going to sell our uk car MOT run out

[Blade]

worried will get penalty in uk if dont do something. ideally would like to sell in france but as uk registered car and RHD will be easier in the UK but thought we would also try here. what do you suggest? am getting very anxious what to do as MOT ran out at the end of December and also probably needs a new one done to get the tax disc too.

we have  a japanese imported Mitsubshi Space Runner car?

[Opalienne]

UK.   I will be worth much less in France and it will be very hard to find anyone who wants to buy a UK reg car with no MOT

[Kingdingaling]

Hi

get the car on SORN, get insured in France, get the car a french mot - controle technique, sorted

might have problems with headlights though but have heard of if none available then you are ok

 

Scooby

[Sunday Driver]

The rules are that if your vehicle is registered in the UK, then regardless of where you are resident, it must comply with UK regulations, ie current valid road tax, MOT and english insurance. Additionally, if you keep it in France for more than 6 months, then you are required to re-register it here. 

In practice, a UK MOT which has lapsed but been replaced by a local CT in anticipation of French registration is unlikey to worry the French police, given you have current proof of the vehicle's satisfactory mechanical condition.  In fact, French law provides for some leeway in certain formalites, provided you are in the middle of the re-registration process.

However, given that it is a Japanese import (is it a grey one?) which might never have been imported into France, then you may have problems obtaining a certificate of conformity.  In that case, you'll have to submit it for a single vehicle approval inspection - long winded and potentially quite expensive. 

It sounds like your best/only option may be to return it to the UK and sell it.  Warning - the ferry/tunnel terminal  exit lanes are covered by automatic number plate recognition cameras which will immediately flag up an un-MOT'd vehicle and you'll be pulled. If your MOT has expired, then you'd need to have a prebooked test appointment at a testing station in Dover/Folkestone so as to to keep you legal for driving it off the ferry.  Then you can go to the nearest post office and buy a tax disc. You'll need a UK insurance certificate for that, of course.