If you are coming to live permanently in the UK you need to re-register your vehicle to UK plates immediately.

You should contact the DVLA for advice as to how to do this at www.dvla.gov.uk or the DVA at www.dvani.gov.uk if you live in Northern Ireland.

A vehicle with UK plates must have insurance according to UK Law, which means it must be insured with an authorised insurer who is a member of the MIB.

To see if the insurer is a member of MIB please check the Members’ section of this website.

If you are a short- term visitor to the UK (for example on holiday) you can use your vehicle for a limited time before you need to re-register onto UK plates. If you are staying longer you must re-register the vehicle.  The DVLA have advised the legal position as follows:

A foreign registered vehicle can be used in this country for up to six months in a twelve month period providing it complies with the registration and licensing requirements of its home country.

Any foreign registered vehicle used in this country for more than six months in any twelve, has to be registered and licensed in the normal way. In addition, where the keeper of the vehicle becomes resident in this country, the vehicle must immediately be registered and licensed here.

It is the responsibility of the driver to prove how long a vehicle has been in the UK.

In the event that you are stopped by the Police, or any other enforcement agency, you may be asked to provide proof of port of entry or any other evidence confirming when the vehicle arrived in the UK.

There are severe penalties if the law is not complied with and the Police have powers to seize and crush any vehicle they believe to be uninsured.