[Hymer007]

Hi Guys

I'm looking at importing a Hymer Van 512 from Germany in the near future on a Ford transit chassis.

After lots of reading on the subject am I right in thinking that once I have got it back to the UK - I need to:

Change the the headlights and make the necessary alterations to the speedo and rear fog light and an invoice stating this from a VAT registered garage. Then apply for the commission of mutual recognition.

The next step seems to be registering with the DVLA and I'm unsure whether I'll need a Certificate of Conformance (CoC)- as I have read forum posts indicating that motorhomes are exempt. The motorhome will be purchased from a non specialist dealer in Germany - so I'm unsure whether it will come with the (CoC).

Can anyone assist? - The DVLA are sending the import pack but it's taking longer than expected to arrive and I haven't found anything concrete on the web.

Many thanks

 

[Pudsey_Bear]

This recent thread might help if you've not seen it yet

http://forums.motorhomefacts.com/34-importing/128746-importing-new-belgium.html

 

[Hymer007]

Thanks for the the prompt reply.

Yes I've read that post but I believe there might be differences with with importing a second hand vehicle.


Having just been talking to the DVLA on the phone they are adamant that either a Certificate of Conformance or an Individual vehicle approval is needed the test for which costs £199 and the whole process takes about a month.

Does anyone know anything about the possible exemption to the CoC for motorhomes which I've read in threads dated around 2008. This info might be out of date though.....?

 

[Hymer007]

Having just spoken to the German dealer looks like they have the CoC and it's much more common out there than it is here - so maybe a case of worrying over nothing.

So just then just make the alterations to the vehicle apply for a Mutual recognition Cert (£100), obtain an MOT - and then apply to VOSA to register the vehicle (£55+road tax) - I don't think I've missed anything..............?

 

[mgdavid]

Having just spoken to the German dealer looks like they have the CoC and it's much more common out there than it is here - so maybe a case of worrying over nothing.

So just then just make the alterations to the vehicle apply for a Mutual recognition Cert (£100), obtain an MOT - and then apply to VOSA to register the vehicle (£55+road tax) - I don't think I've missed anything..............?

pretty much covers it, I think you'll need to have insured it using the VIN number to move it from the port of entry to home, plus the UK mods and the MOT, only a very few insurance cos will do this - I used Safeguard.

 

[jiwawa]

We imported ours in 2008,spend most of our time on the continent (or we used to :-() so I never changed the headlights. Blanking tape gets through the MOT providing it's positioned correctly.

I did, however, change the speedo tho it makes reading km much more awkward on the continent. I was advised (tho can't remember if it was MOT or unofficial) that I'd fail without it.

 

[eddieo]

Having just spoken to the German dealer looks like they have the CoC and it's much more common out there than it is here - so maybe a case of worrying over nothing.

So just then just make the alterations to the vehicle apply for a Mutual recognition Cert (£100), obtain an MOT - and then apply to VOSA to register the vehicle (£55+road tax) - I don't think I've missed anything..............?

step by step

get dealer to send you a photo of speedo with lights on. send this to lockwood engineering and you well get the correct MPH/KPH speedo. while at it ask him to source RHD headligts...worth a go..anything that speeds up the process once you get home is good

dealer will arrange 3rd party 5 day export plates

get fully comp insurance on (VIN number supplied by dealer). 30 days best as some only do 14

arrange local garage to check van over and complete letter to send to VCA

send all the ORIGINAL paperwork to VCA, once hatt back send it all aging to dvla and cross your fingers!

 

[mgdavid]

there are links in my 'importing from Belgium' thread for the VCA guidance notes, and for the Lockwood site. I do strongly suggest you invest a little time to read them both carefully if you haven't already.
The VCA want a written declaration / report from the garage that does the work, an invoice almost certainly won't be accepted on it's own as it won't contain the wording that they want to see. You will need new headlights, tape may have been acceptable 7 years ago but not now.

 

[jiwawa]

Tape was acceptable in Northern Ireland this year and generally I think they're more stringent than across the water.

 

[mgdavid]

Tape was acceptable in Northern Ireland this year and generally I think they're more stringent than across the water.

For GB I refer you to the Application Form which is downloaded from here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-commission-noticemutual-recognition--17
It is very clear about headlights.

 

[eddieo]

For GB I refer you to the Application Form which is downloaded from here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-commission-noticemutual-recognition--17
It is very clear about headlights.

I agree.....once upon a time yes it was acceptable but now with the VCA checks system no way.

 

[jiwawa]

Originally Posted by JWW View Post
Tape was acceptable in Northern Ireland this year and generally I think they're more stringent than across the water.

I should have made clear I was talking about the MOT rather than the import mutual recognition thing.

 

[Poulbot]

I can categorically say, as I have read the guidance notes on the MOT tester's screen and asked his (Ford Commercial main dealer) interpretation of the rules concerning headlamps, that the headlamps do not have to point left on dip beam. For test purposes the headlamps must not dazzle oncoming traffic when dipped, but must show enough light to enable the driver to drive safely in the dark, therefore a device which blocks the 'dazzle' part of the beam is sufficient to pass the test but mustn't be too large as to reduce the beam's ability to light the road ahead. His understanding is that beam benders would probably not work sufficiently well as they are not precise enough to bend accurately. Therefore he would accept durable, correctly placed blocking material to comply with the rules (which are the same for VCA compliance and MOT).
I have an imported LHD Ford Transit and it has recently passed the VCA compliance test on this basis. As I drive mainly on the Continent it seemed a bit of a pointless exercise to change the headlamps completely.

