MOT and car insurance-stuck abroad

cestina

I am posting this on the off-chance that someone can guide me as to which authority might be able to help in my probably unusual, covid-related, situation.  I am not sure I have picked the correct forum though and would also welcome guidance on that.

I am nearly 80 and I have dual British/Czech nationality. In normal years I spend around five summer months each year in the Czech Republic and the rest in the UK, which is my home base, so my car is registered, taxed and insured there. I drive to and fro each year and need the car at both ends.   Covid however has thrown my normal pattern into disarray.

On medical advice I was shielding in the UK from March 2020 (though I am probably now out of the vulnerable category). As soon as it became possible at the end of July my daughter and I drove to the Czech Republic where we had stalled building work going on.  We planned to return to the UK for Christmas but when it became clear that a family Christmas would not be possible anyway we decided to stay in our Czech village which is relatively covid-free.  Local hospitals are coping well in our region.

My daughter will be remaining here permanently; my plan was to return to the UK in mid-January, mainly because my MOT is due on 29th January and I know that without a valid MOT my insurance (running till May 2021; I have a green card, required post-Brexit) becomes invalid. Car was taxed in October. 

In the past weeks not only has the UK gone into full lockdown (though MOTs are still possible) but it has become harder to cross Europe by car, with both Germany and the Netherlands closing to UK citizens, and possibly others too,  though my Czech nationality probably means I can still pass through the borders as an EU citizen.

However I am extremely anxious about driving across a covid-ridden Europe to the situation in the south-east of Britain, where my local health authority is already signalling hospital problems, simply in order to have an MOT.  I can no longer do the journey in one go and would need to stop overnight at least twice en route with all the added danger of infection that entails.

I would be locked down alone in Britain; if I remain in the CR for the moment I have the support of my daughter.  It also seems perverse in the extreme to leave relative safety for increased danger!

My first thought is to talk to SAGA who are my insurers, but if the law requires a valid MOT I do not see that they can actually help. I had hoped that this lockdown would mean, as happened in March, MOT extensions, but it hasn't.

I fear that my only option is to unregister the car in the UK and register it here, which is not simple to do with a British car, cancel/suspend my British insurance (danger of loss of all bonuses?) and insure it here for the moment.  I have not so far enquired about process and cost but intend to make detailed enquiries next week.

However, if anyone can think of a way round this, or suggest who I could discuss it with, I would be hugely grateful - I plan to return to the UK as soon as it is safe for me so will have to reverse the whole thing then anyway.  More added cost I guess!

Sorry to be so long-winded but I thought it best to outline the whole situation.  Thanks in advance for any help.

AdrianC

cestina said:

...and I know that without a valid MOT my insurance becomes invalid.

Nope, it's an urban myth.

Just drive it back when you feel ready to. Book an MOT somewhere, so you're legal when you enter the UK. You will be driving illegally - without an MOT - but whether any CZ/D/NL/B/F police will care is another question. Most of those countries have two-yearly tests anyway.

If it makes you feel happier, get it tested in CZ before you leave. The test won't legally mean anything, because the temporary-import test is that it's legal in the country it's registered in, but it'll at least confirm that it's been recently roadworthy.

cestina

Right thanks...from more checking it does look as if it is down to it being roadworthy as far as the insurance goes, unless one's insurance company insists on an MOT. Will double-check policy tomorrow. It's in  car at the moment and lots of snow outside! 

TooManyPoints

from more checking it does look as if it is down to it being roadworthy as far as the insurance goes, unless one's insurance company insists on an MOT.

Your insurers cannot void Third Party cover because of a lack of MoT.

ontheroad1970

I entered Germany in November without having to quarantine because I was not staying in Germany.  I was being driven to Denmark, and had satisfied the requirements to enter Denmark.  As far as I understand it the rules on being able to travel through Germany to get to a third country haven't changed.  You'd need to go to websites of the German government to confirm, however.

sheramber

 According to this https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-czech-republic#driving-in-the-czech-republic  you need to register your car in Chez Republic after 185 days.

mobileron

You could pre book an Mot in Dover on the way back.

cestina

Thanks for all the comments. Yes, I certainly plan to be heading to a pre-booked MOT on the way back though if I have had to reregister over here anyway as does seem likely from what sheramber has posted then I can hang on a bit.  

DiddyDavies

Have you confirmed that your UK insurance is still valid as some companies limit the amount of time that a vehicle can be used outside of the UK for.

Jumblebumble

TooManyPoints said:

from more checking it does look as if it is down to it being roadworthy as far as the insurance goes, unless one's insurance company insists on an MOT.

Your insurers cannot void Third Party cover because of a lack of MoT.

 While this is true I think this sort of advice is dangerous
If there is an incident and there is the slightest chance that lack of MOT contributed then the insurers can easily repudiate liability
The op would be far better off getting someone else to bring the car back to the UK and not be encouraged to break the law

born_again

Does your Uk insurance cover you for such a extended period out of the UK?