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28/3/2009 23:04:20

conrad_be

Posts: 5
Since: 28/3/2009
Status: offline

Hi everyone, the recent exchange rate evolution has made UK Maserati's affordable for me sooner than I hoped.
Now, apart from the purchase price, there's another thing called taxes, which are astronomical in Belgium for cars with big engines.
To give you an idea, the yearly tax for a 4.2 V8 is 2.000€ (two thousand) in addition to the one-off tax when the vehicle is registered (a new 4.2V8 is 5.000€, 4-year old 2nd hand is still 3.000€).
Now, what I want to get to is this:
Is there any chance I could find a seller who would be prepared to keep the car registered in the UK?
As I already understood, there's a difference in the UK between the owner and the keeper.
So in theory, I could buy the car and be the owner and the seller would then be the keeper (of course I would pay the necessary UK taxes, which are pea-nuts compared to ours). Car would be driven in Belgium (I don't mind RHD), I am aware that there's a new MOT needed every year.
Can anyone confirm me that this is a realistic scenario (or not?).
regards, Conrad
(excuse my linquistic mistakes, I'm not a native speaker)

29/3/2009 10:54:51

Klive

Posts: 696
Since: 25/5/2008
Region: Essex/Herts Border
Status: offline

It is a legal requirement in the UK to declare change of ownership.
In addition any "naughty" things you may do over there would be pointed back to the legal owner over here. I believe you would be the keeper and it would be the owners responsibility to prove who was driving if a offence was committed.

29/3/2009 14:01:49

Safrane

Posts: 2481
Since: 27/1/2008
Region: Bristol
Status: online

There are ways to do this, we see far to often people working in one country but resident in another to avoid the tax man saving millions in ££££.

If you could find an address where you can 'live' in the uk and pay a small rent you could keep the car on UK plates and come here when you are not working. You would need to pay UK road tax, insurance and MOT and there may be a restriction on the length of time you can drive in Belg' on your UK insurance...all of this is bending the rules and it would be up-to-you as to how far you want to go and is it worth the saving?

Have you any old friends who now live in the UK?

_____________________________

Peter

4200 CC
Volvo C70 Cabriolet
VW Golf mk1 Cabriolet
2CV LHD In France

29/3/2009 15:23:13

conrad_be

Posts: 5
Since: 28/3/2009
Status: offline

Well, considering the difference in both purchase price and taxes, savings are great.
I totally agree this is 'bending the rules'
See it as some sort of 'civil disobedience' to the Belgian government who taxes us to death to support 3 different governments

I live in a rather touristic area where UK plates are not uncommon. Besides the Maserati would not be my daily ride.

I know a bloke from the UK who lives in France and keeps running UK plates to avoid French taxes and the import procedure. Car is registered at his parents' address and he pays a small insurance surplus to cover the extra risk. Insurance company has no problem with that.
Should I buy a Maserati in the UK, the car would almost never re-enter the UK except for the yearly MOT (which I could easily arrange in Folkestone or Dover I guess).
Considering fines, the UK DVLA doesn't give informations about a UK registered car to the Belgian authorities. So as long as they don't physically stop you, you can do whatever you like: speed camera tickets and parking fines will never find their way to the UK.

I would have no problem in being both owner and keeper, however, I would still need a UK address for registration and insurance.
I know a couple of expats living in the UK but they change addresses rather frequently so that's not really an option.
regards, Conrad

29/3/2009 22:49:26

Custard

Posts: 16
Since: 17/12/2008
Status: offline

Hi there, I'm resident in both France and Switzerland and have had my 4200GT over here since 2005. I've had numerous car related dealings with Les Flics since having an accident in Nov '05 but never had a single problem with keeping its original registration plates. It is however my car and registered in my name. I wouldn't be too keen to recommend registering a car you intend to own in someone else's name though! I also always carry all of my papers with me at all times in case of any questions. Passer moi un coup de fil si vous voulez plus d'avis et aussi voir leboncoin.fr!
Joe

30/3/2009 20:46:07

lozcb

Posts: 4164
Since: 5/6/2007
Status: offline

Possible to rent a PO box address in the uk , could be the answer,

regards Loz

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52 plate 4200 cc Lowered Tubi's and full GS body kit,steering wheel and rack
55 plate 4200 cc Gransport Full Larini system,AP Racing big brake upgrade ,more stuff pending

30/3/2009 22:04:01

conrad_be

Posts: 5
Since: 28/3/2009
Status: offline

I was told the DVLA does not accept PO Box addresses when registering a car?
Not sure if this is true though.
Asking them (as a foreigner) is perhaps a bit suspicious isn't it.
Would be great if someone could confirm if this is possible (or not)
Pretty sure I'm not the only one with these questions...
regards, Conrad

20/4/2009 18:29:04

conrad_be

Posts: 5
Since: 28/3/2009
Status: offline

For those others who might be interested, I now can confirm it is possible to register a car using a PO Box address.

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