Car registration from England
Car registration from England Cars from the UK – Regulations 2023-04-06 Cars from England are still popular among Polish and European drivers, although there have been a lot of changes in the import regulations and rules recently. As of 01/01/2021, Great Britain lost its membership status of the European Union, and therefore the registration of a car from Great Britain is the same as in the case of buying a car from other countries outside the EU. So how to register an “Englishman” in Poland? We explain below! In this article Contents: Can I register a car from England in Poland? How to register a car from England in Poland? Vehicle registration from Great Britain – formalities. Car registration from England – documents. Can I register a car from England in Poland? Registering a car from Great Britain is possible and usually does not involve any major problems. The buyer must take into account the need for several technical modifications to adapt the vehicle to the conditions of driving on the right side of the road. Importantly, since August 2015, buyers are not required to move the steering wheel and pedals from right to left . You can make such changes and the car will also be registered, but the decision is entirely up to the buyer. How to register a car from England in Poland? Before a vehicle imported from Great Britain is allowed to be registered in Poland, it must be adapted to driving conditions on Polish roads: changing the headlight setting – modifying the direction of lighting the roadway with an emphasis on the right side so as not to dazzle other road users, rear fog light – must be moved from right to left, speedometer – due to the use of a different measurement system in Great Britain, speedometers there indicate values expressed in miles, not kilometers. Before the car is registered in Poland, the device must be replaced. mirrors – the glass in the mirrors should be replaced so that the driver’s field of vision is wide enough. In addition, an imported right-hand drive car should: be registered in England for the first time before 31/12/2020, come from another European Union country, have M1 approval category or EC approval, be intended for the transport of persons, have at least 4 wheels, have a maximum of 9 seats, including the driver, be suitable for driving at a speed of at least 40 km/h. Car registration from Great Britain – formalities The process of registering an imported car is very similar to any other registration in Poland. Within a maximum of 30 days from the date of importing the car, you should go to the appropriate office, which may be the poviat office, the city office (for cities with poviat rights) or the district office, if the registration is to take place in Warsaw. In the first stage, the buyer will obtain a term registration for 30 days, after which the proper registration will take place. Within these 30 days, the authority will review the information about the vehicle and the documentation submitted. Car registration from England – documents The buyer is obliged to present a set of documents to the competent authority: application for car registration – to be downloaded from the website of the office or on site at the office, V5C registration document, confirmation of excise duty payment, confirmation of vehicle ownership – e.g. purchase and sale agreement, invoice, current technical examination, current liability insurance policy, existing license plates, proof of identity of the owner or owners (all co-owners are required to appear at the office), proof of payment of the registration fee. It is worth remembering that all documents issued in English must be translated by a sworn translator. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
What is V5C and what does it look like?
What is V5C and what does it look like? Documents 2023-04-06 V5C, log book or simply V5 – these are three different names for one document. Because it is an extremely important document for the owner and user of the vehicle in Great Britain, it is worth knowing a bit about it. What is V5C, what information it contains and what it looks like – we answer these questions later in the article. What is V5C? What information does V5C contain? What does the V5C look like? You may also be interested in: What is SORN and when do you need it? ABI categories – what is it? Car registration from England What is V5C? In Poland, this document used to be called a British registration document and there is a lot of truth in this statement. Indeed, it is the right source of information about British car registration data and its users. And here it is important to pay special attention that in V5C there is data of users, not owners car. The person using the vehicle can, of course, also be its owner, but this is not a rule and you need to remember about it. A good example of a situation where the owner and the user are not one and the same person is a car purchased through an instalment loan. The buyer can drive the purchased car, and his details are visible in the registration document. In the light of the law, however, he is not the owner of this vehicle – and thus, he cannot sell it either. Proof of ownership of a vehicle in the UK can be, for example, a bill, invoice, receipt, purchase and sale agreement, or even a simple receipt of payment for the vehicle being sold. What information does the log book contain? The log book contains all important information about the vehicle. So here you can find comprehensive technical data: make and model of the vehicle, engine capacity, chassis number, VIN, exhaust emissions. In addition, there are details of the first registration, vehicle history (for example, registered damages), information about current and previous users. What does an English registration document look like? The English registration document is significantly different from our native document. These are two sheets of paper, folded in A4 format. The cover is currently red with two blue stripes. Already on the cover of this document you can find information that it does not confirm the ownership of the vehicle (This document is not proof of ownership). Although the log book does not constitute proof of ownership of the vehicle, you should make sure when buying that the owner has this document. In any case, when it turns out that the registration certificate is missing or its appearance is questionable (it is copied or does not have a watermark), you should consider buying a car with great vigilance. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
ABI categories – what is it?
