Hello bmcecosse and Gilesv,
thank you for your answers. I'll have a look at the DVLA homepage later on. If it's not that expensive I'll download the form and apply for the information they can provide.
To answer the question about MOT-tests and tax for vintage cars in Germany, it is not as good as in Britain, but quite acceptable. After my arrival from England I had to have the car inspected at a testing station, similar to your MOT. Our ordinary cars have to be inspected there every two years. But as my Moggie had never been registered in Germany, it had to pass a "full inspection", which included not only the usual things like lights, brakes, body and emissions, but about 40 items from a list. Together with this inspection I ordered the inspection for the registration as a historic vehicle. This can be done for all cars which are older than 30 years. Here they control whether the car is in as near original condition as possible or - in my case - if all modifications have been carried out as if the car had been built like this in its year of construction. Both inspections cost me about 200 pounds. In the future the car will have to undergo the normal bi-annual inspection at the testing station like any other car.
As a result of the full inspection I received the "green light" for a registration in Germany and the acknowledgement as historic vehicle. With these documents I got the German registration SÜW MO 69 H from the responsible office at the county council. SÜW stands for my county Südliche Weinstrasse in Landau/Pfalz, MO 69 was my personal choice (guess why!) and luckily still available, and the H means that it is a historic vehicle. With the H-registration I only have to pay a flat annual tax of 191 Euros (roughly 205 pounds). Without it the tax would be calculated as a normal car and amount to about 260 Euros. The normal tax is calculated according to the engine capacity and emissions. There is not much difference for my Minor, but the bigger the engine capacity, the higher would be the normal tax.
The H-registration, together with a number of other conditions (e.g. other car for daily use, parking at home in a lockable garage, not more than 5,000 miles/year) also entitles me to get very cheap insurance contract.
My Morris still has a tax sticker until the end of March next year. I needed this for the transfer journey to Germany. The problem was that the red German transfer plates are not valid in Britain. Therefore Charles Wares Minor Centre was kind enough to get the car through the MOT and provide a (free) tax sticker. I provided an insurance from the German road club ADAC, which is especially for drivers whose car is not registered on them. So I was able to legally drive the car for a few days in Britain and then back to Germany.
I hope these explanations are understandable, if not, please ask again.
Unfortunately the beautiful British numberplates were called in by the authority, but I can apply to get them back after six months. This date has already been marked on my calendar.
And now I am waiting for better weather to go out with the top down ...
Regards
Hubert[frame]
[/frame]