 

[jiwawa]

Did you have to change the speedo Poulbot?

 

[Poulbot]

Yes, I haven't found a way of getting over that hurdle. Some people have said what about a dashboard mounted satnav which shows MPH, but as far as I know this is not acceptable for a number of reasons. Depending on your vehicle the dashboard can be a bit of a nightmare to take out, but the dials are readily available for most common models of cab. The rear lights need to be set up so that the red rear foglamp is on the offside (RH) of the vehicle. On my motorhome (each light is a seperate lamp) I could manage to switch the foglamp position with the reversing light and just extend the wiring a little. If your rear lamps are in a single cluster, then you will either need to change the cluster or fit a single red foglamp.

 

[mgdavid]

I can categorically say, as I have read the guidance notes on the MOT tester's screen and asked his (Ford Commercial main dealer) interpretation of the rules concerning headlamps, that the headlamps do not have to point left on dip beam. For test purposes the headlamps must not dazzle oncoming traffic when dipped, but must show enough light to enable the driver to drive safely in the dark, therefore a device which blocks the 'dazzle' part of the beam is sufficient to pass the test but mustn't be too large as to reduce the beam's ability to light the road ahead. His understanding is that beam benders would probably not work sufficiently well as they are not precise enough to bend accurately. Therefore he would accept durable, correctly placed blocking material to comply with the rules (which are the same for VCA compliance and MOT).
I have an imported LHD Ford Transit and it has recently passed the VCA compliance test on this basis. As I drive mainly on the Continent it seemed a bit of a pointless exercise to change the headlamps completely.

I find this interesting as what you are saying countermands this:-
"The invoice must clearly describe the changes made to the vehicle; we need to know what has been changed and how this change meets UK compliance. A statement such as "changed headlights" is not sufficient evidence that, for
example, the original vehicle headlights have been removed and new, full UK specification left-dipping headlights have been fitted to the vehicle. Where an item is fitted, as standard, suitable for the United Kingdom the garage evidence must make clear that the item is standard and how it is standard (e.g. the vehicle has rear-fog lights fitted as standard on both the rear left and right of the vehicle).
Please note that we do not accept an MOT certificate"

It would be very useful if you could give an example of the wording used on your declaration that resulted in a VCA being issued, so that those that come in the future know what is possible, and how to do it.

 

[Poulbot]

mgdavid.....that was exactly the problem I faced. The MOT testing station was interpreting the rules one way and the VCA another. Unfortunately I cannot give you a correct answer which will satisfy both agencies. All I can say is that what I (from the MOT testing station) submitted to the VCA seemed to satisfy them, but it was specific to my vehicle and may not be the correct answer to all imports.
Perhaps I should qualify my original statement........"which are the same for VCA compliance and MOT". VCA compliance requires certain actions to be carried out, which are not part of the MOT test. The testing station is really only a government appointed agent carrying out the inspection, so the UK MOT test isn't really relevant in this instance. I stand by my comments concerning MOT requirements, but probably not relevant in this instance.

 

[mgdavid]

mgdavid.....that was exactly the problem I faced. The MOT testing station was interpreting the rules one way and the VCA another. Unfortunately I cannot give you a correct answer which will satisfy both agencies. All I can say is that what I (from the MOT testing station) submitted to the VCA seemed to satisfy them, but it was specific to my vehicle and may not be the correct answer to all imports.
Perhaps I should qualify my original statement........"which are the same for VCA compliance and MOT". VCA compliance requires certain actions to be carried out, which are not part of the MOT test. The testing station is really only a government appointed agent carrying out the inspection, so the UK MOT test isn't really relevant in this instance. I stand by my comments concerning MOT requirements, but probably not relevant in this instance.

And I'm agreeing with you that the MOT can (and often is) interpreted a bit more liberally or easier. I'm just saying that it would help others if you could give as an example "what I (from the MOT testing station) submitted to the VCA seemed to satisfy them," - it seems unhelpful not to.

 

[Hesterthecat]

Hi, I recently imported privately a 9 year old Fiat Ducato. I needed a letter of conformity. You are correct about the headlights, speedo and high vis rear lightI. Ialso had to have an MOT as soon as it arrived in the country, based on chassis number. To export from Germany, I needed export registration plates, valid for 12 days as I recall. I also had to buy German insurance. I think this was valid for a month. I also had to have the van registered in my name whilst in Germany and I subsequently had to produce this document for DVLA. The bureaucracy was difficult but I had an extremely helpful private German vendor. It would have been very difficult but for his assistance. But I am very happy with the result, an English registered LHD van I mostly use on the continent.
Hesterthecat

 

[merctoby]

insurance facts

pretty much covers it, I think you'll need to have insured it using the VIN number to move it from the port of entry to home, plus the UK mods and the MOT, only a very few insurance cos will do this - I used Safeguard.

you simply ask your seller to insure the vehicle for you there ,he will take you to get the plates made their and then , register the vehicle to you with your address. pay up , drive off .simples .plus the Germans caught me this time with new law. TAX, called customs , pratts. EU law. 43euros .just done it ,all the paper relevant for the van that will come with van, like the German log book has complete details of the C0CM you need .but the DVLA have become obstinate .makes it harder . now you have to fill details they will neither say its right or wrong just kick back when wrong .you have to tell and join HMRC customs and taxes to get nod before DVLA will give you uk log book . good luck .

but you save£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££.great .second hand, no tax to pay at all.

all the best ,denton.