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  #1  
Old 10 Sep 2011
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Visitor to UK buying a vehicle for Euro/Balkan Trip
Hi All,

I am having a bit of trouble finding the info I need on the DVLA website etc.

We have family arriving in July who would like to come on our Euro holiday with us, this will probably be down to Italy across from Bari to Montenegro and back up.

They are coming from Australia on Kiwi passports and want to buy a car, and sell it post trip. Obviously we will need the registration document prior to the trip. If they buy the vehicle on arrival in UK that could be a bit tricky as the DVLA will probably take about 4 weeks to process it.

Do any of you know what the best approach to getting this sorted is? Can I buy a vehicle for them in their name?

What about insurance for the EU can a none resident insure a vehicle for UK and the EU?

I guess for the Balkan states we will just buy insurance at the borders and be done with it. For this the V5 registration document will need to be in their name.

Any ideas?

Many Thanks

Dan
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  #2  
Old 10 Sep 2011
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You should have no problem buying a vehicle and registering it in their name.
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  #3  
Old 21 Sep 2011
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Your best bet regarding insuarance is to ring someone like Carole Nash and ask them.

Why not buy the truck in your own name if you'll be accompanying them on the trip? Insure it and have them as named drivers perhaps?
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Old 23 Sep 2011
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I am sorry to say this but a previous reply is not correct. In order to register a vehicle in the U.K. you must have a permanent address in the U.k.. A visitor staying temporarily at an address in the U.K. is NOT considered to be a resident. The DVLA check applicants details before registration is allowed, if you don't show up on an electoral register, the DVLA database, or any of the other cross referenced databases, then you can't register. Neither can you register a vehicle on someone elses behalf.

Not being able to register a vehicle means that you can't insure it either.

It is no longer easy to arrive from overseas buy a car/bike, insure it and drive off. Unfortunately too many criminals and terrorist types have been doing the same thing, so it's been stopped.
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  #5  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by dave ett View Post
Your best bet regarding insuarance is to ring someone like Carole Nash and ask them.

Why not buy the truck in your own name if you'll be accompanying them on the trip? Insure it and have them as named drivers perhaps?
Hi, Unfortunately that would not work, when you buy insurance at borders they make it out to the registered owner.

I have not been able to find cheap (reasonably) insurance to cover Balkans for a 4x4.
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  #6  
Old 23 Sep 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pongo View Post
I am sorry to say this but a previous reply is not correct. In order to register a vehicle in the U.K. you must have a permanent address in the U.k.. A visitor staying temporarily at an address in the U.K. is NOT considered to be a resident. The DVLA check applicants details before registration is allowed, if you don't show up on an electoral register, the DVLA database, or any of the other cross referenced databases, then you can't register. Neither can you register a vehicle on someone elses behalf.

Not being able to register a vehicle means that you can't insure it either.

It is no longer easy to arrive from overseas buy a car/bike, insure it and drive off. Unfortunately too many criminals and terrorist types have been doing the same thing, so it's been stopped.
This is interesting. I wonder what people do if they move over?
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  #7  
Old 25 Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by danward79 View Post
Hi All,

I am having a bit of trouble finding the info I need on the DVLA website etc.

We have family arriving in July who would like to come on our Euro holiday with us, this will probably be down to Italy across from Bari to Montenegro and back up.

They are coming from Australia on Kiwi passports and want to buy a car, and sell it post trip. Obviously we will need the registration document prior to the trip. If they buy the vehicle on arrival in UK that could be a bit tricky as the DVLA will probably take about 4 weeks to process it.
Do any of you know what the best approach to getting this sorted is? Can I buy a vehicle for them in their name?
What about insurance for the EU can a none resident insure a vehicle for UK and the EU?
I guess for the Balkan states we will just buy insurance at the borders and be done with it. For this the V5 registration document will need to be in their name.
Any ideas? Many Thanks Dan
Hi Dan, Unfortunately the law changed sometime ago as foreigner's would have a accident and get away with it the Law has changed they must be Domiciled in UK, i.e. rented house etc.

I would suggest you buy the car/van in your name, ditto insurance & place them as Named Drivers. which means they are covered on the insurance, They would have to bring there full licence.
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  #8  
Old 5 Oct 2011
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Thanks,

That plan from what I understand is good, until you come to a border to buy a green card. The green card is issued in the name of the registered owners name (my experience).

I will be driving a different car.

It would be good if I can get the green card in a name other than the registered owners name.
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  #9  
Old 6 Oct 2011
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For all the reasons mentioned above, the vehicle insurance companies want to know more and more about who is driving etc.
Personally, I would shy away from using the named driver system and take insurance for anyone over, say, age 25 to drive. That way you have flexibility in who drives and when, assuming that they do hold a licence to drive that type of vehicle.
If you declare an overseas driver, you may find that one or more ins companies may refuse cover.

Thereafter, based on your stated route, I would take my chances in the Balkans with the green card cover. A large part of your intended itinery lies within "Europe" in the definitions of the UK policy.
If you have a UK resident passenger for your own vehicle then register the new vehicle in their name and they could drive it while you are outside the defined countries of Europe.

That's just the thoughts that this thread has generated for me.
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  #10  
Old 7 Oct 2011
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This is always a problem and I have been in this position myself. It is not unsurmountable if you are willing to bend the rules a bit.

I am English and live in Denmark. I bought a motorbike on e bay uk and had it sent to my brother in Yorkshire. The bike was registered in my name at his address. The insurance was done with an online insurance company as was the breakdown cover, all in my name at his address.

I came over and collected the bike and took it to Italy and back to Denmark. My only slight concern was being pulled by the police in the UK but even then I would be an English guy riding a bike registered to me but with a Danish driving licence.

Once I was out of the UK it was not a problem. If I had broken down in Italy at least I could have got the breakdown truck to take me to Holland before dropping me off but that problem did not arise.

I know it was not legal but it was as legal as I could possibly make it.

Steve
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