Just a quick one, does anyone know how long can you keep a foreign registered car in the UK before you have to do things like MoT and tax and stuff?
Cheers
Paul
As Long as you want 
Legally it’s three months, but the reality is if you can show that the vehicle has been in and out of the UK regularly within those three months, then almost indefinitely.
Just bear in mind that a foreign registered car will be a target for UK police who will want to see some sort of insurance…
Depends on whether you are a UK citizen & where the car comes from.
EastAnglianTrucker:
Legally it’s three months, but the reality is if you can show that the vehicle has been in and out of the UK regularly within those three months, then almost indefinitely.Just bear in mind that a foreign registered car will be a target for UK police who will want to see some sort of insurance…
A few years back Had same car on foreign plates for over 5 years only stopped once which was my own fault never asked for tax , insurance , papers etc just breathalyised and when that came up clear was sent on my way .
sonflowerinwales:
Just a quick one, does anyone know how long can you keep a foreign registered car in the UK before you have to do things like MoT and tax and stuff?
Cheers
Paul
One year ! I have several friends who have imported cars to the UK.
While we on this topic does it cost anything to get it registered in the uk what with the price of the euro now could be worthwhile buying abroad
Oh it costs, when I bought my BMW 1 series back from France a couple of years ago I had to change the headlights to dip the other way, change the speedo to show MPH and get a certificate of conformity from BMW UK (£300 ), insure it on chassis number, (being LHD only Adrian Flux would cover it at a reasonable price ) also if its needs an MoT due to age that must be done on chassis number also, then you have to get another document that the car has had the works above done (£150 ) then off to DVLA for registration (£ 65 )
Thanks everyone. It sounds an expensive thing to register and insure and mot a foreigner. So, I’ll just drive it it Germany, when my contract ends, just sell it. Not worth bothering to bring back to the UK.
Cheers
Paul
kerbut:
Oh it costs, when I bought my BMW 1 series back from France a couple of years ago I had to change the headlights to dip the other way, change the speedo to show MPH and get a certificate of conformity from BMW UK (£300 ), insure it on chassis number, (being LHD only Adrian Flux would cover it at a reasonable price ) also if its needs an MoT due to age that must be done on chassis number also, then you have to get another document that the car has had the works above done (£150 ) then off to DVLA for registration (£ 65 )
What about from southern ireland as older car speedo s shown in mph and presume headlights the same as uk and it s right hand drive so presume it would cut a lot of them costs out
I brought a 08 vito from southern ireland , took 30 mins in dvla to sort uk plates out
Now here’s a thing 
When I used to do trade shows and car exhibitions in and around the the area, we sometimes set up at the Rhine Army show, which by the way is great. We took our show vehicles and about 3 or 4 transporters loaded with brand new Fords, all from british stock, so right hand drive of course. Soldiers and others at the show could then buy them at a cheaper cost because they were buying them in Germany, then bring them back to the UK. The said cars all had German plates for a year but then changed to British ones, everything else was to British regulations.
One of my mates who lived here for a few years bought a BMW M3 here and shipped it back to good old blighty when he went back, it cost him a grand for the shipment and he had New York plates for a year. He never changed the lights over or modified it in any way.
Pat Hasler:
Now here’s a thing
When I used to do trade shows and car exhibitions in and around the the area, we sometimes set up at the Rhine Army show, which by the way is great. We took our show vehicles and about 3 or 4 transporters loaded with brand new Fords, all from british stock, so right hand drive of course. Soldiers and others at the show could then buy them at a cheaper cost because they were buying them in Germany, then bring them back to the UK. The said cars all had German plates for a year but then changed to British ones, everything else was to British regulations.
One of my mates who lived here for a few years bought a BMW M3 here and shipped it back to good old blighty when he went back, it cost him a grand for the shipment and he had New York plates for a year. He never changed the lights over or modified it in any way.
hi pat.
your mate must have took his bmw to the same dodgy mot station that you used then 
cheers ,diesel
quote … I had to change the headlights to dip the other way
On my BMW all you have to do is remove a rubber plug and move the lever beneath from one side to the other.
I brought a Trabant back from East Germany (Wolgast) and didn’t do anything apart from insure it but that coast me more than the car did.
It was the delux version as it still had the plastic dipstick to see how much fuel there was in the 15 ltr tank. Max speed was 48mph
You can use Foreigh car how many you wont,.just if you live here more for 6 month must pay brittish road road tax nad inchurance.but for foreigh car inchurance will be more espense
Andrejs:
You can use Foreigh car how many you wont,.just if you live here more for 6 month must pay brittish road road tax nad inchurance.but for foreigh car inchurance will be more espense
9:33am was a bit early to be on the sauce wasn’t it?
dew:
Andrejs:
You can use Foreigh car how many you wont,.just if you live here more for 6 month must pay brittish road road tax nad inchurance.but for foreigh car inchurance will be more espense9:33am was a bit early to be on the sauce wasn’t it?
Thats good sauce where do you buy it ?
scaffy2012:
I brought a 08 vito from southern ireland , took 30 mins in dvla to sort uk plates out
Was vito commercial or passenger
nedflanders:
dew:
Andrejs:
You can use Foreigh car how many you wont,.just if you live here more for 6 month must pay brittish road road tax nad inchurance.but for foreigh car inchurance will be more espense9:33am was a bit early to be on the sauce wasn’t it?
Thats good sauce where do you buy it ?
It comes in glass bottles, but it’s customary to wrap it in a brown paper bag before drinking