ABI categories – what is it? Cars from the UK – Regulations 2023-04-06 ABI categories is a term that potential buyers of cars from England may have come across while browsing through used car sales offers. What are these categories and what do they mean? It is worth finding out so as not to make a fatal mistake when buying a car. What are ABI categories? What do the different categories mean? What to look for when buying an accident car from England? Related topics you may be interested in: What is SORN and when do you need it? What is V5C and what does it look like? Insurance of an “Englishman” in Poland What are ABI categories? ABI stands for Association of British Insurers, which is the UK’s leading trade association that established insurance companies. It was the insurance companies that introduced the categorisation of accident vehicles, which relates to the degree of their damage. The vehicle’s belonging to the selected ABI category determines whether the car can be registered and how it will be insured. What do the different categories mean? The following table explains the individual designations: Category: AND Development:‘scrap’ Description:Cars that have been completely destroyed, with the impossibility of repair. The only value in their case is the possible recovery of spare parts. Destined for scrap. Possibility of registration in Poland:NO Category: B Development:‘break’ Description:Accident cars damaged beyond repair, but with the possibility of obtaining spare parts. Possibility of registration in Poland:NO Category: S Development:‘structural’ Description:Cars with frame damage, but still with the possibility of repair and further use. Possibility of registration in Poland:YES Category: N Development:‘non-structural’ Description:Previous category D – accident cars, the structure of which was not damaged. Possibility of registration in Poland:YES What to look for when buying an accident car from England? Knowing the ABI category is essential if you are looking for a used or salvage car. Be especially vigilant about these vehicles and gather as much information as possible: vehicle history accident photos detailed description of accident damage access to the documentation of the insurance company what parts were replaced as part of the repair after the accident where the repairs were made – is there documentation that confirms the list of work performed? If the car is to be used after purchase, it is a good idea to hire an inspector on site who will confirm the declared technical condition of the vehicle. Admittedly, this is an additional cost, but in the case of very attractive offers it always pays off. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
Insurance of an “Englishman” in Poland
Insurance of an “Englishman” in Poland Cars from the UK – Regulations, Documents, Finances 2023-04-06 Although often the reason for importing a car from Great Britain to Poland is the desire to obtain parts, this is not a rule. Cars with the steering wheel on the right side may have their avid supporters who like to drive them also on continental roads, regardless of any complications and inconveniences. Like any vehicle, such a car requires insurance and registration to be allowed to drive. What does “Englishman’s” insurance look like in practice and what costs can be expected? How to insure the “Englishman”? How much does UK car insurance cost? Why is civil liability insurance more expensive? You will find all the answers below. We invite you to read! You may also be interested in: ABI categories – what is it? What is SORN and when do you need it? What is V5C and what does it look like? How To Insure The “Englishman”? The condition for obtaining a Polish registration number for a car imported from the British Isles is the introduction of several modifications to the vehicle’s construction (read also: Registration of a car from England in Poland). Exactly the same changes are expected by insurance companies before they agree to conclude an OC or AC policy. Modifications do not interfere with the construction of the car and in the case of popular models they do not cost more than PLN 2,000. More will have to be invested in modifications if they concern more expensive, new or niche cars. What modifications are we talking about: headlight adjustment replacement of cartridges in the mirrors relocation of the rear fog lamp to the left side speedometer replacement As you can see, the information about the need to move the steering wheel from the right to the left side is missing from the above list – because it has not been done since 2015. After completing the above works, no company will refuse to insure your “Englishman”. How much does “Englishman” insurance cost in Poland? Concluding an insurance policy for a car from England looks exactly the same as for a car bought in Poland. The most advantageous offer can be found at the intermediary’s office, via the hotline or by contacting selected companies directly. There are even legends about