import and insurance in the UK of foreign registered LC100 (2004)

[Marpey]

Having taken up residence in the UK , I'm planning to import my Land Cruiser HDJ100 (2004) TD 4.2, left hand drive, (some modifications - suspensions, extra fuel tank, spare wheel holder) currently registered in France.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any particular problems I may be confronted with or situations to watch out for? What about the MOT?
Any suggestion for a shipper's contact to handle the HMRC side and of a recommended insurance co/broker for a vehicle with these charachteristics?
Thank you all for all possible support
Marco

 

[Gr8Yota]

I have an imported FJ. As you don’t need your LC shipped you should be able to do the customs and registration yourself. I’m not sure that customs is due from within the EU? You’ll need an MOT but the mods shouldn’t be an issue for that. You can bring it over on French reg and insurance and then sort it once here.

Adrian Flux cover all mods and LHD etc no probs as do A Plan, I was with Flux but swapped this year to A Plan for cost reasons.

 

[Bruce Raybould]

Having taken up residence in the UK , I'm planning to import my Land Cruiser HDJ100 (2004) TD 4.2, left hand drive, (some modifications - suspensions, extra fuel tank, spare wheel holder) currently registered in France.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any particular problems I may be confronted with or situations to watch out for? What about the MOT?
Any suggestion for a shipper's contact to handle the HMRC side and of a recommended insurance co/broker for a vehicle with these charachteristics?
Thank you all for all possible support
Marco

Hi Marco, there are specialist brokers dealing with import vehicles but for modified vehicle as well as an import you may have to look at Adrian Flux Insurance brokers

 

[Chris]

I'd try 2gether for insurance. They have a specialised modified vehicle section. Been with them for years. Never had a claim of course, but very respectable premiums. They understand what modified means.

 

[Jacob100]

You probably already know this but you are allowed to drive on French plates for six months before switching to UK ones. Plus I don’t think checks are too rigorous.

 

[outdoordan]

Adrian Flux for insurance. They are expensive but will insure a vehicle on its chassis number. I've used them twice to import EU Land Cruisers.
MOT. The only obvious things to look for are making sure you have a fog light fitted to the offside rear and headlights are adjusted correctly. Most testing stations will pass a EU headlights with deflectors fitted.
Make sure, when tested the tester enters the chassis number correctly on the certificate. If it's wrong fix it there and then. This can cause problems.
Pretty sure you only need to declare modifications to insurers and not to DVLA.
If the vehicle is over ten years old you do not need a certificate of conformity.
Make NOVA declaration within 14 days of car arriving in UK. This is UK quitus fiscal and declared there is no tax to be paid.

To register in UK you WILL need:

• MOT
• NOVA declaration
• Registration certificate from country of origin or a letter from Toyota stating date of manufacture.
• Completed application form.
• Cheque for road tax (12 or 6 months)
• Cheque for registration fee.

For registration you do not need insurance unless you reside in Northern Ireland.

To drive in the UK on French plates you will need valid insurance. Chassis number insurance is sufficient.

You do not need an MOT but I would not drive without one.

The Police are extremely unlikely to impound your vehicle for driving without tax as long as you can prove the registration process is under way.

I cannot say with any certainty what position you would be in if you crashed, but the UK Police are only bothered about foreign vehicles being insured and roadworthy. Insurance with Adrian Flux and valid MOT get you covered on this front.

Good luck. It's pretty easy.

 

[Marpey]

Adrian Flux for insurance. They are expensive but will insure a vehicle on its chassis number. I've used them twice to import EU Land Cruisers.
MOT. The only obvious things to look for are making sure you have a fog light fitted to the offside rear and headlights are adjusted correctly. Most testing stations will pass a EU headlights with deflectors fitted.
Make sure, when tested the tester enters the chassis number correctly on the certificate. If it's wrong fix it there and then. This can cause problems.
Pretty sure you only need to declare modifications to insurers and not to DVLA.
If the vehicle is over ten years old you do not need a certificate of conformity.
Make NOVA declaration within 14 days of car arriving in UK. This is UK quitus fiscal and declared there is no tax to be paid.

To register in UK you WILL need:

• MOT
• NOVA declaration
• Registration certificate from country of origin or a letter from Toyota stating date of manufacture.
• Completed application form.
• Cheque for road tax (12 or 6 months)
• Cheque for registration fee.

For registration you do not need insurance unless you reside in Northern Ireland.

To drive in the UK on French plates you will need valid insurance. Chassis number insurance is sufficient.

You do not need an MOT but I would not drive without one.

The Police are extremely unlikely to impound your vehicle for driving without tax as long as you can prove the registration process is under way.

I cannot say with any certainty what position you would be in if you crashed, but the UK Police are only bothered about foreign vehicles being insured and roadworthy. Insurance with Adrian Flux and valid MOT get you covered on this front.

Good luck. It's pretty easy.

To close this tread , here is what I ended up doing after a lot of contacts and the useful advice offered on this site:
1. I contacted "My Car Import", Unit 5-9 Willow Industrial Park - Willow Road Castle Donington Derbyshire, DE74 2NP
who did the entire procedure picking up my car in London, arranging the MOT and the required modification, Tax and DVLA application . I picked up again my car at their offices, the process completed, remedial work carried out, UK number plates in place and drove away.
Total cost GPB 1,100 including 6 month road tax, MOT remedial work , 2 new glass headlights (GBP280 fitted) as the MOT tester did not accept the deflectors initially applied, and number plates (3 ).
Costly, but full marks to "My car Import" for handling everything without a worry for me.
2. As for insurance, Adrian Flux proved very expensive. After much search and comparaison site checking, I waited until I had the UK registration number and I insured with Sterling Insurance Services, which also offered a 365 year cover for foreign travel (Europe)