non-resident buying a car

[henry1990]

Hi, I am a British citizen living in England and was wanting to know a few things which I've tried researching, but lots of different answers have come up.

Firstly can I purchase a car in Croatia at all? Even if it is de registered and taken away on a trailer?

Secondly, If I cant purchase it, is there any way around it?

And Thirdly, can I drive that car back to the uk? I've read that it can be put on transfer registration plates or de-register the car to allow me to take it out the country, is this true?

I'm wanting to purchase a mk1 golf there, as here in the uk they sell for a much higher price even taking into consideration fuel for the journey home and import fees.

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Henry

[Ribaric]

As a non-resident here, you can buy a car but you can't register yourself as the owner. Your problem isn't whether or not you can buy it but how will you insure yourself?
If you buy, for example, a Mk1 Golf (project car?) then, at the moment of purchase you will attend a local notary who will give you a stamped document stating you have bought it and are the legal owner, that will satisfy the border police that haven't stolen it and you may leave the country with it. As if eh?

Be aware that registration here is connected to the car, not you. If you buy a car which still has some registration period then that's one thing. If the car's registration period has expired then, despite it probably being cheap, don't try to drive it.

I have no knowledge of "de-registration" or "transfer registration".

ISTM that buying a car, getting a notary's stamped document to that effect and then trailering it home is the simplest solution.

[henry1990]

Hi, thanks very much for the reply. Bear with me for asking stupid questions, i'm just trying to get my head around this.

So what you are saying is that I can pay for the car but it can't be registered to me as i'm not a resident? Is there any way of getting the registration in my name or do I have to wait until I register it in the uk?

And If the car has some registration left on it when I purchase it what does that mean?
Thanks
Henry

[Ribaric]

Aug 17, 2015 10:07:03 GMT 1 henry1990 said:

Hi, thanks very much for the reply. Bear with me for asking stupid questions, i'm just trying to get my head around this.

So what you are saying is that I can pay for the car but it can't be registered to me as i'm not a resident (not as far as registering it for use on the road)? Is there any way of getting the registration in my name (NO) or do I have to wait until I register it in the uk? (YES).

And If the car has some registration left on it when I purchase it what does that mean?
Thanks
Henry

No probs, it is very different here. "Registration" here normally means the act of getting an MOT, getting insurance and taxing the car. If you are not a resident, you cannot get insurance and you cannot register the car for use, therefore you can't drive it. It's still your car because you will have a document from a notary that says you paid for it but you can't use it. In the end "non residents can't buy a car" is not strictly true but you can't use it so it amounts to the same thing.

If the car tax has expired, it is regarded as un-registered and you are required to return the number plates to the local police. Many gardens here have old cars parked up with no number plates on them.

Trailer it Henry or get a Croat/resident to drive it to the UK (if it still has registration) or give up.

[henry1990]

ive seen on the website ooyyo and a few others that mk1 golfs can be picked up For under 500 euros in good condition. And there seems to be a fair few available. in the uk they seem to be going for around 1500+ for one.

[crojoe]

Aug 18, 2015 1:04:57 GMT 1 henry1990 said:

ive seen on the website ooyyo and a few others that mk1 golfs can be picked up For under 500 euros in good condition. And there seems to be a fair few available. in the uk they seem to be going for around 1500+ for one.

As January has pointed out, chances are the price shown on a web site may not be correct. The rule of thumb on buying vehicles in Croatia is they are roughly twice as expensive as the UK equivalent(used cars). The main site in Croatia where local people buy and sell stuff is: www.njuskalo.hr They have a huge vehicle section.

[Ribaric]

Here's a link to the available Mk1 Golfs on Nuskalo, in case your Croatian is making it difficult to find.

www.njuskalo.hr/auti/vw-golf-i

Happy hunting but ignore the "good condition" claims. What's "good" on these adverts is unrelated to what I think would be your expectations.