the costs of such insurance – some sources say that the policy can be 300% more expensive, others that not necessarily. Where is the truth? It is difficult to clearly determine how much the policy costs and how much more expensive it is between the imported and native car, because many variables are taken into account here. Technical data of the vehicle, place of registration, experience and age of the driver – these are selected factors that affect the cost of insurance. Some examples of offers are presented below: Toyota Yaris – Diesel – 1.3 engine: standard OC PLN 400 / OC “Englishman” 713 PLN. Audi A3 – Petrol – 2.0 engine: standard liability insurance PLN 469 / civil liability insurance PLN 821 Honda Civic – Petrol – 1.4 engine: standard OC PLN 410 / OC “Englishman” PLN 687. The calculations provided come from the Mubi comparison website from January 2022. The hypothetical driver here is a man aged 37, who has had a driving license for 17 years and has not reported any damage in the past year. What are the differences in the rates offered, depending on the vehicle registration address? Cheapest offers: Offers in Poznań: from PLN 383 Offers in Warsaw: from PLN 391 Offers in Lublin: PLN 390 Offers in Starogard Gdański: PLN 395 Why is civil liability insurance more expensive? From the point of view of the insurer, the design of the car imported from Great Britain affects the level of safety of the driver and passengers. If the buyer does not decide to switch the steering wheel from right to left, then many maneuvers will be difficult. The first one that will probably come to your mind is overtaking – which is also risky for continental cars. Nevertheless, the costs of the policy are proportionate, as always – cheaper, older, smaller cars can still be insured at a relatively low cost. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
What is SORN and when do you need it?
What is SORN and when do you need it? Cars from the UK – Regulations, Documents 2023-04-06 SORN is one of those principles that have no equivalent in Polish law. When buying a car in the UK, you can come across such a term, which is why we will explain what it means, who it applies to and when it is necessary to report the car to SORN. What will you learn from this article? What is SORN? When is it necessary to report a vehicle to SORN? How to de-register a car? Also read: Car registration from England Insurance of an “Englishman” in Poland ABI categories – what is it? What is SORN? The term is an abbreviation for ‘Statutory Off Road Notification’, i.e. a statement about the exclusion of a vehicle from traffic – for example a passenger car or van. By making this declaration, you are telling the DVLA that your car: is not and will not be used in the near future, is parked on private property – e.g. in a driveway or in a garage, A prerequisite for registering a car as SORN is parking it off public roads. For what purpose can such a declaration be made? Most often to avoid having to pay tax and insurance for a car that is not used . Moreover, if you have already paid the tax, you will receive a refund for each full unused month. However, you should remember to tax the car again before it gets back on the road. The exception is when you have to complete formalities such as technical inspection or another mandatory type of fitness test (e.g. ordered by the manufacturer). When is SORN necessary? In certain circumstances, deregistering your vehicle is not only a good idea, but a necessity: the car is not taxed, the car has not been insured – even if the break in insurance is short and occurred, for example, due to a delay in renewing the policy, you intend to dismantle the car for parts before it is scrapped, you buy a car that you will not use and you will park it away from the public road. Buying a car from SORN It should be emphasized that SORN does not pass from one vehicle owner to another (buyer). So if you buy a car that has been deregistered and you also do not intend to use it temporarily, you must register it as SORN. How to deregister a car? The procedure for deregistering an unused vehicle is very simple. The form can be completed and sent online at sorn.service.gov.uk. It is worth making sure that the user details shown on the V5C document are up to date, because the office will use them to send the tax refund. If necessary, you can update the address here: https://www.gov.uk/change-address-v5c. To apply, you need basic information about the vehicle, such as the 16-digit V11 number. By post – if you intend to register a car registered in a name other than your name, you must send this statement to the DVLA by post. Form V890 (downloadable from gov.uk) is appropriate. By phone – there is a 24-hour line on 0300 123 4321. When will the notification take effect? You have the option to deregister the vehicle immediately or from the first day of the following month. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
How to recognise an Englishman by the translation?
