There is a 50/50 chance my wife and I may move to the UK. Is it possible for us to take a north american Mini over? I wasn't sure if there were laws or anything on this in the UK. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Brian Price

 

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is probably a good place to start:

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/exptimpt.htm

 

A friend of mine took his US bought Miata to the UK. No reason why you can't take your Mini.

 

Thanks for the quick replies and the link to the DVLA. Now I just have to figure out how much it would cost to ship it over! Anybody have any experience on shipping? Thanks again.

 

If you are in the military, i believe the move is covered. I purchased my last car from a guy in the military. He shipped his car back home from the UK before i bought it. The registration and customs paperwork was a pain ITB.

 

Here's a website that you can use to calculate the cost:
http://www.shipmyvehicle.com/Interna...eShipping.aspx

You can also google "overseas shipping car" to get more info.

 

Yes you can, but several things will probably have to be modified (lighting) before you can register it in the UK. Send Hank (MGEAR on NAM) a pm. I know he's already done it. Also check out several threads that he started describing his frustrations and expenses involved in the UK registration process. It might be a better idea to sell your MINI here and buy another one (maybe even a diesel) over there.

Here's a link to some of Hank's experience with the move.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=44505

 

I lived in the UK from Dec. of 97 till Nov. of 2000 mate. Having a left hand drive on english roads is only a challenge when you want to pass.. it's just tough to see around the car in front of you, so be careful with that!

Your car will be subject to passing the MOT (Minstry of Transportation) test annually, which is really their way of keeping POS cars off the road. You will be required to have a rear fog light, so if you don't have one yet, get one installed before you go, as it's cheaper here to do.

Get used to insane gas prices if you don't have a military base you can refill at... last I heard petrol was selling for approx. 2 pounds per liter, so approx. $14 per gallon. Yeah, deep breath in... slowly... relax... see, America still has the cheapest gas in the world! If you can refill at a base, congrats! You'll enjoy something around $3.50-$4.00 instead.

Where are you considering moving to? Happy to be of any further help!

 

Well, actually Saudi Arabia is probably the cheapest gas in the world. Something like 50¢ a gallon there.

 

I think Venezuela may still be cheaper, about $0.12 a gallon last time I checked.

No wonder W doesn't like Hugo Chavez!

 

$14 a gallon! Holy smokes that's crazy! Unfortunately neither my wife nor I are in the military so we would be stuck paying those prices.

I believe the company I would be working for would be in Egan(?). Not sure where the heck that is but they told me to fly into Heathrow instead of Gatwick as it's closer. I'm heading over to the UK for the final interview in two weeks.

Thanks to all for responding to my post. It's very much appreciated!

Cheers,
Brian

 

I'm a Brit... the main issue I see is the left hand issue already mentioned - I would think it would be a little more difficult to drive. Also, I'm guessing you will have to get a UK licence. If so, good luck with the test! It's no fun! I hated that freakin' test... failed twice before I passed, which tends to be the norm.... You get to have a lovely "L" on your car which is supposed to stand for 'Learner' but it feels more like 'loser'

I moved over to the US right after I learned to drive, so don't know much about the paperwork side... and then I had to take the US test... grr... much easier though!

 

It's almost TOO bloody easy to get a license in the states. I wish we had a difficult test, and a mandatory performance driving course before allowing some of the nitwits I've encountered, get behind the wheel.

 

Exactly, that's why so many drive without one!

 

That is particularly true in SoCal!

 

I totally agree. Some teenaged twerp followed me for nearly 15 miles... CLOSE to my bumper before I gave up and turned off, allowing him and his old trans am to smoke by.

 

Another thought for you regarding moving to the UK if you can do your homework ahead of time...

I had a buddy on base that took delivery of a then new 1998 Pontiac Trans Am... and while on his first drive thru Cambridge, a brit jumped in front of him and begged him to sell it to him for 30,000 pounds (about $55,500).

Essentially, a huge American Muscle Car like that is so super rare there that the people with the money will pay top dollar for them.

So... sell your Mini, buy a corvette, sell the corvette, enjoy the profits and whatever suits you to drive while over there! (I recommend a good turbo diesel for the gas mileage since you'll be on the enconomy for fuel.)