Imported car problem

Chinster

Member

Aug 7, 2011

96

• May 23, 2013

• #1

A little help needed from all you motoring NSC people.
Just bought a car back to UK from France. It was previously registered in the UK but now has French plates.
To register it in the UK again i need to insure it with a UK insurance certificate. The only way i seem to be able to do it is on the Vin number because it has French plates.
Only specialised insurance companies seem to do this and they want £200 for 30 days insurance!!!!!! (3rd party only robbing *******s)
Does anyone know any way around it?

cheers in advance

 

grubbyhands

Well-known member

Dec 8, 2011

2,285

Godalming

• May 23, 2013

• #2

I am wondering if you could get your local friendly motor mechanic who would have a motor trade " blanket cover " insurance policy to temporarily add the vehicle to his list of covered vehicles OR does the V5 registration document show what its english registration number was prior to it being registered in France? Bit of a long shot I realise but maybe worth a go?

 

Bwian

Kiss my (_!_)

Jul 14, 2003

15,898

• May 23, 2013

• #3

Go to the local DVLA office. I'm pretty sure that you can register a vehicle without insurance-if not,how would car dealers register cars for customers to collect? I bought two cars with me when I moved back to the UK from Canada and don't remember needing insurance to register them.

 

Official Old Man

Uckfield Seagull

Aug 27, 2011

8,532

Brighton

• May 23, 2013

• #4

Not right, but forgotten what to do. I had a Spanish car and when we moved back here it came with us. Drove on Spanish plates for months then changed the plates to UK. Always insured but cant recall how. Can you not insure it as a French plated car and then just register it here and change the paperwork with the insurance company (usually a small fee).
Not sure you've been given the correct info though about registering it here.
I've just checked the DVLA web site and you do not need insurance. Plainly you wont be able to drive it until the paperwork is done but only need proof of purchase and other documents as proof of vehicles age etc. https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk

 

R

ropey9

Active member

Feb 25, 2009

181

• May 23, 2013

• #5

We had a UK car and registered it in Ireland, we brought it back to the UK 3 years later and the DVLA just issued a V5 with the old registration (free) - we even had the old plates so just put them back on. We did all this on the phone. It was 10 years ago so perhaps things have changed.

It was insured after speaking with the DVLA and getting confirmation of the registration.