Hi all, i am new to the forum, this is my first post, sorry if i should be in the introduction section?

I came to the site via a google search "Tax and MoT when overseas" so until i find my way around i kept this page open.

I don't have a bike either! but can ride one!

I do have a 4x4 and a Caravan ~ please don't hate me, some of us caravanners DO think bike you know!

so ~ I have read all of this thread ~ gosh, how the DVLA like to play!

I am a brit, drove down from the UK to North Africa in Nov 2009.

hopefully will be starting the trip "Home" in a few weeks.

I also have a toyota celica which is parked up on my daughters driveway and is dutifully SORN'd, my son was using her until he went to france so he SORN'd her before he went.

but my 4x4 ~ tax expired a while ago, Mot expired more recently.

i have JUST this week recived post re routed to me out here, from the DVLA, i have an £80 fine for not sorning or taxing!!!

I have replied to them and am sending the lettr back via a tourist who can then post it in the UK for me, i have enclosed my passport which chearly shows the stamp of my date of entry, and the vehicle reg number written on the entry stamp, and also the words "+ caravan".

I said in the letter i didn't sorn because its not off road in the UK, not taxed as not able to out here, and will be out of the UK a little while longer!

the chances of me being out of the UK under 12 months are looking grim!

but i did state to the DVLA that i don't want permenant export, as within the 12 months i will be in italy. i have given the DVLA a UK address to reply to and asked them to keep the £80 fine until i getback and they decide under what part of the V5 (copy sent to them) they would have liked.

the reason i won't be going directly back to the UK is that i have 2 cats with me and they are effectively "doing quarantine" in italy and france, once that is OK I will return to the UK.

However, within the 12 months of leaving the UK I will enter Italy!

didn't plan to be away so long but things happen ~

I had read that if i get an MoT booked and can show that to customs or police i should be OK to drive, as i still have insurance although invalid as i am not in the UK.

I don't know at the moment if I will stay in italy for a while or head to france, as my son is there it seems logical to head towards him and nearer "home"?

I have to pay tax before I leave here and no doubt that will not the procedure i have been told,

I am hoping that i don't have an issue in italy, about the expired tax and now MoT,

as I have read through this thread ~ I don't seem to quite fit in any of the categories ~ my husband will be travelling with me, he is a visa national, but will be travelling with an EU family visa, for him to enter the UK he will need an EU country's residence card, which he can only get if i become a resident which is easy as I qualify from day one in italy ~ as I said I don't know if i will stay in italy or just head for france, but will have to get a residence certificate form whichever, lets say france as its most likely going to be, i could eave hubby and cats in france and head back to the UK and get MoT?

or am i better to get the equivient french documents?

i will be in france a maximum of 6 months i would think ~ so my 4x4 will fall under "PE"?

any advice details of documents procedures in france would be greatly appreciated as would any info on if i will get scrutinised arriving off the ferry in italy?

on the way out to North Africa, i pulled into dover port, got my ticket (prepaid online) had my passport glanced at and never saw customs again until North Africa!

even at the ferry port of genoa i only showed my passport to pick up my ticked again pre paid, and boarding pass and number of the deck to park the truck and caravan.

is it likely to be that easy coming INTO italy?

thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any replies and assistance.

im gonna go navigate around now and find out more about HUBB!