driving in the UK without NCT

ihaveanidea

Hello

I've been lurking this site for a while and now i finally have question worth asking:)

I'm heading to the UK to work for a year and I want to take my car with me, its great car so I dont see the point in getting rid when I'll be back in a year (03 Landcruiser)

What will happen if the NCT expires while I'm over there? I know any car driven in the UK must be legal in its country of origin, but how much leeway can I expect in this regard? also if my NCT is expired on my journey home where would I stand.

I've checked it all out with my insurance broker so I'm safe as far as insurance is concerned and i can tax online

Thanks in advance for the advice

scudzilla

ihaveanidea wrote: »

Hello

I've been lurking this site for a while and now i finally have question worth asking:)

I'm heading to the UK to work for a year and I want to take my car with me, its great car so I dont see the point in getting rid when I'll be back in a year (03 Landcruiser)

What will happen if the NCT expires while I'm over there? I know any car driven in the UK must be legal in its country of origin, but how much leeway can I expect in this regard? also if my NCT is expired on my journey home where would I stand.

I've checked it all out with my insurance broker so I'm safe as far as insurance is concerned and i can tax online

Thanks in advance for the advice

All depends if ya get pulled and how narky the copper is, if he's grand then you're grand, if he's not then you're in a bit of trouble.

Also you say you're taking the car over for a year, i doubt that's allowed, you'll be pulled for that, i think there's a time limit, same as anybody living/working here driving a uk plated car.

Also your insurance wouldn't cover you for living/working over therwe for a year, most policies only have 30 days on them.

Have you thought about buying a car over there to use for the year? You could get something quite reliable for around 1,000stg, then shift it before you come back

ihaveanidea

Can't really afford to shell out for another car as the wife is nagging me to get her something while I'm away:rolleyes:

Which is a whole other thread
Broker sorted the insurance somehow not sure how but he says I'm clear. I think you may be right about the limit on driving a foreign car there though. I've just been checking up and it seems you need to put the car on UK plates after 6 months. Which means I'll probably have to pay VRT on my Landcruiser a second time when I get back:( I need the jeep though as the jobs gonna involve some towing

scudzilla

ihaveanidea wrote: »

Can't really afford to shell out for another car as the wife is nagging me to get her something while I'm away:rolleyes:

Which is a whole other thread
Broker sorted the insurance somehow not sure how but he says I'm clear. I think you may be right about the limit on driving a foreign car there though. I've just been checking up and it seems you need to put the car on UK plates after 6 months. Which means I'll probably have to pay VRT on my Landcruiser a second time when I get back:( I need the jeep though as the jobs gonna involve some towing

Double check your policy as it's not uncommon for a broker to tell a few porky pies to sell a policy

rebel.ranter

Re-registering the Landcruiser in the UK is fairly easy, it costs something nominal like €50.
When you come back to Ireland with it next year you will not have to repay the VRT to bring it bck in & re-register in Ireland. You would also most likely get your old registration number back too.

To save a lot of messing you are probably better running the car in the UK with UK tax, insurance & MOT, then switch back when you come home. That's if you're insisting on hanging on to it which it sounds like you have to given your current circumstances.
The answer to your original question is that you will probably get away with it, a friend of mine drove his Irish Reg Renault Clio over there for 18 months without issue. That is not to say you'll be strictly within the law though.

Id say you will have no problem op. I was driving uk registered car for months around the middle of London with no MOT (which some people think you wont last a day with) and never had a problem. If your insurance is ok I wouldn't worry.

Remember they cannot stop you over there usless they have reason to, checkpoints are not allowed. The place is mad with cameras over there for speeding to parking, you will be immune to all this too on an irish reg.

However, if it were me Id sell the Irish car and buy something else over there which you can then vrt for free when you move back.

sneakyST

ihaveanidea wrote: »

Hello

I've been lurking this site for a while and now i finally have question worth asking:)

I'm heading to the UK to work for a year and I want to take my car with me, its great car so I dont see the point in getting rid when I'll be back in a year (03 Landcruiser)

What will happen if the NCT expires while I'm over there? I know any car driven in the UK must be legal in its country of origin, but how much leeway can I expect in this regard? also if my NCT is expired on my journey home where would I stand.

I've checked it all out with my insurance broker so I'm safe as far as insurance is concerned and i can tax online

Thanks in advance for the advice

You really need to check this as I couldnt get insurance when I moved across to the UK.

If you cant get covered from Ireland then you will need to register the car in the UK to get insurance, and therefore you need to get a valid MOT. You will need to get chassis insurance on the car so you can drive to an MOT centre only (no other use permitted), then get it registered with the DVLA, then you can insure it proper.

If I had to do it again I would sell the car and buy in the UK.

keithclancy

Preston Enough Slipcover wrote: »

Id say you will have no problem op. I was driving uk registered car for months around the middle of London with no MOT (which some people think you wont last a day with) and never had a problem. If your insurance is ok I wouldn't worry.

Remember they cannot stop you over there usless they have reason to, checkpoints are not allowed. The place is mad with cameras over there for speeding to parking, you will be immune to all this too on an irish reg.

However, if it were me Id sell the Irish car and buy something else over there which you can then vrt for free when you move back.

Don't count on that .. if you build up enough fines they will come after you for it.

Have seen Dutchies getting pulled on the Harwich - Hoek Van Holland ferry crossing looking for immediate payment.

keithclancy

keithclancy wrote: »

Don't count on that .. if you build up enough fines they will come after you for it.

Have seen Dutchies getting pulled on the Harwich - Hoek Van Holland ferry crossing looking for immediate payment.

I'm not talking about blatant flouting of the law, more getting away with things once or twice.

keithclancy

Preston Enough Slipcover wrote: »

I'm not talking about blatant flouting of the law, more getting away with things once or twice.

Yes, but your "immune" statement is pretty inaccurate, its not like Irish plates are like CD plates. I wouldn't advise anyone to assume they can get away with not paying fines, just merely pointing out that they do so at their own risk !

UK Border control is nuts compared to other countries