How to recognise an Englishman by the translation? Guide 2023-04-06 How to recognize an “Englishman” when the steering wheel is on the left? Usually, it is the location of the steering wheel that is considered the simplest method of recognising a car from England, but it is not a good clue at all. An experienced mechanic will easily make a spacer and then finding out where the car comes from becomes more difficult. However, it is not impossible, as you will see in a moment! We invite you to read. In this article you will learn: Why are spacers made in cars from England? How to spot an “Englishman” #1: take a good look How to recognise an “Englishman” #2: check the VIN You may be interested in: What is SORN and when do you need it? What is V5C and what does it look like? ABI categories – what is it? Why are shifters made? A good question to start with is why spacers are made and why the seller might want to hide this fact? As you can easily guess, the main motive here is profit. Cars from Great Britain are still attractively priced and it is still profitable to import and sell them in Poland. However, not every buyer is interested in such a car, having limited confidence in the vehicle after modifications. So he would like to buy a car at a good price, but he is reluctant to let it be an “Englishman”. Are these concerns valid? Well, if a reliable car service starts work, then you should not worry about the steering wheel ratio. The question, however, is whether a reliable service would go so far as to try to sell the car while concealing the origin of the car? The good intentions of the seller can be doubted, so there is no basis for trust in other matters either. Amendments to the regulations of August 15, 2015 It is worth recalling that it is no longer necessary to switch the steering wheel from right to left. You can insure and register a right-hand drive car in Poland. How to recognise an “Englishman” #1: look around in the car Driving a vehicle on the left side forces more changes in the design of the car than you might expect. Such a car is also exploited differently, and thus, you can easily recognise where the driver was actually sitting: Locking and unlocking the door with the key – turning the key in the lock on the driver’s side should lock all the doors of the car. If only the driver’s door locks and unlocks, it means that a passenger was previously seated on that side of the vehicle. The degree of wear of the seats and belts – while the passenger is not always present in the car, driving without the driver has no chance. In older car models, there are clear differences in the wear of the surfaces of the seats and belts. Rear fog lamp – UK cars have fog lamps mounted on the right side. You can replace the lamp at low cost, but not everyone does it. Exterior mirrors – as in the case of lights (both rear and front) are a removable element, but not only their shape should be noted. Despite the replacement, the way the mirror is adjusted may indicate that it was originally on the passenger side, not the driver’s side. Wipers – a detail that probably everyone would overlook, and may reveal the actual origin of the car. Wipers in British cars work in the opposite direction. Even if the seller took the trouble and replaced them, a trace will remain in the vicinity of the assembly site. Hood opening / tank valve lever – these types of elements are always on the driver’s side. Fuses – a panel with fuses located on the driver’s side. He should therefore be on the left side of the steering wheel. If not, you are most likely dealing with “English” after the spacer. Passenger seat adjustment – as a rule, the driver’s side seat does not allow as much adjustment as the passenger seat. Again, appropriate technical changes can be made, but this is another job on the list that takes time and effort and is therefore often simply ignored. How to recognize an “Englishman” #2: check the VIN If you carefully examine all the elements and still have doubts, use the possibility of checking the VIN number. Although the codes are standardised, you may have difficulty deciphering each character with certainty on your own. A decoder will help you then, which will decode the information stored in the VIN number for a fee or free of charge. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
Driving “Englishman” in Poland
