Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
#1
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18
Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Hi There
if we come out...(notice everything this week is 'if') likely next weeks posts will start with 'when' one more interview to come...
anyway I digress... if we come out in September to teach, then we will be returning for 3 weeks at christmas and 8 weeks (all July / August) in 2013 ..year on year.
My question is, does anyone keep a car on standby at home for such / same visits..and if so how do they manage the insurance situation. I realise I can SORN regarding tax, but do we need to get a policy and then shut it down every visit... or are their companies that will do a bespoke product that will just insure at specific times on an annual basis..
anyone any experiences of this...
ta v much - Woody.
if we come out...(notice everything this week is 'if') likely next weeks posts will start with 'when' one more interview to come...
anyway I digress... if we come out in September to teach, then we will be returning for 3 weeks at christmas and 8 weeks (all July / August) in 2013 ..year on year.
My question is, does anyone keep a car on standby at home for such / same visits..and if so how do they manage the insurance situation. I realise I can SORN regarding tax, but do we need to get a policy and then shut it down every visit... or are their companies that will do a bespoke product that will just insure at specific times on an annual basis..
anyone any experiences of this...
ta v much - Woody.
#2
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Hi There
if we come out...(notice everything this week is 'if') likely next weeks posts will start with 'when' one more interview to come...
anyway I digress... if we come out in September to teach, then we will be returning for 3 weeks at christmas and 8 weeks (all July / August) in 2013 ..year on year.
My question is, does anyone keep a car on standby at home for such / same visits..and if so how do they manage the insurance situation. I realise I can SORN regarding tax, but do we need to get a policy and then shut it down every visit... or are their companies that will do a bespoke product that will just insure at specific times on an annual basis..
anyone any experiences of this...
ta v much - Woody.
if we come out...(notice everything this week is 'if') likely next weeks posts will start with 'when' one more interview to come...
anyway I digress... if we come out in September to teach, then we will be returning for 3 weeks at christmas and 8 weeks (all July / August) in 2013 ..year on year.
My question is, does anyone keep a car on standby at home for such / same visits..and if so how do they manage the insurance situation. I realise I can SORN regarding tax, but do we need to get a policy and then shut it down every visit... or are their companies that will do a bespoke product that will just insure at specific times on an annual basis..
anyone any experiences of this...
ta v much - Woody.
#3
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Not a good option as you currently propose it
If you have a relative who will keep drivng it around as their regular driver then that is one workable option and we do this with our Landy
To park a car up for 8 months and expect it to be happy when you come back is unrealistic.
I am sure I read somewhere that you either had to keep it insured even if off the road or the Gov was proposing it
Either get it used by someone else or flog it.
If you have a relative who will keep drivng it around as their regular driver then that is one workable option and we do this with our Landy
To park a car up for 8 months and expect it to be happy when you come back is unrealistic.
I am sure I read somewhere that you either had to keep it insured even if off the road or the Gov was proposing it
Either get it used by someone else or flog it.
#4
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
agree...don't keep the car
If I were so lucky to have so much time off I'd rent at X-mas and buy an old banger at the beginning of summer and scrap it 8 weeks later. Not sure about the insurance on the banger though or if it will count towards tax status
If I were so lucky to have so much time off I'd rent at X-mas and buy an old banger at the beginning of summer and scrap it 8 weeks later. Not sure about the insurance on the banger though or if it will count towards tax status
#5
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
If you plan to retain a car in the UK and are no longer resident you will have to change or amend the insurance, which will cost you more. A standard UK contract is for residents only.
#6
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Thanks all... if I am living in the UK for about 11 weeks and keeping a house going here surely having an address is enough to maintain some sort of usual car insurance... or is that not the case?
woody?
#7
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
No. It isn't. You will be non-resident and your standard insurance will be invalid.
#8
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Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi by body and Sydney by soul
Posts: 1,841
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Also, keep an eye on your tax days, you don't want to have to pay your tax because you came home for half term etc. 11 weeks is 77 days and you're getting close to the allowance of 93.
Also, you need to do a full year abroad (tax year 2013-2014) to not have to pay tax. Meow will be able to say it much more sensibly than me!
Also, you need to do a full year abroad (tax year 2013-2014) to not have to pay tax. Meow will be able to say it much more sensibly than me!
#9
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Also, keep an eye on your tax days, you don't want to have to pay your tax because you came home for half term etc. 11 weeks is 77 days and you're getting close to the allowance of 93.
Also, you need to do a full year abroad (tax year 2013-2014) to not have to pay tax. Meow will be able to say it much more sensibly than me!
Also, you need to do a full year abroad (tax year 2013-2014) to not have to pay tax. Meow will be able to say it much more sensibly than me!
You don't have to spend a full tax year abroad, but in this tax year you can spend no more than 90 days in the UK to be non-resident, although once you are overseas for several years partial years can become moot.
#10
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Would owning a UK car be a 'connecting factor'?
That's what I was getting at in earlier post
That's what I was getting at in earlier post
#13
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Cheers everyone for your thoughts on this... I need to investigate further. Its my nice (if old now) Audi 4x4 that tows my Caravan...which I will also be using upon my return in Summer. Picking up a scrapper with a tow bar seems a bit of hastle. I may need to get my parents to run it as a second car and pay them insurance / tax money (that way they can put us on the insurance as named drivers)... thanks all again - Woody
#14
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
Cheers everyone for your thoughts on this... I need to investigate further. Its my nice (if old now) Audi 4x4 that tows my Caravan...which I will also be using upon my return in Summer. Picking up a scrapper with a tow bar seems a bit of hastle. I may need to get my parents to run it as a second car and pay them insurance / tax money (that way they can put us on the insurance as named drivers)... thanks all again - Woody
#15
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18
Re: Keeping a car in the UK for visits.
I would need to work out what it would cost to rent a normal car for 3 weeks at christmas and one with a tow bar for 8 in the summer.... then do the Maths.