Foreign drivers paying no road tax

[sandbach99]

In the local paper a letter was printed from a lady who had contacted her local councillor, she had asked about the cars being driven by EU immigrants, who live and work here which have no road tax. The reply from the police was, that it was a complex area but briefly was that if the EU immigrant was a visitor, including those working, they could drive for 12 months without any UK documentation. If they go home for a few weeks the 12 months starts again when they return. This seems to mean that if they go home once a year for a brief holiday they never need to pay Road Tax, hava a MOT or British insurance no matter how long they live here. Even if they have insurance in there home country, how easy is it to make a claim from over here? Also their cars are not registered with DVLA and are therefore can only be traced to last owner, the cars they are driving sem to be cars bought over here as there are very few foreign cars in the area. No ranta about them being over here. Does this apply to British people golng to live abroad?, I know most countries don't have road tax. Surely if someone works here they should have to pay for UK documentation otherwise they are �5-10 per week better off , this seems to be a valid reason to abolish road tax and introduce a fuel tax. Anyone agree?

[kempie]

The police statement is incorrect.

The DVLA states that there are international agreements which provide for the temporary use of a vehicle in a foreign country for a limited time, usually six months in a 12 month period. A visitor to the UK may use a vehicle displaying foreign plates, provided that all taxes (including vehicle excise duty) are paid in their country of origin.

It is the responsibility for the driver to prove how long an EU vehicle has been in the country. This can be achieved by producing ferry tickets. Used or unregistered vehicles brought into the UK will be allowed to circulate freely for six months in any 12 month period without the need to register. Certain vehicles will be required to display a temporary 'Q' plate. Temporary visitor status is not appropriate to these vehicles.

If a vehicle is intended for use in excess of this six month period then it must be permanently imported for use in Great Britain; it must be registered and taxed as soon as possible after it arrives in the country. The vehicle should not be used or kept on public roads until the registration and vehicle tax formalities have been completed.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAnd SellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/ index.htm

[sandbach99]

Kempie Thanks for your comprehensive reply.

As I said previously I do not see many foreign registered cars around here, does your answer still apply if the foreign national buys a car over here and takes it to his country, telling DVLA it has been exported, then returns.

I know of a company which sells a lot of British registered cars to foreigners for export, for spares, what happens if these cars come back with workers in them.

I am wondering why the police have given such a wrong answer to a prominate councillor.