MOT required abroad or not?

oshoshitzu

I may be driving my car in Western Europe; but if I go its MOT will run out when I am over there. Am I legally required to have a MOT in Europe?

If so Please, if possible, provide a link to the legislation that states this.

THANKS

vaio

It’s generally impossible to provide links to laws that say you don’t need something

My guess is you don’t but you will need to comply with the roadworthiness standards in whichever countries you visit and of course you’ll need to get one in Dover on your return

mikey72

Yes.
By reciprocal agreement, to use a uk registered car in europe, it needs to be legal in the uk, so tax, mot, insurance is required.
There's so many ANPR cameras at the ferry port you stand a good chance of being pulled on the way back anyway now.
Just MOT it early, and go with 12 months on it.

bryanb

You have to be legal in your home country to drive in EU countries, not sure about the rest of the world.

wealdroam

Two minutes on google found this pro forma letter from VOSA which explains things with lots of official jargon.

Gloomendoom

As has been said, why not just get an MoT before you go? Problem solved... unless you are going for more than a year.

vaio

mikey72 wrote: »

Yes.
By reciprocal agreement, to use a uk registered car in europe, it needs to be legal in the uk, so tax, mot, insurance is required........

bryanb wrote: »

You have to be legal in your home country to drive in EU countries, not sure about the rest of the world.

Links to actual law that says this? The only one I'm aware of is insurance (and is a European directive)

As I said above, roadworthiness is country specific and being legal in this country does not mean you will be legal in the rest of the EU (winter tyres is good example)

Wig

If you are not bringing the car back, you need not get a new MOT.
If you are bringing the car back as a British registered car then you will need one on your return as soon as you leave the port.
You could book an MOT appointment at an MOT station near the port on your return.
Far easier to get it done before you leave.
You will still need to be roadworthy in Europe at all times on the road.

mikey72

vaio wrote: »

Links to actual law that says this? The only one I'm aware of is insurance (and is a European directive)

As I said above, roadworthiness is country specific and being legal in this country does not mean you will be legal in the rest of the EU (winter tyres is good example)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022582

molerat

Nowhere on official or advice sites does it state that you need an MOT outside UK, they just state that the car must meet the minimum safety standards for the country and be insured. One warning given is that the police in France pay particular attention to UK tax discs and are keen on impounding cars with an out of date disc. If taking the car outside UK for more than 6 months you need to register in the country of use but it would seem that many rural areas seem to ignore this rule (until you upset the local plod). If returning to UK on UK plates with no tax or MOT you will probably be pulled by the ANPR at the port of entry and will only be allowed to leave the port on a transporter.

vaio

mikey72 wrote: »

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022582

interesting but not a link to actual legislation

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31983L0182:EN:HTML covers temporary importation and makes no mention of the car needing to be taxed and tested in it's home country

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/22/contents/enacted covers tax and every requirement to be taxed is prefaced with the words "......every mechanically propelled vehicle which is used, or kept, on a public road in the United Kingdom" or similar. I can't see anyway this can be extended to include use overseas

MOT test is covered under RTA and again, I can see nothing that requires vehicles used abroad to be tested even if they are still registered in this country.

Obviously the vehicle must comply with the local requirements of whatever country you are in and when you return the normal rules apply.