andyrich666

If your bringing back a van load, maybe some companies can transport the car back at the same time, I have been thinking about getting a tow bar on my van and bringing a small car down with me on a dolly, I am sure I read on here or a similar forum that to transport a car is from about £400 depending on the size of it.

LizFox

I think you should make an appointment for an MOT in the UK. Then when you're driving from the port to the garage, you are going for an appointment. Not sure if your insurance will be valid though! Liz

Retired in Euskadi

I cannot understand your logic; you know that in Britain it is illegal to drive without
MOT
insurance
tax
So if you have an accident there & cause damage to someone else think about it.

Neptuno

Sure, they will take your money at the ITV station but it will be illegal
UK cars are still illegal if ITV'd here.

pete_l

On a purely technical, non-judgemental, note I hve a vague notion that if your car has failed it's MoT and the current one has expired, you are only permitted to drive it directly to a prearranged MoT station. You can't have an expired MoT and book a (re)test for, say, next Wednesday and then drive the car around normally, until then.

Be aware that all UK car insurances are now on a national database. Individuals can check their own car and the police can check the insurance status of any vehicle. Ref: http://www.askmid.co.uk/

CapnBilly

This problem is really quite simple as I see it. As the car isn't yours, then presumabky it belongs to someone else. If its been in Spain for longer than 6 months, then it is illegal, as it should have been registered. So if you get stopped in Spain, there is a possibility that the car could be impounded ( and all your goods). If it hasn't been in Spain for longer than 6 months, then it is illegal for you (unless you are also non-resident) to drive the car, unless the owner us in the vehicle with you, and you could then be prosecuted. It is therefore likely that the insurance will be invalid.

Assuming you made it to UK, with no problems, or accidents, then providing you drive it directly to an appointment for an MOT, then this would be okay, but you could still be prosecuted for having no tax.

So the simple answer to the question is, its perfectly possible from a physical perspectuve, but more than likely illegal. Only you can make the decision, as to whether you want to take the risk. Personally, I wouldn't.

missile

..... and would Customs and Excise accept someone off a ferry with a car full of belongings is driving directly to a pre-arranged appointment and what about the onward journey to OPs home? OP would need to change V5 to her name before taxing the car.

andyrich666

lol, @ car load of belongings

for the tax though if she is a additional driver on the owners insurance, or has third party cover to drive it then it can stay the same name.

missile

There must be a valid MOT and the name and address on the certificate of insurance must match that on the V5 or V5C to obtain a road fund license for the vehicle.

OP was not the first to ask. I guess a few will risk it and some will regret it.

andyrich666

I was assuming that the owner had the vehicle insured.

You can get around it with the green slip, fill it out in pencil and rub it out after.

There is a lot of assumption here today, for all we know the vehicle could be 9 months without a valid MOT but it might have just on her drive for 9 months so it would not be in any worse state than when it had a MOT. I guess it shows the ITV system maybe better with a 2 yr MOT ?

Casa Santo Estevo

Facts about not having an MOT.
Facts about driving without insurance.
The consequences of driving without the correct documentation.

If you have purchased the car in Spain how do you know it has not got previous fines or outstanding debt on it?

pete_l

Why not? If the OP had documentary proof that the appointment had been made (or even got the rozzers to phone the garage in question), then it would all be above board.
Plus, you don't need to be the vehicle's owner to get it MoT'd, so long as you have the right paperwork. Though it's impossible without it.
I don't know if it's an offence to drive an untaxed vehicle. The offence might be attributable to the owner (though obv. there is a lot of hassle involved if the cops impound it, esp. if it has all your stuff in it). But it'll be massively inconvenient if you are told you can't continue after being pulled in by the fuzz.

I would dearly love to be a fly on the windscreen if this theoretical situation that we're all huffing ang puffing about came to pass:
This could be a whole episode of Police! STOP on it's own

andyrich666

a similar thing happened to me a while back, when you pay the back tax it takes you right up to the day or end of the current month, so the only offence you can commit is not displaying a tax disc, if the OP does not do that then it could be a issue, you have to pay it either way so best just to pay it, then your straight, then go and tax it.

Anyone can take a car for a MOT, you do not need any paperwork for that.

A little tip aswell if you MOT your car a month before it is due you can get 13 months which may help some expat's

EMR

Sorry Andy, It is an offence to drive an untaxed vehicle in the UK.
As many have found out when they find their car clamped at the roadside or even worse if stopped, the car driven off on a trailer.
You were lucky not to get caught in a police check.

andyrich666

Indeed I was, I was totally unbeknown to be driving without tax, a minor indescretion I might add.

I have this big yellow van, like bright sunshine, anyway I got a bit annoyed with a neighbour and thought why don't I park my nice big legal van right outside his house, walking the dog one night looked on the windscreen, big yellow ticket stuck to it, when I realised I thought you XXXX

What goes round comes around I guess, They done me a favour in reporting it as I would have prolly had it taken off the road at some point, we are friends now, but I don't think they know I know, why cant neighbours just be nice from the offset ? anyway I was mugged off for £72 backtax and £80 fine, but lile you say I was lucky as I was in and out of London at least twice a week in it, so lucky not to be pulled up by a traffic cop with ANPR but shows the cameras on the masts don't relay much info that is acted on quickly.