Driving “Englishman” in Poland Cars from the UK – Regulations, Guide 2023-04-06 For some, a higher standard at a better price, for others a unique, rare model. There can be as many motivations to buy a car from Great Britain as there are drivers. Some return to Poland with their cars after years spent in emigration, others decide to buy and import with the help of professional companies. There are quite a lot of “English” enthusiasts and not all of them consider the steering wheel spacer to be an absolute necessity. Do you have to do it? Let’s take a look at what the drivers themselves think about it. In this article you will learn: Do you have to do a spacer between the pedals and the steering wheel? Do you need to insure a car from England? How is “English” handled? A car from Great Britain and the work of a driver Handlebar spacer and regulations Until August 2015, a car buyer from England had to make changes to the vehicle design so that the steering wheel and pedals were on the left side of the car. Otherwise, insurance companies could not provide a policy for such a vehicle. So it was equal to excluding it from use (although not completely, which will be discussed in more detail later in the article). However, the regulations have changed, so now you do not need to move the steering wheel or change the position of the pedals. Drivers can buy and use a car from Great Britain on Polish roads, without fear of consequences or unpleasantness from the law. UK car and insurance We have already written about what procedures apply when buying a car policy from England here: “Englishman’s” insurance . It is worth emphasizing, however, that changing the registration and insurance company is not necessary, although certain conditions must be met. What are the conditions? Of course, current technical examinations, registration and policy completed in the British Isles. So the car is registered, it is also insured with a third-party liability policy, but they are still British plates and a British company. As you can easily guess, this is a convenient solution, but it will not always be good due to the large differences in the cost of maintaining a vehicle in England and Poland. If you live in Great Britain and visit Poland as part of your holiday – you do not have to worry about registration and insurance. How to drive a car from England? We already know that from the point of view of regulations, it is not necessary to change the side of the steering wheel and pedals from right to left. But is such a car comfortable to drive and, above all, is it safe? If we take a closer look at the opinions of the drivers themselves, we will notice that there is no unanimity here. Opinions are divided especially in the case of maneuvers such as overtaking other vehicles or collecting parking tickets from machines. In both situations, the infrastructure favors cars of the European type, which is associated with certain inconveniences. Overtaking requires greater distance and caution, especially if the driver is not supported by a passenger sitting next to him on the left. However, this is not an impossible maneuver, and some drivers even consider it safer this way. How is this possible? Less comfort when overtaking is an effective stimulus, discouraging this manoeuvre. Drivers decide to take their foot off the accelerator and calmly follow the slower vehicle. Drivers notice that the biggest inconvenience in driving a car with the steering wheel on the right side is the moment of collecting the ticket – at the entrance to the motorway or in the car park with an automatic payment system. If the driver is traveling alone, he or she must get out of the car and walk around it, or exercise to reach the machine from the passenger seat. What about other traffic situations? In principle, there is not much difference whether you drive a European car or not. Moving around cities or beyond them is no different, it only requires mastering the operation of the car. “Englishman” and the work of the driver Interesting conclusions have some drivers, especially those for whom driving has become a source of income. In their opinion, it is worth getting used to driving both right and left-hand cars, because it gives prospects for finding a good job in Poland or in Great Britain. While it would be difficult to acquire such skills in a truck, a passenger car, and even a van, can be bought without any problems. is it worth it? The number of job offers for professional drivers speaks for itself: job offers for drivers. International drivers are undoubtedly a profession with prospects, and business trips to England are more than certain here. Looking for a company you can trust? If you want to talk about cooperation – contact us! We guarantee you the highest level of service and professional advice. contact us
How to take a car in instalments in the UK?
