Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Trip Paperwork
Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



Like Tree7Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #136  
Old 12 May 2018
BruceP's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Helens
Posts: 763
Yes , I know that. But it is the best and easiest approach. No one is going to check that it was out of the country when SORNd. And out side Europe no one will care about that or the MOT.

I never said it would be legal. It is just the best and easiest way.

Then do not return through Europe, come into the UK by sea or air. Book an MOT and tax it .( Assuming the bike makes it back ).

Sometimes you just have to skim around rules. And technically break a few.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony LEE View Post
Then you are wrong again.

And if you SORN a vehicle that is outside the UK, you will be illegal in UK too because you have made a false declaration.
Sent from my Moto G (5S) using Tapatalk
__________________
--

http://www.ytc1.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #137  
Old 12 May 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony LEE View Post

The Spanish police - ................................ - have been cracking down on British vehicles without tax, MOT, registration and insurance and they use a public database to check on the vehicle status and issue big fines as required.

No reason why other police forces can't do the same.
Two factors therein:


Hundreds of thousands of Brits have gone to live in Spain over the years and some tend to take a UK registered vehicle over there.


Increasingly, the UK is going paperless and putting a lot of information online, for anyone to view who happens to know a registration number.
https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #138  
Old 13 May 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: On the road, Homeward bound :-(
Posts: 127
Increasingly, the UK is going paperless and putting a lot of information online, for anyone to view who happens to know a registration number.
https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla[/QUOTE]

Yep .. I got stopped at the Romanian border going into Bulgaria. He asked for my paperwork and when I gave him current MOT cert. he said it was fake because everything is online now. He wouldn't have it that it was gen until he checked the details on DVLA website. Needless to say he wasn't happy 'cos he couldn't scam me.
__________________
RTW Jan 2009 - Aug 2012. Currently in Europe waiting for the next ride
www.takingthelongwayhome.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #139  
Old 13 May 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by panhandle1300 View Post
Increasingly, the UK is going paperless and putting a lot of information online, for anyone to view who happens to know a registration number.
https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla
Yep .. I got stopped at the Romanian border going into Bulgaria. He asked for my paperwork and when I gave him current MOT cert. he said it was fake because everything is online now. He wouldn't have it that it was gen until he checked the details on DVLA website. Needless to say he wasn't happy 'cos he couldn't scam me.[/QUOTE]


From next year there won't be a paper copy issued; all records are aiming to be kept online only - this according to my local MOT tester who just tested my bike.
The tester mentioned that some of the test stations aren't too happy with that arrangement - people who have a vehicle tested expect to see something in exchange for their money.



The current new version of the MOT certificate, which changed format just a few weeks ago, looks like a letter addressed to whoever is showing on the DVLA record for that bike (the V5c named person). It still contains the same amount of data though.


So, the border checking officer can't ask to see a test certificate from next year.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #140  
Old 21 May 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 794
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
So, the border checking officer can't ask to see a test certificate from next year.
But he can check the online database the same as you or I can.

I can understand the temptation for people to ignore the UK rules if they're out of the UK for extended periods, but as the man says above that's fine unless you get into trouble, have an accident etc, because insurance cover is generally contingent on the bike being legal in its country of origin, and that generally goes for legal roadworthiness as well. The laws don't really cover extended use abroad, even if you notify a 'permanent export'. The best compromise is to go on a new bike that doesn't need an MoT for 3 years anyway, that way road tax and insurance can be done online. For older bikes you either limit your trip to a year or break the law at your own risk.
Reply With Quote
  #141  
Old 21 May 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by Des Senior View Post
But he can check the online database the same as you or I can.
Precisely my point; the public version of the database (and there are various versions available to, say, the trade) is available to the whole wide world, as showing in the link posted earlier.
The insurance companies are very interested in this topic - years from now, your medical records and DNA profile will be there also?
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #142  
Old 21 May 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: On the road, Homeward bound :-(
Posts: 127
Quote:
Originally Posted by Des Senior View Post
But he can check the online database the same as you or I can.

