Returning car from foreign country help needed

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 15:07

Hi everyone I've got a real dilemma on my hands and need some suggestions as never been in this position before. Please bare with me.....

My in laws retired and settled in turkey. My Father in law drove his car across Europe to get there. The car is only allowed to be in the country for maximum 12 months due to it being a 'foreign' car. The car has to be out of the country by 24th April otherwise it is confiscated and becomes property of turkey. I have tried to extend its stay but it has been refused.

In the last couple of weeks he has fallen very ill. He has had a series of mild strokes and is currently under observations in hospital whilst they try to stabilise him. He is clearly unfit to drive the car himself and will be unable to do so for the foreseeable future.*

I am in turkey at present and have arranged with a lawyer to transfer all the import/export documents into my name so that I can drive the car home prior to the 24th April. This should be completed today.*

The car shall be covered with Turkish insurance for all of Europe.*

My next concern is the return trip home. Not only all the traffic regulations in each country, in particular France, but also my return into England. The car no longer has any road tax or mot as it isn't a requirement or relevant in turkey. *What should I do?

My thought was to book the car into mot station upon entry into England so that I'm covered in that respect and just chance road tax issue until I have a mot certificate. I think the car is sorn though? Does this make a difference?*

The car shall be stored up north. Is it reasonable to book the car into a garage in that area or should I book it in somewhere close to Dover if that is the route I choose to return?

*

Thanks for reading and for any suggestions you may have.*

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 15:44

Thanks for the replies. Im returning from turkey tomorrow and flying back again in a couple of weeks so I'll see what DVLA advise in the meantime.

Sorn means exported or scrapped? I just thought it related to cars no longer being used on the road? :confused:

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 21:42

Hi sorry about delay in reply just trying to deal with this whilst dealing with father in law condition. He is being transported to Istanbul via air ambulance as he has deteriorated.

Turkish police do not bother with foreign cars other than to confiscate if paperwork isn't upto date.

The car is a Toyota avensis estate 2005 90k on clock. 1.8 l

Not had chance to look into having it shipped over but will look into it. I imagine the costs will outweigh the value of the car.

Will look into trailer costs too.

Fox, you mentioned car needs to be road legal from provinance to be legal elsewhere? I take it I'll be running gauntlet if I choose to drive across Europe in each country then?

Thanks for all your help so far. Im hoping to get the car back as I've promised the old man I'll 'sort it'. I understand why those of you enquired the economics of it all but trying to explain to the mother in law that it can be confiscated at this time is a bit of a no go!

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 21:55

Turkey do not allow registration of imported cars. You need to buy their cars apparently. They allow 6 months Initially and a further 6 months on application. After that it must go.

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 22:15

[TW]Fox;21625829 said:
It looks like a really hard subject to get concrete information about. From the UK perspective:

I'm pretty sure I've always read that in order for foreign registered car to be legal, it must be legal in its home country. I can find nothing to support this and cannot imagine how a French police officer would even be able to find out if the car had MOT.

I'm not going to recommend you drive it anyway but in a hypothetical situation I'm sure many people might do something like book an MOT in the UK and drive the car across Europe, into the UK and then to the MOT centre. It is legal to drive a car with no tax and no MOT to a prebook MOT test in the UK and unless its a complete nail I don't really know how a foreign police officer would know what an MOT even was.

Well that pretty much settles it. My fear is getting into England. I can book the mot but I'm then at risk of the road tax/sworn issues. Can they will they impound the vehicle for no road tax?

The trailer option at England seems to be the best option so far.

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 22:36

Thank you. Once i discover the success of the operation I shall pick this part of the mess back up again and try to source a mate and a trailer!

Undeterred · 5 Apr 2012 at 22:37

[TW]Fox;21626071 said:
It's also loads more difficult than you think it is because almost no car is legally able to tow a trailer with a Toyota Avensis on the back.

dare I ask why? :confused:

Undeterred · 6 Apr 2012 at 02:32

I don't think it's about the nearest mot but rather what is reasonable? Will need to look at the legislation and regulations

Undeterred · 6 Apr 2012 at 02:43

The closest I've found so far is this paragraph 3(4):

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/schedule/2

Not sure it's the correct provision though?