Practically Classics Forum

I've been thinking of getting some Eastern European Iron on the drive, so had a quick look on ebay as you do. I've spotted a few vehicles on there that have obviously come over here with their owners on typically Polish or Hungarian plates. Now being sold, one assumes to pay for wizz-air to take them back home a lot quicker than driving.

I've been reluctant to consider these as they haven't been registered in the UK, but thought what would be the procedure with the DVLA if I wanted to buy one and then get it registered.

I looked on the DVLA website (as you do) and found that it was more for new imports and the like.
I could try phoning Swansea, but I've had mixed success with that in the past when I bought my series landrover. That was a Farmers reduced duty when I got it, thankfully when I sent off the V5 it came back as standard PLG. If I'd believed the drone on the phone however, as it was a 12 seater, I should have had a tacho on it etc (You don't as the age, and the maker are specifically exampt in the regs - I checked ).

So has anyone done this before, and if so how much of a pain in the lower abdominal area is it?

If you email Sam Glover at the magazine, he will be able to tell you what you have to do.

let us know how you get on, it can't be worse than the french system!

It used to be really easy, you'd fill in a form, take that with the foreign reg docs to your local office, they'd tap a few things into a computer, stamp some paperwork, assign you a number plate, give you the paperwork to get plates made up, deprive you of some money and send you on your way happy, with a V5 arriving shortly after.

Now, I believe you're screwed, the local offices are all closed, and you now have to post docs to Swansea, wait while they loose them down the back of the filing cabinet, pick their noses, and decide you've filled something out wrong, or not included some bit of paper and send it back to you, unless you're lucky and someone knows what they're doing and get it sorted and send you the bits of paper you need.

I wish you all the luck in the world!

I dunno why, probably awful , but i fancy the 2 cylinder Fiat Cinquecento.. Polish version 700cc i think ..Couldn't be sold over here due to emissions? We got the 1100 and 900 cc 4 cyl .Sometimes they come up on ebay . Poles bring them over , but can afford a Jag to go home

Couldn't be sold over here because we British types disapprove of having the BIS taken! Real twin cylinder Cinquecenti have rear-mounted, air cooled engines, non-synchro gearboxes and incredibly sh1te brakes. Front wheel drive Cinquecento indeed! 'Tis the work of the devil.

Last time I imported a motor was a couple of years ago and that seemed easy enough. Took it for MOT on the chassis number, then took the test certificate with the car's Spanish registration document to the Regent Centre DVLO and they made it all happen, I do get that it's bound to be more complicated if your local DVLO is one of those that was closed though, one of which Regent Centre has since become.

Did your south American banker with 1,000 glass-fibre minis offer to do the paperwork for you in exchange for your bank account details? (sorry)

Real cars have 4 wheels and are made of tin

TerryG wrote:If you email Sam Glover at the magazine, he will be able to tell you what you have to do.

Will probably have a crack at that. If Sam's reading, have a free bit of inspiration chap!

mach1rob wrote:It used to be really easy, you'd fill in a form, take that with the foreign reg docs to your local office, they'd tap a few things into a computer, stamp some paperwork, assign you a number plate, give you the paperwork to get plates made up, deprive you of some money and send you on your way happy, with a V5 arriving shortly after.

Now, I believe you're screwed, the local offices are all closed, and you now have to post docs to Swansea, wait while they loose them down the back of the filing cabinet, pick their noses, and decide you've filled something out wrong, or not included some bit of paper and send it back to you, unless you're lucky and someone knows what they're doing and get it sorted and send you the bits of paper you need.

I wish you all the luck in the world!

Yep even the one in central Brum. It's as if they don't want anyone doing anything more unusual than your local main stealer registering another new Kia Pride or other 5 years away from being a fridge politically correct tin box. As previously mentioned I've not had much success in the past. Hopefully they've got better in the last few years