Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Hello, don't you know, if is it possible to buy and registrate a car in the UK as I am not a citizen of the UK? I am planning moving to England in about two-three years. You know, difference between European and British cars are in a position of steering wheel. So I don't like to buy an European car, then sell it and then buy another one in the UK, because it is loosing of money. Yes, I could buy an used car, but I don't want to have problems with repairing, etc. So it would be good if I could buy a car in the UK and registrate it there. That short time in Slovakia wouldn't be problem for me. I don't drive so much, so different steering wouldn't be so big problem and I'm planning my car would drive long years in England. And the important reason is that I like that car very much and I'm afraid it wouldn't be possible to buy it new in about three years. I want it now, but with steering ready for English roads.

Is it possible to own a car in the UK as I am not an UK citizen?

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Of course you can - why would you not be able to

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

No problems buying the car. Insurance will be higher as you might get classed as a new driver.

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

I've heard something that I have to be a resident if I want to registrate a car in the UK. But if you say it's not problem I should get more information about that. Thanks for replies.

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

I don't think that I have ever had anyone ask about my status when buying a car and I have bought both new and second hand, though it has been 10 years since buying one.

I know that I have had managers transfer over to the UK on temporary assignments that have bought cars and they have never mentioned anything about any problems they have had.

Good luck.

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Just bought a used car - private sale - we weren't asked about residential status. I'm just checking the Registration Certificate now as I write this, and it doesn't state anywhere that you have to be a UK resident. On the front of the form there is the phase "Registration Certificate" written in 23 different languages.
the website is
www.direct.gov.co.uk/motoring if you need more help.
Good Luck philcan :)

I've just read the leaflet that comes with the certiciate, and found this:

"Section 11. Notification of Permanent Export V5C/4
Complete Section 11 if you intend taking your vehicle abroad form ore than 12 months. This is regarded as a permanent export....."
It goes on to explain which bit needs to be filled in, etc. So, it seems you don't need to be a UK resident to buy a car in the UK. Hope this helps. :D

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Just found another bit! If the car is bought privately, the seller asks the buyer to complete the relevant part fo the form with the intended date of export, and then notifies the DVLA that he has disposed of the vehicle. Voila! So, philcan, if oyu buy privately, tell the seller you are exporting the car, and take it from there. :)

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

I know, there's no problem with buying and then exporting. But in Slovakia you can't registrate car with steering wheel on the right side. So I should registrate it in Britain and drive it as a British car in abroad. That means I would pay insurance in the UK. It would be much easier if I could registrate it in Slovakia (like cars from Germany, Austria, etc...).:unsure:

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Sorry, but even I can't change the rules for you. You orginal question was whether you could actually buy and register a car in the UK. The answer is yes, you can :)

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

But you were speaking about buying and exporting (sorry, if I haven't understood something, excuse my English). I would like to have a car registrated in the UK same as British. But if it's ok, I would be happy.

Sorry, but the link you wrote, doesn't work.

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Try: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/index.htm

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Thanks a lot :thumbs_up:

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

I've just checked a registration form and I found out that the "Address of the vehicle keeper must be in England, Scotland or Wales". I think that's the basic problem. As I said I'm planning moving to the UK in about three years so I don't have any address there at present time.

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

i also wanted to find out whether its possible to temporarily export my car for 11.5 months to russia from the uk. and still have its tax being paid in the uk,as iam a student in russia.
*not a resident(non EU passport).
*my car is registered on my uk address(parents are residents).
* so my questions is will i lawfully be allowed to go out with that car from the uk and still use as british car??

Re: Buying a car in the UK by a foreigner
 

Haven't a clue about Russia but we moved to Portugal - in the EU of course- and found it is illegal to drive around in a car with British plates for longer than 6 months. I doubt if you would get UK insurance to cover you for that amount of time abroad, and it is very difficult here to find insurers that will insure a UK registered car. There are a couple of companies covering Spain and Portugal, but there is debate about the legal validity of the cover in the event of an accident. The whole car registration thing seems unnecessarily complicated, but I guess it's all about taxation in the end. And in Portugal yes - you do need to be resident in the country to register the car.
Be careful... good luck!