Well - Ferry has my car in Holland, gonna have it shiped to Harwich to be picked up on the 24th - Wheyhey

My plan is to use the 7 day export licence to take me to the 1st September, when I can register and get a 52 tag... Does anyone know if I can do the registration before that date, so I can get my plates ready for 1/9?? and if so, what paperwork I would need ?

Ta,

Paul.

 

Congrats - nearly there !

 

Sorry Lupen you can't rush this process. You could cheat though. This may not make good reading.

I tried very hard to get my car registered before bringing it into the UK. It was a no go because they insist on having the right to inspect the vehicle in the UK. So you have to say where the car is. That's one problem.

Next problem. When you give all your documents to the DVLA they have to come back at you with a license plate number, this takes them some time. About a week is usual, though it can be longer. Normally if you have your own private plate it takes less time. If you buy a car manufactured in Europe this can be immediate ie you walk into the DVLA office with your documents and walk out with your Registraton document and tax disc. Cars from Japan, like yours, take a couple of days while they check everything.

Next problem. You could drive around on your export license, but it's not legal. You need that tax disc to be legal on UK roads. The export license only allows you to dirve to your destination. Also DVLA won't register your car as new if you have put too many miles on it.

Another problem. Your export license has no insurance on it, I paid a lot to insure my car between Rotterdam and Dover. My insurance company would only cover me once I was on UK roads and then only for a route more or less direct to my house. Once I arrived at my house I was uninsured until I got the registration documents through. Other companies may work differently.

In short you could drive around in your car straight after getting it home. If you do you will be unregistered, uninsured and untaxed. If you have your own plates you could be drving legally in a couple of days time. If you don't have your own plates you will have to wait a week to 10 days. Get the zymol out and enjoy polishing it.

 

Paul

I had a personalised plate already purchased, and the licensing centre in Bristol were able to assign the plate to the car and give me a tax disc same day.

May be a quicker way of getting on the road.

Steve