I can understand the temptation for people to ignore the UK rules if they're out of the UK for extended periods, but as the man says above that's fine unless you get into trouble, have an accident etc, because insurance cover is generally contingent on the bike being legal in its country of origin, and that generally goes for legal roadworthiness as well.
Keeping the bike UK legal is all well and good if you are only travelling throughout Europe. If that is the case then nipping back to the UK for an MOT and to renew your insurance (not aware of any company that allows you to renew outside of the country) is just a minor inconvenience.
Travelling further afield, if you do manage to get a UK company that will insure you for any where outside of Europe, good on you.
Any other countries are not interested if your bike is valid in the UK, as long as you have a Carnet where required and you have bought their local insurance job's a good 'un.
Whether the insurances purchased at borders are worth the paper they are printed on is another matter - 3 and a half years and I never had any cause to test the system - maybe I was just lucky!
__________________
RTW Jan 2009 - Aug 2012. Currently in Europe waiting for the next ride
www.takingthelongwayhome.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #143  
Old 19 Jul 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wessex, UK
Posts: 2,136
Another option has recently arrived for users of UK registered vehicles which is the MOT exemption for vehicles over 40 years old. There might not be much interest in travelling on such old vehicles but my almost exempt 35 year old BMW R80G/S is still good for extended trips and I am sure a well fettled Land Rover or Land Cruiser will be perfectly capable of long term travel.
Reply With Quote
  #144  
Old 12 Dec 2020
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 18
I'm interested in what will happen after we exit the EU regarding this topic.

How will the EU look at UK registered vehicles away from the UK for periods of more than 12 months without a valid MOT?
__________________
Life begins at 30...but it's about 90mph it gets real interesting...
Reply With Quote
  #145  
Old 12 Dec 2020
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Belper, uk, EUROPE
Posts: 539
Quote:
Originally Posted by Badger74 View Post
I'm interested in what will happen after we exit the EU regarding this topic.

How will the EU look at UK registered vehicles away from the UK for periods of more than 12 months without a valid MOT?
Undoubtedly they will regard the owner as a wise person for escaping.

Seriously, I would expect them to access the systems as they do now - the information is mostly in the public domain. The requirement for Green Card insurance is starting to be made known now that the muppets have just about finally declared that there will be no deal (big surprise as the mates of the PM have made lots of bets on there being no deal) so that will be required. The MOT bit is likely to remain as it is - i.e. you need to book a test before you get on the ferry / train home.
__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.
Reply With Quote
  #146  
Old 12 Dec 2020
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 54
Jay is right

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Benson View Post
Undoubtedly they will regard the owner as a wise person for escaping.

Seriously, I would expect them to access the systems as they do now - the information is mostly in the public domain. The requirement for Green Card insurance is starting to be made known now that the muppets have just about finally declared that there will be no deal (big surprise as the mates of the PM have made lots of bets on there being no deal) so that will be required.
Correct, couldn't have been better timed. I just got such a letter this morning from Aviva for my car insurance , Green Card is free at the moment for my car, but looking at my insurers for the bike they want an 'admin fee'. Paying more money to Suzuki insurance for doing their job, ok, I'll remember that at renewal time...
Reply With Quote
  #147  
Old 12 Dec 2020
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,104
Quote:
Originally Posted by James1959 View Post
Green Card is free at the moment for my car, but looking at my insurers for the bike they want an 'admin fee'. Paying more money to Suzuki insurance for doing their job, ok, I'll remember that at renewal time...
You and me both. Both my car and bike(s) insurances come up in Jan /Feb. Both go abroad frequently so Green Card is an essential. Be interesting to see if there's a difference in the way they deal with it.
Reply With Quote
  #148  
Old 10 Aug 2022
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
Does anyone know if I can get a UK policy with my Canadian license?

All insurance brokers are telling me to check online but the websites are then asking me when I started being a UK resident which I am not...

Thanks in advance.
Reply With Quote
  #149  
Old 10 Aug 2022
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueSky77 View Post
Does anyone know if I can get a UK policy with my Canadian license?

All insurance brokers are telling me to check online but the websites are then asking me when I started being a UK resident which I am not...

Thanks in advance.

It’s your residency that’s the issue, not your licence.

Try Adrian Flux/BikeSure


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #150  
Old 11 Aug 2022
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 794
A friend of mine with a US licence got insured through Bikesure. It was pretty expensive though. He did have a UK address he could supply, as somebody had kindly said he could register a bike he'd bought at his address.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
long term parking in the gambia montserrat sub-Saharan Africa 1 6 Nov 2005 14:23
Long Term hire, like in Australia Meter Man Europe 0 1 Jun 2005 02:30
First time long term traveller Helena Which Bike? 4 11 Aug 2003 10:41
long-term storage? bergman Europe 2 4 May 2002 02:38
UK - long term trip - registration etc ? roamingyak Trip Paperwork 11 2 May 2002 05:55

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:32.