French Cars In The Uk

[jeremy 70]

A strange title I know, and I'm still not really sure it describes best what I want to say.

 

Anyway I've been working at my sisters near Bedford, and she had a plumber turn up to give her a price, and I noted his van had French plates on it. I was intreaged as he was as English as me. He explained he moved to France some years ago and has now returned back to the UK as a "tourist" if the police ask to explain why he has French plates, he is still to decide when he will go back it may only be for a fortnight a year if he is lucky! He then went on to explain the following that when he moved to france his driving licence was automatically upgraded so that all his provisional entitlements became full, bonus number one he can now drive a bus full of passengers or drive an HGV without even taking the relevant tests. He then went on to say that he bought the van in france with finance then brought it back to the uk about 12 months later after living in france, and here is the crux of it he still has a nominal balance oustanding on the van and as such the car cannot be licenced in the UK apparently it is a kind of loop hole to stop cars being driven across EU borders and then being sold to an unsuspecting buyer unaware of its original number plate, this then means he does not have to tax it either result number two. Finally they are unable to issue him any points on his licence whilst in the UK and he wangles out of speed camera fines aswell.

[MrG 3]

personally I don't think its a good idea, I'd like to know that the guy in the lorry next to me or coming towards me had the relevant training and has passed his test to show he can do it. Also why should he blatantly flaunt the law by being able to speed and park where he wants without getting done.

[S@m 156]

If ever i needed an excuse to buy an original 309 Gti 16v this is it! Shame that old cars like that seem to retain their value far better in France than over here.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

A mate of mine has done this but his wife was French at the time, You only have to go back 'X' amount of time per year so cheap road tax and insurance and as said Speed Camera's are no problem etc, He also had 2 driving license's as well so that say's it all