I have been wondering where the law stands should you have to abandon a vehicle registered in the UK abroad for reasons of uneconomical damage, crash write off, unplanned return home (family death etc.). Also does it make any difference of that country is or is not in the EU? This is assuming that there is no carnet involved.

Cheers, Olly.

UK wise you just fill in the right boxes on the V5 and post it back to Swansea. The scrapped box will probably generate less hassle than the exported box. It might be worth taking a few photo's in case they don't believe you and keep copies of any local documents, but they won't really care. Their aim in life is to stop anyone using the bikes ID again.

The country where you leave it will be the ones who could come looking for you. If they catch you at the border they will give you lots of hassle and want you to pay their scrappage fees, import tax, fly tipping fines or whatever. If you get beyond the border, chances are that'll be the end of it. There are a few tales of countries like Norway having agreements with DVLA to get your details and then selling the fines you owe to UK based debt agencies. This is perfectly legal and the bailiffs won't care that your bike died two miles outside Russia in a snow storm, they'll treat you just like all the chavs who bought a telly bigger than they could afford. You won't get a bank loan or mortgage from the nicer companies with CCJ's etc.

Morally you should always obey local laws IMHO, but practically there is a vast difference between how say Norway and Nigeria can deal with a dumped wreck. If for example you were to remove all the UK documents and number plate, very few places would have the resources to trace you. Personally, if I could give the wreck away to someone who could break it, sell it, fix it or whatever I'd be happier.

Andy

Edit to add: I do hope this isn't part of some adolescent idea in a pub along the lines of "lets all buy a C90 and ride it to Timbucktoo and get the plane back"? I'm sure it isn't, but if it is, I hope they catch you at the airport and lock you in a non-air conditioned room with the drug smugglers for a few days while they sort it out. You wouldn't want someone dumping a bike outside your house or on some path in the Dales or Cotswolds, so I don't see why Africans should live with Europeans doing this. If it becomes a problem they'll react with tighter and sillier border controls that will effect all travellers.

[quote=Threewheelbonnie;273180]

Edit to add: I do hope this isn't part of some adolescent idea in a pub along the lines of "lets all buy a C90 and ride it to Timbucktoo and get the plane back"? I'm sure it isn't, but if it is, I hope they catch you at the airport and lock you in a non-air conditioned room with the drug smugglers for a few days [/quo



Good one Andy !

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"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

no I agree, I was just curious should something happen, agree would be a poor show to plan on dumping a block of metal, plastics oils and fuel in some bstrds back yard. Just wondering as it must be a fairly common occurrence, what happens with your carnet in such circumstances? you lose your deposit and the RAC have to pay up?

Depends how you pay.

If 100% cash deposit/letter of imdemnity then you'll lose that. If Insurance then they'll pay up then chase you for the money.

What people often fail to realise about the "insurance" is that its not the insurance that pays up. They pay up then come looking for the money off you. All they enable you to do is to not freeze a huge chunk of money with a bank not pay up your dues for you.

? I would think that a lot of people, Africans included, would be pretty pleased to find a bike in front of their house with the keys and a note saying "It's yours!", although I agree that it would be better to find an individual to give the bike to... Not sure if I see the huge "problem" here?

I rode down to south africa and abandoned my bike with the South African Revenue service. Perfectly legal. Carnet Deposit repaid.
Brother bought bike from SARS! We all won!

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Agreed. Let them speak for themselves. It's between the owner, the 'dumpee' and the country in question.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Interesting idea about using a tax office - possibly a way forward for those not rich enough to have a vehicle transported back?

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.