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9 Jan 2009
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Expired UK tax disc while abroad
I am going to be somewhere between Mongolia and the USA when my UK tax disc runs out. Is this going to be an issue, Is the UK tax disc a requirement or worth anything when not in the UK.
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9 Jan 2009
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Just do a SORN when you leave, you give them back the tax disc too i think. Should be ok for a year? I had a couple of letters when I got back after the Americas but called to explain and nothing ever came of it.
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9 Jan 2009
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NO, don't do a SORN, you don't need to, all you have to do is drop a letter to the DVLA to let them know you're out of the country but not permanently exporting your vehicle.
We've covered this recently on another thread which Grant has stickied I think, and a few of us contacted the DVLA to find out their position and ALL got the same reply.
You can read it all here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ong-term-39472
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9 Jan 2009
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Why not do a SORN.
Do they know you are out of the country?
Only if you tell them I suppose..
.
I am afraid I would sorn it the day i left UK, and post back the tax disc for any refund.
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10 Jan 2009
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Hi Guys, the SORN form is quite specific about not using it if the bike is to be out of the country (it's not even in small print) so I would think that if you were stopped by the police in the European Union say and they understood the UK vehicle laws (like the French flics do) you could end up in the do do firstly from the European plods and then in the UK when the word gets back although I can't see that happening anywhere else in the world. Swansea appears to have given a specific answer so I for one am abiding by it even though it has cost me 3 months worth of tax but here in Mexico  is only 60p a pint so who cares. Ride safe.
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10 Jan 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maja
Hi Guys, the SORN form is quite specific about not using it if the bike is to be out of the country (it's not even in small print) so I would think that if you were stopped by the police in the European Union say and they understood the UK vehicle laws (like the French flics do) you could end up in the do do firstly from the European plods and then in the UK when the word gets back although I can't see that happening anywhere else in the world. Swansea appears to have given a specific answer so I for one am abiding by it even though it has cost me 3 months worth of tax but here in Mexico is only 60p a pint so who cares. Ride safe. |
So what happens when your tax runs out and you're not in the country to renew it? - you only get 30 days (without a SORN) before you get an £80 fine...
My tax disc runs out while I'm away in the US, so I SORNed my bike before I left (although for the sake of the £30 6 month disc I got when I bought the bike I didn't send it back for a refund) - this way I don't get a fine waiting for me when in return in the spring...
To be quite honest (which is more than the UK Government is!) - the UK road fund licence is only applicable to UK registered vehicles, used on UK roads... and they insist you have to pay for it all in advance!
Certainly if I'd just paid for a year's road fund licence and was going to be out of the country for an extended period of time, then I'd be wanting my money back thank you very much!
xxx
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10 Jan 2009
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Here we go again, and again, and again
FFS people !
Read the other thread from Alex's link above.
No thoughts or theories are necessary from that point onwards.
It is all there - with two Emails from DVLA, one to Alex the other to HarleyRider - and the RAC are on the case!
You can't get it more authoratitive than that.
(Although I am seeking a "hard copy" written reply when I get back to UK next month)
Last edited by Tony P; 10 Jan 2009 at 12:16.
Reason: Failing short term memory!
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10 Jan 2009
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Personally I agree with what Tony says in the other thread - while you might be able to write to the DVLA and have them acknowledge you are traveling and out of the country for an extended period, if you've just bought a new tax disc, I'd still SORN the vehicle and get your bloody money back! - there is nothing illegal in doing that, they're only wanting to try and hang on to your money by getting you to write that letter!
Once you arrive back in the UK, you can either a) book an MoT test en route as has been suggested, or b) if your vehicle doesn't need an MoT, simply re-tax your vehicle online/over the phone once you get off the ferry...
xxx
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10 Jan 2009
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Further
As we'd obviously all like our money back, I've sent a follow up question to the DVLA, well two actually.
First, can we apply for a refund of unused tax upon leaving the UK
Second, what should we do upon return to the UK given that we've got to drive from the port to home and won't have either tax or MOT.
