I don't know about everyone else, but the multitude of foreign plated cars I see around now, Particularly (I'm not singling them out) Polish cars,here long term - not just visiting.
What is the situation with regards to Tax, Insurance and conversion to UK Specification.
When I imported a LHD car, I had 6 months to convert it to UK spec so that I could tax it in the UK. I'm sure these cars have the same ruling, they must convert if they stay longer than 6 months.
What happens if you have an accident with these foreign plated cars? Will they be insured?
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI
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Remember these Polish workers are paying your pension and apparently keeping the economy afloat.
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They are insured provided the car has not been in the UK longer than the maximum period allowed by the insurance company - typically 90 days IIRC.
After that, the car should either return to its country of origin as the insurance company will deem that its owners temporary stay in the UK is over, or else the insurance co. should be informed of a prolonged stay in which case they'll adjust the premium accordingly.
As OP rightly says, after 6 months the car ought to be re-registered in the UK.
In the absence of either of the above, I believe the (in this case) Polish driver is effectively driving without insurance.
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There are a couple of Polish cars I see regularly, they have certainly been here for more than 90 days. On of them is an old Fiat, I'm surprised it made the journey to UK, a ropey old heap I doubt it even is insured.
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Any car insured in any EC country is automatically covered TPO in all member states. Insurance is valid as long as its paid for regardless of time spent abroad.
Polish insurance premiums are dirt cheap and price to pay for not having one is very high (equivalent to 500 Euros), so practically everyone on the road is insured. Prices of premiums are low mostly because every accident has to be attended to and official paperwork filed by police, so you don't get funny business like in UK where a scratched bumper for Mondeo accumulates to £1000 of paintwork, mechanical adjustments to suspension and 12 work hours before it's sent to insurance company. Trade economy is slightly different too, so there is less cat C write offs. Unless there is serious structural damage that would prevent vehicle from being safe practically anything can be repaired for reasonable sum of money lower than market value of the vehicle.
For policy to remain valid Polish cars have to go through Polish equivalent of MOT (strict one too in comparison).
Foreign cars must leave and reenter UK at least once every six months or the car has to be registered in UK as import.
Does it bother you because the cars are old or because drivers are Polish?
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
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As I stated up front, I have nothing against Poland or Polish drivers, or the age of the cars. Mostly they drive quite nice newish cars, I've not seen many Jalopies about.
I'm concerned about
1) Insurance if I or someone else had an accident involving a foreign plated car
2) Road Fund Licence. What's the situation w/regards to tax in this country
Having thought about it, I was going to bring it up with my Local MP, but I wasn't sure if I had my facts right, or whether I was barking up the wrong tree completely, hence starting this thread to get others views.
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI
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"Remember these Polish workers are paying your pension and apparently keeping the economy afloat."
Migrationwatch will tell you that they are costing us 200 million a year. But more importantly, the company I work for in Warsaw want to renegotiate my contract and pay me a lot less so what I say is, you are duty-bound to report any and every Polish car you see to the police, most of them will be illegal. Same goes for any Polish people with regards to the inland revenue and the benefits office. Shop them all, do it now. If you work in a garage and a Polish driver comes in for an oil change or whatever - charge him double, in fact, charge him the equivalent of your weekly pay - see how they like it when it happens to them. And finally, if you?ve had a few beers with your mates and you come across a Pole as you?re all walking home - (sorry BBD, I've had to edit this out. HJ).
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Big Bad Dave, you have it all mixed up mate - it's the other way round - the company in Warsaw wants to renegotiate your contract BECAUSE Brits report every innocent Polish car to police, charge us double for oil change, shop us to Inland Revenue when we do them discounts on home refurbishments and knock our teeth out as well as throw us into Thames on their way home from a pub. Action - reaction.
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
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Discounts on home refurbishments eh? I need a kitchen, two bathrooms and an attic conversion v0n when you?re next over...
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I live in Northampton which sems to have a large amount of Polish and Lithuanian workers here and theres no way on gods green earth most of their cars can be road legal here and most of them arent too hot behind the wheel either, scary sometimes.
Most of them look like they have just been bought off salisbury plain having previously been for target practice! When I lived in town, I saw countless old bangers that should have been on the way to the scrapyard - fluids leaking out everywhere, bald tires, seriously smokey engines and broken windows and lights to name just a few things. I have no doubt these people flaunt the law as they really dont seem to care about their safety of that of those around them.
And they wonder why the BNP is so successful right now...
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Actually I opted out, cos' by the time I draw my pension there won't be a lot left. I'd rather have them put the money in my own fund. :-)
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI
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Stu,
I am originally from Tarn.
My brickie mates on £140 a day have just been replaced with Poles at £40 a day on the building site just by Sixfields.
Sorry mods I know this is veering off. I'll leave it there.
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