get was six months unbroken cover abroad. (A coy specialising in expat executives offered cover at rates that could only be covered in an expat package.)
The broker does not, of course, decide liability on any problem that might arise; the insurer does, and tends to search for get-outs. I would be cautious of his advice.