Hi all,

I`m flying the bike from Santiago to Madrid in the next two weeks and will ride through Spain, France and then into the UK......

I don`t have the bike MOT`d or insured so I guess the question is:

What do I need to do to ride the bike LEGALY through Europe and back into England (where the bike is registered and I live).

I feel like a real div asking this question, but I really dont know how I am going to get the bike MOT`d as soon as it gets off the plane in Madrid!

Cheers all,

Brian
http://colesyboy.tripod.com

__________________
http://www.trailsunexpected.com

I doubt anyone will be interested in your bike's MOT (unless it looks like a completely unsafe wreck). Just carry all your original documentation with you.

You can get a green card in advance from Stefan Knopf here:
http://www.knopftours.com/

And ride back to England...
Stephan

Ok, fair comment, but my problem is that if the bike is checked coming into the UK for a tax disc? Big old fines for not having one of them...

Cheers,

Brian

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http://www.trailsunexpected.com

You only have to have tax when your vehicle is on the road in the UK.

If you are stopped withou tax and the it is reported to the DVLA, then so long as you buy tax for the month in which you were reported then you will be okay.

(I worked at the DVLA - but it was a loong time ago).

Just explain everything to the customs if they stop you. It makes sense that you weren't able to buy a new disk if you haven't been in the country.

Then leave the bike off the road until you take it for MOT.

p.s. I thought your post was going to be about how to survive crazy fast european roads after chilled out SA ;-) My answer to that would be 'carefully'

[This message has been edited by t0by (edited 09 July 2004).]

this is what i thought ,
when you get to spain,someone at home can take a insurance policy out "for"you...green card for a month.
when you get to england ,ring your local bike shop and book an M.o.T....you are then "technically" ok as long as you are taking the shortest route to the m.o.t station,
that's what the police advised me.
if you are mega miles away from home then getting an mot in dover would probably be the safest thing
good luck bryan

Thanks for the responses, I live in London, so I guess that when I get to Dover, I need to find a bike shop in Dover to get the MOT done, mmmmm, will have to plan that one well I think.

I cant remember if riding a bike with one mirror is illegal or not in the UK (or Spain / France for that matter), it broke off in a crash recently, so I may need to source a new one for my Africa Twin. It came off the right side, so its a pain in the arse to change.

Anyone know if its illegal to ride with one mirror?

Cheers guys,

Brian

------------------
http://colesyboy.tripod.com

__________________
http://www.trailsunexpected.com

You don't need any mirrors at all on a motorbike. They are only a legal requirement in cars (construction and use regs). My two DR350s have never had mirrors and I've been getting MOTs for those for the last 9 years.

Thanks bayonet - I never knew this, good, one less thing to get in debt with on my return.

I got a mail back from the DVLA on returning my bike back to the UK from it being out of the country for a year....typical cold response from customer services robot....

CUSTOMER REF : V234683

Thank you for your e-mail.
Please note that, as quoted in the Vehicles Registration and Licensing
Regulations 2002, Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declarations
are
only valid if the vehicle is kept off road in Great Britain or
Northern
Ireland. Therefore, if your vehicle is out of the country you cannot
make a
SORN declaration.

A vehicle that is taken abroad for 12 months or more is regarded as
being
permanently exported and our records should be noted accordingly.

I assume as the vehicle has been out of the country for nearly 12
months
that it does not have a vehicle licence and MOT. The DVLA cannot
anticipate
what action, if any, the authorities of any country you pass through
with
the vehicle, might take upon a visiting British vehicle which is not
displaying a valid excise licence.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to re-licence the vehicle while
you are
abroad, unless you hold a current British MOT and British Insurance
certificate, therefore, the vehicle cannot be re-licensed until it's
return
to Great Britain. I must point out that you would be committing an
offence
as soon as you drive off the ferry with an unlicensed vehicle unless
you are
proceeding to a pre-arranged MOT test.

Once an MOT certificate has been obtained, then you can relicense the
vehicle at any licence issuing Post Office. You should complete form
V10,
together with a registration document, insurance, MOT and the
appropriate
fee. If the registration document is not available, you can complete
form
V62 instead. Both forms are available at the Post Office. The Post
Office
will issue the disc over the counter and forward the necessary papers
to
DVLA.

I trust this information now clarifies the position.


Regards

Debra Thornton
Customer Enquiries Vehicles

------------------
http://colesyboy.tripod.com

__________________
http://www.trailsunexpected.com

Mate,

If you're really stuck give me a shout. Could arrange to get a van (£45 day rate in Chiswick) and pick you. Only a few hours each way, no bother at all.

Alternatively, try some AA cover (can be done over the phone) and break your bike as soon as you land (or do it in France). They won't check the bike for tax/mot.

Thirdly, ride it back along the motorways as there's never cops on them and stick to the limits.

Oh, and last. You are allowed to ride on the road without an MOT if you are taking the bike to be MOT'd. So book it into a bike shop before you land and you should be covered.

Cheers,
Doug

Cheers Doug!

Thanks for the advice mate. The DVLA have got back to me and said

"I can only suggest that you get written confirmation from the garage who will be carrying out the test" so I'll print the letter and get em to sign it. Sorted!

Not looking forward to the motorways of England again....GOD the thought just bores me to tears, miles and miles of concrete dullness...boohoo.

Cheers again, looking forward to a coffee at Munsons!

Brian


------------------
http://colesyboy.tripod.com

__________________
http://www.trailsunexpected.com

Hey,

let me have your registration number (and address?) and I'll nip down to Chiswick Honda and book your bike in, and get a letter confirming it.

Since you recommended Munsons, I got to know the owner. He's planning a move to Canada in a couple of years and wants to quiz you about your trip. They've got a coffee shop Northfields as well now. Still the best coffee in London.

Email me with your details if you want me to get the MOT letter thing sorted.

Cheers again! I`m flying into the UK on the 22nd this month.....(and still happily in denial that I`m actualy going to return home - easy to do in a Santiago cafe, slurping on coffee) and as I have a few days in Ealing, I`ll nip into Bill Buns bike shop down the road from me and get a thingy sorted out, thanks for the offer again Doug, I`ll be buying the coffees!

After a quick stay in the UK (getting all the bleedin bike paperwork together), I`ll fly out to Madrid to get the bike, and ride it back and pretend that I`m still on a huge road trip for a bit.

Cool that they have another shop, great that the owner is moving to Canada, I`ll be querying him on that meself.

Cheers

Brian

------------------
http://colesyboy.tripod.com

__________________
http://www.trailsunexpected.com

if the bike is UK plated what are you going to do in Spain? Get an ITV (mot equiv)? I would just ride and as soon as you get to the UK go to a post office.

if you pass though barcelona give me a shout.

bob

I mean Post office for the tax - the MOT, well that cant wait until you are ready and you wont get stopped. Lets face it the only sign of the police you are likely to see is a speed camera.

cheers

bob

Cheers mate,

Got back home fine, got off the St Malo - Poole at midnight and rode home to London in the dark....somehow anonymously riding back home with no fuss was an absolutely perfect way to ride home.

Brian

------------------
http://colesyboy.tripod.com

__________________
http://www.trailsunexpected.com