How to take a car in instalments in the UK? Finances, Guide 2023-04-06 Buying a car in installments is a convenient solution not only in Poland. Drivers in Great Britain also willingly use this option when looking for the best installment loan offers. While we all know our home market well and know where to go for such a loan, living in the UK as a foreigner can feel a bit lost. Can you buy a used car with a loan here? How to take a car in installments in the UK? In this article you will learn: Car loans in Poland. What is worth knowing about car loans in the UK? Creditworthiness in the UK – Credit Score. Where to take a loan to buy a car in the UK? You may be interested in: How do you drive an “Englishman” in Poland? What is V5C? ABI categories – what is it? Car loan in Poland If you want to buy a vehicle with an instalment payment, we usually go to several banks or agencies. We initially ask about the current offer, the interest rate on the loan, the number of instalments and the possibility of early repayment. Alternatively, if you buy a used car in a second-hand shop or from a car dealership, we can ask about the possibility of crediting here. This solution is so popular that there is no longer even a need to appear in the seller’s office in person. We will get to know offers for credit or leasing online, using websites specialised in this field – for example here . If the buyer can demonstrate an impeccable credit history, he chooses the most advantageous offer and concludes the contract. Is it similar in the UK? Car loan in the UK – what is worth knowing APR – Annual Percentage Rate – annual interest rate. Debt-to-income – the ratio of the applicant’s total income to his fixed monthly expenses. Each lender has its own guidelines as to the maximum percentage of the loan instalment in the borrower’s liabilities. Some banks recognise that the instalment cannot exceed 40% of income, others that 30%. Early Repayment Charge – a fee charged by the bank / company in the event of early repayment of the loan than provided for in the concluded contract. Set Up Free – usually a fixed fee that the bank / company imposes right after granting the borrower a loan. Secured Personal Loan – an element of the concluded contract is a declared object (car, real estate), which constitutes a pledge in the event of the loan being unable to be repaid. This, of course, is not a collateral that the lender uses because of, for example, late repayment. The pledge will be seized only when the borrower declares that he is no longer insolvent. The advantage of such a clause is the bank’s greater flexibility in granting the loan amount or lowering the standard interest rate. Unsecured Personal Loan – similarly to the point above, it is a loan without collateral in the form of a pledge. It usually results in a higher interest rate and/or less freedom to adjust the repayment period of the loan. PPI – Payment Protection Insurance – another form of security, this time with greater benefit for the consumer. In this case, the bank proposes to pay a certain amount once or as part of an instalment, as insurance against loss of job or part of income. PCP – Personal Contract Purchase – a type of contract that is closest to the known leasing. The buyer makes a deposit right after concluding the loan agreement, then pays monthly instalments in the agreed amount, and at the end has the option to pay the final amount (balloon payment) and become the owner of the vehicle. If the borrower resigns from paying the balloon payment, then the contract ends and the car is returned to the dealer. HP – Hire Purchase – instalment loan spread over monthly payments, but the deposit must be settled in the agreed amount first. It is worth noting that in the case of the last two offers (PCP and HP), the borrower becomes the owner of the car only after making the last instalment or final repayment – i.e. balloon payment. Buying a car and creditworthiness As in Poland, British banks and credit companies use the credit score before agreeing to conclude a contract. Credit Score is a parameter that expresses the creditworthiness of the applicant on a point scale. Importantly, each bank or other entity you ask for an assessment of your creditworthiness develops such a scale on its own. An example rating based on the Historia Creditowa website: 961 – 999 points – the highest level, showing an excellent credit history. You can go to the most demanding facilities without fear, you can also count on a wider range of offers presented to you. 881 – 960 points – good ability, sufficient to apply for loans also in more demanding banks. In this case, however, you will receive fewer offers and they will not always be the best offers that the facility has prepared for its clients. 721 – 880 points – you will receive a loan, but the terms will certainly not be very favorable. You won’t be able to afford every car model. 561 – 720 points – ability at a low level, insufficient to obtain a positive opinion in most banks and branches. If you manage to win the favor of the lender, then you can be sure that the interest rate will be high, and the contract may be subject to additional security. 0 – 560 points – a very low ceiling, which indicates that you have most likely struggled with debt repayment in the past. Perhaps there are still liabilities on your account after the due date – loan instalments, bills. In this case, you will not receive another loan for sure. You will even have trouble concluding a subscription contract for the telephone, internet or even car insurance that you plan to buy. A car in instalments