Foreign License Plates question

[Aivaras55]

Hello,

Been a long time. I'm looking to buy my second bike on A2 license, but have a dilemma.

I was reading and researching UK laws in terms of driving foreign license vehicle in UK and I must say everyone seem to have different point of view!

Anyway, I wanted to bring my motorbike from my EU country, take out insurance there (which will be legit international one) and use it in UK. So was looking into it to see if it's legal. It appears that you cannot drive foreign plates if you're UK resident, so no for me. But then here: gov.uk it says:
You may be able to use a vehicle with non-UK number plates for longer than a 6-month period, without taxing or registering it, if all the following apply:
• you’re a student or worker
• you normally live outside the UK
• you’re in the UK for a set study or work period
• the vehicle is registered in its home country

Then I found few websites where it says that students are residents. And then found EU law (31983L0182) where it states:
"Private vehicles imported temporarily shall be exempt from the taxes where a student uses a private vehicle registered in the Member State of his normal residence in the territory of another Member State in which the student is residing for the sole purpose of pursuing his studies."
Also:
Attendance at a university or school shall not imply transfer of normal residence.

I starting to think that even police wouldn't know. So showing them valid driving license, student card and international insurance paper should be suffice?

Also anyone know how to get customs relief form HMRC, as it says:
"If you meet these conditions, HMRC will give you a customs relief form which you can present to the police if you’re stopped when driving your vehicle."


Sorry for long post, but I was thinking if anyone more into this, would be able to confirm? That would save me the hassle of registering vehicle, doing MOT and paying 6x more expensive insurance.

[Ste]

So insurance from your unnamed country will cover you for continual use in another EU country despite you not being a resident of your unnamed country?

Does your country have any MOT type requirements and if so how would you manage that?

Willing to bet that it wouldn't work. And the police not knowing doesn't mean they'll just let you on your way if they don't know that you've got valid insurance.

[Aivaras55]

[Wonko The Sane]

if you're studying in the UK but resident in your home company then the UK isn't viewed as your permanent residence.

This is in a similar manner to my permanent address being my parent's house and my term time address being my uni address
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[Aivaras55]

Thanks. That makes sense.

Now my quest is to get customs relief form from HMRC. HMRC website is not helpful at all, can't even find email or phone number to use for this case. Does this form even exists?


As it says:
"If you meet these conditions, HMRC will give you a customs relief form which you can present to the police if you’re stopped when driving your vehicle." Such form would come in handy.

[i.p.phrealy]

[Aivaras55]

Indeed

Will try to phone someone on Monday, though I suspect it will be waste of time.

[Thelostone]

Do you have a printer? Clicky

[Aivaras55]

That's for non-EU resident? So there is no form for EU one?

This is confusing then: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

So on exclamation mark: "You must contact HMRC before or upon arrival in the UK to apply for customs relief." it applies only for non-EU and you don't need to show any form when stopped by police? (obviously just that you have insurance). But in that case "Students and workers" paragraph applies only to non-EU people? Oh man, they need to make themselves more clear.. No wonder no one was actually prosecuted for driving foreign plates (read article few days back).

[ficedula]

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/vat-and-tax-vehicles-from-within-the-eu

is for vehicles within the EU.

[Aivaras55]

[lihp]

You can't just pay the police off over here like you can in Lithuania

[Aivaras55]

[lihp]

[Aivaras55]

Ah I see. It used to be that way, but now I wouldn't dare as it is a serious offense and they have cameras everywhere. This is because government is trying hard to tackle this problem lately.

You're right about doctors though Public hospitals are a joke, private ones are the only way to go unless you want loads of medicine prescribed

I'll better get prepared then... will print everything and carry a folder with me

[iooi]

[Aivaras55]

[Ste]

Have you found anything that actually supports the legality of what you want to do?

All there is in this thread is you interpreting ambiguous HMRC webpages how you want to.

I don't see how or why you would pay tax in both countries!

[Aivaras55]

[Ste]

That page doesn't have the word insurance on it.

Do you pay income tax in this country?

[Aivaras55]

It is not about insurance, mate. Insurance like I said is all sorted 100%. The one I'm taking in Lithuania is 2x more expansive than standard as it is valid in UK.

I pay income tax here from a job which is compulsory and part of the studies in uni.

[iooi]

[Aivaras55]

Don't care about penalties, I'm not a careless driver. If I'm guilty will take all responsibility whatever its court or fines.

So I finally found "residence HMRC" email (online page) where I have send my question. Hopefully will get an answer.