Join DateNov 2011Posts3
Need help on coming from aboard with no mot and tax

Caio Tutto, Hi All

I need help on the rules etc with coming from aboard with no mot and no tax back into the Uk, Dover via france, calais?

i.e - 1. MOT centres bookings, on the day or the next day?

Say i travel on the saturday into the UK, do i have to stop at the nearest mot centre close to the port? or can i travel back to my home town to get it done?

I know have to book in for mot and have proof, right?

But can i travel to say hull, my hometown?

2. Are the mot centres in around dover open on a sunday?

3. Does my mot test have to be on that day.. or can it be next day?

I don't know of any mot centres in Dover but am certain you have to go straight to the nearest station by the most direct route to a pre-booked test, so a trip to Hull would be illegal. Why not arrive on a weekday, get the test done, I presume you have insurance and tax your bike, all legal.

It is permitted to use a UK registered vehicle in UK without tax and MOT while going to and from a pre-booked MOT test. It is not required that it is the nearest - just that it is pre-booked and that you are on your way to/from it.

Having done this sort of thing several times, I suggest you -
- book the MOT before you land in UK.
- keep your ferry/tunnel loading ticket and a note of the test centre appointment should you be stopped.
- keep the ticket etc for some time after (see * below).
- ensure the vehicle is only used somewhere reasonably between Dover and the test centre. You are permitted to stop for food, fuel and rest (sleep at home?!!).

After the test, if it passes, it should only be used to get it home until it is taxed.
After the test, if it fails, it is permitted to use it to take it home and subsequently to go to a pre-arranged place for repair (note: this exemption does not apply until AFTER it has failed)

So, there is no real need to bother with Dover although if you have the Certificate (pass or fail) with you it makes it easier if you get stopped following an ANPR check on the way.

* Keep all paper for a while in case there had been an ANPR check that resulted in some body (Police, DVLA, etc) chasing you by post some days later.

This leads us to DVLA's wonderful Catch 22.

The actual Acts of Parliament say you need tax only if a UK registered vehicle is used on UK road "maintained at public expense". Therefore, not being in UK you do not need tax.
However, if it does not have tax you should have declared it SORN. A requirement of SORN is that the vehicle is still in UK. A false declaration over this is, of course, a criminal offence.

The DVLA see the impossible anomoly for people being away for more than a few days, but have no answer other than to send out Penalty Settlement Offers (with or without back tax claims) to assist their own ailing budget that gets depleted by their own inefficiencies!
Not a very nice organisation.

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Or take a ferry from Zeebrugge/Rotterdam to Hull. You swap the boring (and longggg) Dover to Hull bit for the (not so long) boring Calais to Z/R. Or if you're coming from Italy, ride though Germany to Z or R and save yourself the French road tolls.

I'm riding an insured, but untaxed bike to my mot station (where I have an appointment) this Sat. It's only 5 miles down the road though

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