Long term international travel
- Thread starter Unidog
- Start date
It depends where you are going.
If you are travelling in Europe then the MOT is an issue and needs to be renewed on time.
However, the rest of the world doesn't recognise the MOT, in fact most countries do not even have any inspection requirement.
There is no easy method of taking your vehicle out of Europe for long periods.
However, I can tell you what most people do , which isn't technically legal, but probably the only solution.
Most will SORN the vehicle shortly after it has left the UK.
This puts your DVLA record in an archive state that is easily resurected upon return by getting a new MOT and re taxing it.
The small print says that SORNed vehicles must be in the UK, so you do run a very small risk of being caught contraveining this small infringement. ( small fine at worst )
It's about the only solution but not technically legal
Hope this helps
Neil
If you are travelling in Europe then the MOT is an issue and needs to be renewed on time.
However, the rest of the world doesn't recognise the MOT, in fact most countries do not even have any inspection requirement.
There is no easy method of taking your vehicle out of Europe for long periods.
However, I can tell you what most people do , which isn't technically legal, but probably the only solution.
Most will SORN the vehicle shortly after it has left the UK.
This puts your DVLA record in an archive state that is easily resurected upon return by getting a new MOT and re taxing it.
The small print says that SORNed vehicles must be in the UK, so you do run a very small risk of being caught contraveining this small infringement. ( small fine at worst )
It's about the only solution but not technically legal
Hope this helps
Neil
I don't have a specific answer to the British laws as I'm not from there, but keep in mind that China requires valid technical inspection for the car you are driving in. There is a way to bypass this but it takes time from what I heard. Fortunately our country has 2 year technical inspection validity even for large motorhomes (trucks).
I aimed to keep my vehicle taxed for 23 months so that my insurance was valid in Europe ( this may depend upon your insurance provider). So I taxed it for 12 months, then did an MoT afterwards. When tax came up for renewal, the MoT was still valid.
What Neil says is correct. I lot of nonsense and hearsay stories appear the forums on this subject.
If you move to settle one place abroad then your vehicle has been exported and should be imported registered locally. Some people abuse that and deserve criticism.
Long periods of overland travel and different and not covered by the UK rules.
What Neil says is correct. I lot of nonsense and hearsay stories appear the forums on this subject.
If you move to settle one place abroad then your vehicle has been exported and should be imported registered locally. Some people abuse that and deserve criticism.
Long periods of overland travel and different and not covered by the UK rules.
It depends where you intend to travel to.
A Carnet de Passage is not required anywhere in Europe or anywhere in all the Americas.
Most of us buy insurance locally at or near the Border.
Neil
It's not needed in most of Africa. Maybe for Egypt, since they have an 800% charge, and Senegal where there is a scam on older vehicles.
Alessi is a Dutch company who will insure your vehicle outside your home country based on a local safety inspection. On returning to the UK, it is within the law to drive without an MOT to an MOT inspection station, so if you drove straight to a pre-booked MOT as you got off the ferry/tunnel, it would presumably be within the rules.
It is, of course, not a budget option! https://www.alessie.com/
It is, of course, not a budget option! https://www.alessie.com/
You need big pockets to use them.
Never met any traveller that has.
I think you might find that in many countries they only cover on a liability, third party basis.
This you can always source very cheaply when you enter a country
Neil
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Funny really, when you look at the checks carried our for a UK MOT I suspect an owner/traveller will complete more thorough regular safely checks as a matter of course. Can fail an MOT for cracked windscreen, broken seatbelt, broken lights and even emissions. Many (most?) vehicles in some countries would still be on the road with these faults.
Checks of the mechanicals are carried out as part of the MOT but are not that extensive.
Checks of the mechanicals are carried out as part of the MOT but are not that extensive.