Any reply I get I'll post on the other STICKIED thread.
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11 Jan 2009
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It may be an issue in the States. We do not have the tax disk system. We only pay tax on the registration of the license plate and have a tab sticker issued which must be placed on the license plate it's self. In most states there is no vehicle inspection for safety items or the condition of the vehicle.
There is no way for us(I am a police officer) to check your UK registration or tax disk. We can only go off what registration documents you carry with you.
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11 Jan 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yeahbaby
There is no way for us(I am a police officer) to check your UK registration or tax disk. We can only go off what registration documents you carry with you.
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welcome to the HUBB.
going on your above comment we just need to remove the expired tax disc then & no-one will be any the wiser.
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11 Jan 2009
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Hi Guys, as far as I am aware as a result of checking up on riding a UK registered bike around the EU last year, it is only legal if you have it fully covered for riding in the UK and the same applies for riding say a German or French registered bike around the UK, it must have full national coverage to be legal in other EU countries, there is also a time limit for each country before you have to register it in that country, (expats in Spain and the like). The sneaky bit is that cop computers are linked in the EU and if you get stopped for a traffic offence in the EU it will eventually get back. Sorry if I gave the impression that it was a worldwide thing 'cos that I do not know. I sent a postcard from sunny Mexico (sun, beaches and bikinis) last week to Swansea just to tell them that I would be out of the country and unable to tax etc. and it must be said to take a little bit of p1ss. Dead easy. Ride safe.
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11 Jan 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maja
I sent a postcard from sunny Mexico (sun, beaches and bikinis) last week to Swansea just to tell them that I would be out of the country and unable to tax etc. and it must be said to take a little bit of p1ss. Dead easy. Ride safe.
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I love it that you're still thinking of the DVLA while in Mexico mike!
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11 Jan 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maja
Hi Guys, as far as I am aware as a result of checking up on riding a UK registered bike around the EU last year, it is only legal if you have it fully covered for riding in the UK and the same applies for riding say a German or French registered bike around the UK, it must have full national coverage to be legal in other EU countries, there is also a time limit for each country before you have to register it in that country, (expats in Spain and the like). The sneaky bit is that cop computers are linked in the EU and if you get stopped for a traffic offence in the EU it will eventually get back. Sorry if I gave the impression that it was a worldwide thing 'cos that I do not know. I sent a postcard from sunny Mexico (sun, beaches and bikinis) last week to Swansea just to tell them that I would be out of the country and unable to tax etc. and it must be said to take a little bit of p1ss. Dead easy. Ride safe.
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Sadly that's not exactly true. In order to drive in an EU country your vehicle should be registered (in the sense of have a registration document with the VIN etc and registered keeper's name) and insured. I believe there's no legal requirement for it to have either a UK Road Fund Licence (tax disc) nor for it to have a current MOT certificate (both these checked with Gendarmerie here in France mid August 2008).
The legal requirement to register your vehicle in another EU country only applies to those taking up residency in that country, not for those touring.
Cop computers aren't all linked up, HOWEVER, there is a notification system now in place allowing the local licencing and registration authorities to contact your own Driver Licencing Authority should you have committed a driving offence which would result in the addition (or deduction) of points from your drivers licence. As it appears you're not legally required to have Tax or MOT in other European countries to drive on their roads, this wouldn't result in points deduction and so the DVLA wouldn't be contacted.
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11 Jan 2009
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Exactly - all you need to travel outside of the UK is your V5 registration document, and valid insurance that offers a minimum of 3rd party cover.
As both TonyP and I said a long way back in this thread (erm, or was it the other one?!) - the UK Tax disc (road fund licence) is only required if using a UK registered vehicle on UK soil.
Likewise, the MoT certificate is only an indication of the vehicle's roadworthiness on the day it was tested - therefore of little relevance once on the road... and as Alex says, is unlikely to be even recognized/required in many countries...
Sh!t... even I'm beginning to get bored of this thread now!
xxx
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