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beagle

OK I'm getting all organised before importing my van and I've been in touch with local DVLA who have sent me form V55/5. Interstingly, they reckon I can just post this to them and they may not need to actually see the van (?)

Quite a few of the fields on the form are filled in with info from a 'European Certificate of Conformity' or 'SVA/ESVA certificate'.

Anyone know what they are? Will I get one with the van?

thanks everyone Smile

johnsandywhite

Hi beagle it can be done by post. First you will have to take the Motorhome for an SVA test (similar to an MOT). This form will then be sent along with the V55/5 and the importation paperwork plus the Title of ownership and the Fee payable to register and how much Road fund licence you wish to pay for (6 or 12 months). Wink

beagle

Thanks very much for that - is the SVA test done by DVLA?

(I thought I'd write to them well in advance, explain what I was planning to do, so I wasn't over the moon with the reply, which was just a compliment slip and a V55/4 form (wrong form!) bandhead

so I wrote again and got correct form and booklet showing how to complete it. Had hoped for a more helpful reply, mentioning this SVA test might have been useful!)

johnsandywhite

Nope. The DVLA is the registering and authorising department. The SVA is carried out in similar place to an MOT. Certain VOSA testing stations do the SVA test:-

beagle

oh, I see

thanks again, what an excellent forum this is Very Happy

johnsandywhite

smifee

hi beagle

did you ask DVLA to send you their importing info pack?

unfortunately i binned mine after registering my new MH so the info i'm giving is from memory Rolling Eyes

motorhomes are exempt from cert of conformity and SVA. for much of the paperwork you simply put 'motorhome'.

the only reason your new MH will be checked by DVLA or VOSA is to ensure that it is a MH. they won't be checking lights etc unless you have it on the road. this is to deter people from importing a van, chucking a mattress in the back, claiming it's a MH and avoiding cert of conformity or SVA.

what have you done about insurance? i couldn't find an acceptable solution and in the end the dealer drove it to the tunnel terminal. this was no problem as the dealer is only 1 hour drive away. can't see a dealer driving from germany though.

i've imported twice. you aren't too far from me so if you want any help get in touch. you'll either have to post on this topic as i can't access PMs on this site or go to one of the other MH forums that i use where i can receive messages.

mike

gaspode · Moderator

Hi Beagle

You do not need to have a certificate of conformity nor do you require a SVA test unless importing from outside the EU. Where the form refers to the CofC, simply enter N/A. The DVLA will not want to inspect you import as a matter of course but they do carry our spot checks and may ask to see the vehicle occasionally. This is just to confirm that it is in fact a bone-fide motorhome and exempt from the SVA / CofC. They will not be interested in your lights, speedo or any other details. If the vehicle is more than 3 years old you will need to get an MOT before registering but again, the MOT tester will not be interested in your speedo (in fact the new computerised MOT system prevents the tester from failing a vehicle on any speedo related fault) and he will only require that your lights do not dazzle oncoming traffic. You can attain this by blanking the beams with black tape for the purpose of an MOT test. My advice when registering the M/H in the UK is to fill in the easy bits of the form and then take it to the local DVLA office yourself and ask them to complete the ambiguous bits for you, they're usually very helpful.
Having the dealer drive your M/H to the port does not help you with the insurance problem. The vehicle is by that time your property and your responsibility so if he damages it the problem is yours. He would merely be acting as your agent and dependent on the terms of his insurance, he may not be insured to drive it at all. The insurance that you buy in Gernamy along with the export plates covers only the principal to drive the vehicle, not an agent or any other person. I did enquire at the German taxation office and was told that they cannot cover more than one driver on export plates and this driver must be the exporter himself.

smifee

hi gaspode

the van was driven on trade plates by the dealer and covered by his trade insurance just as any new vehicle being delivered this way in the uk would.

mike