Help - Motorhome Problem!

[SandT]

This issue is not just confined to Spain but the whole of the EU!

EU law states that to be legal in ANY EU country the vehicle MUST be legal in its country of registration.

The aim is to remove from the road vehicles that have been imported to another country but not registered in that country.

There are lots of reason and excuses as to why people have not reregistered their vehicles (no speeding tickets, no tax or local tax to pay, etc) but it does not alter the fact that they are illegal.

Just because they have not been caught yet, does not mean that its OK.


Terry

 

[retiringjoyce]

I have total sympathy for the situation the OP finds himself in. Whilst in Spain yesterday, reading the original post I wondered when our MOT was due, at 5:45 am I was searching for the docs in the MH cupboard. Hubby was VERY pleased! We found the MOT runs out at midnight TONIGHT. By 9 am yesterday we were packed up and drove 12 hours to the port and have driven 10 hours today. Will book MOT tomorrow.
If I had not read the post then we would have been in Spain and France for another 2 weeks , driving illegally. Many thanks MotorhomeFun and hubby owes me big time!

 

[TheBig1]

up until just a few years ago there was a grace period of 14 days, but this was removed when the new online mot system started.

 

[pappajohn]

its rather tricky as an MOT station must be licenced and regularly inspected. cost a fair bit to run too with the equipment needed, rolling road/brake tester and exhaust gas analysers that need to be calibrated

a few years back a british mechanic on the algarve was doing mot "tests" and their sister garage in the uk would mail out the certificate and register the entry on the system. this quickly got caught and stamped out

Not to mention the registered pc and printer sourced from, i believe, VOSA.

 

[pappajohn]

read my post earlier. he can arrange a specific type of ITV test and get someone with trade plates to drive it back covered under their trade insurance etc.....

where there's a will there's a way

@Snowbird in the know re Spain...

Are UK trade plates valid in mainland Europe ?

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[Judge Mental]

Are UK trade plates valid in mainland Europe ?

Depends on insurance I guess....I think we have members who have them. Maybe @Snowbird being one?

 

[Geejay]

We found the MOT runs out at midnight TONIGHT.

Since everyone has computers, smart phones, tablets etc why don't people put reminders on their Calendars? We have all this stuff, including insurances, card "valid to" dates, HMRC tax payments etc on the built-in calendar apps with reminders set well in advance for important things which fall due when we are away. Backed up on the cloud, so there's no excuse.

 

[Judge Mental]

Since everyone has computers, smart phones, tablets etc why don't people put reminders on their Calendars? We have all this stuff, including insurances, card "valid to" dates, HMRC tax payments etc on the built-in calendar apps with reminders set well in advance for important things which fall due when we are away. Backed up on the cloud, so there's no excuse.

No excuse? Please...the OP dealing with a berievement and admited he had left things slip.....also not everyone is that techy.

 

[Geejay]

I was replying to retiringjoyce, that's why I quoted from it. The point remains valid: there are ways of avoiding nasty surprises such as this. I have missed deadlines before and that's why everything is now on our electronic calendars. Nothing wrong with old-tech paper and pencil either.

 

[TheBig1]

Since everyone has computers, smart phones, tablets etc why don't people put reminders on their Calendars? We have all this stuff, including insurances, card "valid to" dates, HMRC tax payments etc on the built-in calendar apps with reminders set well in advance for important things which fall due when we are away. Backed up on the cloud, so there's no excuse.

I agree, I use google calendar so it updates on our phones, laptops and tablets automatically. only have to enter it once

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[dabhand]

Sometimes people are very unforgiving, I had no idea there are so many people that don't make mistakes, errors or omissions in their lives, here's a few of mine.

Went away for a week came home to find the key left in the door.

In the days before auto lock, searched for a day for car keys only to find them in the door.

Went for an interview for a very senior position ( years ago) in odd shoes, 1 black and 1 a brown brogue!

Forgot to insure the car ( house move) points and a fine.

Forgot to MOT car, points and a fine.

Put my arm around an unknown woman in a shop thinking it was the wife (similar outfits) luckily got off with a smile!

I suppose I could go on, but remember this, a man (or woman) who makes no mistakes, makes nothing!

 

[Bailey58]

A simple reminder for the missing tax disc is to doctor Jim's smiley download and add an expiry date to show on the screen. I've done it for 3 vehicles although it looks a bit naff on the Merc!

 

[TheBig1]

I can relate to most of those mistakes and add failing to send in a necessary update to companies house the week my dad died and got fined (appealed and was let off)

 

[teknik155]

If the person has recovery can't he get recovered back to the UK as the vehicle is un drivable

 

[retiringjoyce]

To answer Geejay I have spreadsheet for insurance and tax for our vehicles, our old van was MOTed in March, our other vehicles do not need an MOT. When getting ready to Governor away, life was manic with family ill health, plumbing issues in the house, etc. We had presumed that we bought the van in October, it was only the thread on the forum that made me think, I looked up my bank account to see when we paid for the vehicle and discovered it was the 20th of September.
The spreadsheet has of course been updated.

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[DP+JAY]

If the person has recovery can't he get recovered back to the UK as the vehicle is un drivable

Even if the Spanish will release the vehicle, it is a condition of all breakdown services that the vehicle is taxed & MoT'd AFAIK.

 

[Don Quixote]

OP - DogsOnTour was last seen: Sep 14, 2015. Not a reply to be seen from him.

 

[Speve]

After all the criticism I'm not surprised

 

[Don Quixote]

After all the criticism I'm not surprised

There is more to this OP than meets the eye, criticism or not he should at least reply and if all is true at his end I'm sure many MHF members who live out here can advise or help. There is always teo sides to any story and we have heard little or nothing from his side. Sorry to be so blunt, but what would have happened if he crashed into me / you or any MHF member? would they all be "damming" me for my frank, but honest opinion. If I'm wrong I will be the first to put my hands up and say sorry, but I doubt it.

 

[chaser]

When I did my post about letting them have it it was partly in jest, but as we have no indication of it's worth and the likely cost of bringing it home as he has no chance of it coming on its own wheels, it maybe the only choice I'm afraid.

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[Speve]

Not damming you DQ point taken

 

[houdini]

After all the criticism I'm not surprised

Agreed - it would be nice to hear how he has got on and that hopefully he has managed to sort things out satisfactorily.

 

[jumar]

There have been no recent responses on the expat forum either.

 

[Popeye]

Put my arm around an unknown woman in a shop thinking it was the wife (similar outfits) luckily got off with a smile!

Yes I remember that, I look good in a frock don't I........

 

[rikfos]

I would imagine he is an expat. I have been away for 5 months but realised before I went that my MOT would run out whilst away, so had another MOT done before I went. This meant I could tax and insure my vehicle while I was away.

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[Minxy]

A simple reminder for the missing tax disc is to doctor Jim's smiley download and add an expiry date to show on the screen. I've done it for 3 vehicles although it looks a bit naff on the Merc!

... need to get a better quality of MH to stick it on then!