Lease car registered in mainland GB but located in NI

gredpenguin

I have a just over 3 year old car on a lease from WVFS, I have moved this car to Northern Ireland but the lease/owner is still located in mainland GB. The government website is telling me I need to have an MOT on the car but I am unable to get an MOT locally in NI as the car is not yet 4 years old.

Does anyone know the legal implications for this? Am I able to drive in NI? Is my insurance valid? Do I have to make a trip back to the mainland to get the MOT done?

Thanks in advance.

Mildly_Miffed

Your car is registered to an English address (or Scottish or Welsh, but VWFS will be registered to an MK address) - so does legally need an MOT at 3yrs. The fact it's physically located in NI doesn't alter that.

Northern Ireland is also different in that MOTs are only done at government centres, not privately-managed garages. Even so, I can't imagine this is an unusual situation - it may be exacerbated by the backlog of tests, hence refusing to test where they say it isn't legally required... except it is.

Lack of MOT where legally required is an offence, but does not carry points.
It does not invalidate insurance.
You cannot buy tax for the car while it requires an MOT but doesn't have one...

What have VWFS said? You can't be the first NI resident to have a 3-4yo car from them.

gredpenguin

Mildly_Miffed said:

Your car is registered to an English address (or Scottish or Welsh, but VWFS will be registered to an MK address) - so does legally need an MOT at 3yrs. The fact it's physically located in NI doesn't alter that.

Northern Ireland is also different in that MOTs are only done at government centres, not privately-managed garages. Even so, I can't imagine this is an unusual situation - it may be exacerbated by the backlog of tests, hence refusing to test where they say it isn't legally required... except it is.

Lack of MOT where legally required is an offence, but does not carry points.
It does not invalidate insurance.
You cannot buy tax for the car while it requires an MOT but doesn't have one...

What have VWFS said? You can't be the first NI resident to have a 3-4yo car from them.

Thanks... It is taxed for another year so no issues there. I'm awaiting a reply form VWFS.

Grey_Critic

Does the lease company have a presence in Ireland? Maybe ask them - they may possibly be able to get you some help fromone of the dealers they use.

Hoenir

gredpenguin said:

I have moved this car to Northern Ireland but the lease/owner is still located in mainland GB. 

Did you inform them? 

Mildly_Miffed

Grey_Critic said:

Does the lease company have a presence in Ireland? Maybe ask them - they may possibly be able to get you some help fromone of the dealers they use.

Umm, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not (the Republic of) Ireland.

redped

This thread from 2 years ago is about exactly the same issue:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6324493/mot-for-uk-registered-car-in-northern-ireland/p1

born_again

Mildly_Miffed said:

Grey_Critic said:

Does the lease company have a presence in Ireland? Maybe ask them - they may possibly be able to get you some help fromone of the dealers they use.

Umm, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not (the Republic of) Ireland.

It is. But the lease company may not like that the car is no longer on UK mainland. 

Grey_Critic

born_again said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Grey_Critic said:

Does the lease company have a presence in Ireland? Maybe ask them - they may possibly be able to get you some help fromone of the dealers they use.

Umm, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not (the Republic of) Ireland.

It is. But the lease company may not like that the car is no longer on UK mainland. 

I am assuming that the vehicle is there with the lease company permission. From memory you can have your car MOTd at any time but as someone has pointed out the test is carried out at a government test centre. If that is so then speak to them. You are not the first person to have this problem.

Herzlos

born_again said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Grey_Critic said:

Does the lease company have a presence in Ireland? Maybe ask them - they may possibly be able to get you some help fromone of the dealers they use.

Umm, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not (the Republic of) Ireland.

It is. But the lease company may not like that the car is no longer on UK mainland. 

It's more likely they'll be upset that the lease car isn't with the leaseholder who is still on the UK mainland. 

How long is it in NI for? Can you take it on a day trip to the mainland for an MOT?

sheramber

Herzlos said:

born_again said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Grey_Critic said:

Does the lease company have a presence in Ireland? Maybe ask them - they may possibly be able to get you some help fromone of the dealers they use.

Umm, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not (the Republic of) Ireland.

It is. But the lease company may not like that the car is no longer on UK mainland. 

It's more likely they'll be upset that the lease car isn't with the leaseholder who is still on the UK mainland. 

How long is it in NI for? Can you take it on a day trip to the mainland for an MOT?

Why do you think the OP is  still on UK mainland?