Yes, even the apalling Russian bureaucracy has a human face compared to the 'computer says no' western regime.

I have found people who will insure the car, but I just wanted 2 weeks of cover to hope across the Baltic states to Kaliningrad and then to Belarus. And in the UK of course, computer said NO. Short term insurers would not insure the car as it is not in the UK at the start of the policy.

No big deal really, it just took a long time to find a broker, and I was wondering how I'd ever get the car back when I finally work up the strength to go back to that bloody island.

Thanks for all the info anyhow.

Daniel

I got pulled by the rozzers in germany and didn't have my registration documents with me. they cut off my number plates and refused to allow me to drive the vehicle until I could prove the vehicle was mot'd, insured etc. the way I got round this was to register the vehicle temporarilly in germany with temporary german plates. next to the registration office was a place I could get temporary insurance. this covered me all the way back to the UK and for a few days once back
this could be your solution

That sounds interesting... what were you driving / riding? Was it from the ADAC? Maybe I will avoid Germany then! I reckon the Italians and French are probably less fussy about this?

Could be good though, was it expensive to temporarily register the vehicle and buy the insurance?

Daniel

I have done it quite a few times when I go there to buy vehicles...

Last one, 08/10, cost me €90 for 5 day plates including the insurance.
You don't actually register the vehicle in Germany. They give you a blank booklet that YOU fill in with the VIN etc.

The plates are pressed with the expiry date and you must be out of Germany by the end of that day.
The insurance is just the basic 3rd party liability.

Once back here, I run around on the DE plates until the FR rego is completed - 4-6 weeks - though I do insure it here, also on the DE plates.

This translation of the tech words may help you... Kfz-Zulassungsstelle - English translation - bab.la German-English dictionary

Cheers,
John

it's a cautionary tale for all! travelling to far flung places and always making sure I have got everything thoroughly researched and all my paperwork in triplicate I got a bit blase about travelling in europe.

I was pulled on the A2 that goes from poland to hanover about 2330 one night on my way back from poland. 2 unmarked cars with 4 plain clothes coppers boxed me in and escorted me off the motorway. They checked my documents but I only had the new keepers supplement and didn't have my insurance docs with me(I'd picked up the wrong ones in my rush to get off). the new keepers supplement apparently doesn't count. they therefore said they would impound my vehicle until the could obtain information from DVLA. I was not to leave germany and they needed a 400 euros bond. he showed me his id but as it was german it could have been his library card for all I knew so even if I had the money, which I didn't, I wouldn't have handed it over. I asked how long this would take, he said minimum 5 days if no problems. I looked deeply suicidal and explained my wife was heavilly pregnant back home and about to drop (which was true).
the solution we came to was the temporary registration. they cut off my number plates, which was a pain as they were riveted on and told me not to move the vehicle. 0500 the next morning saw me tabbing 15km to the nearest town where I could get it sorted out.

the cost was about the same as above, 90 or so euros.

I asked the head rozzer why they pulled me and apparently they regularly pull british cars on this road as they are often driven by Poles or Lithuanians who don't have the correct documentation or no insurance or MOT.

I was in my VW polo by the way! nothing flash. I was returning from taking my niece home after she had visited the UK. UK-Poland and back in 2 days, including being pulled!