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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

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Original poster

If you moved away for approx 3 years, what did you do with your car back home?

19 replies

photocop · 22/04/2014 14:46

Just trying to weigh up pros and cons of a) storing car/SORN or b) selling it and buying another on our return.

Our car is a 7 year old Toyota, great condition.

Thanks!

OP posts:

pupsiecola · 22/04/2014 15:28

Personally I would sell it. How long have you had it? What did you pay for it? What would you expect to get for it (look on Parker's Guide).

mrsnec · 22/04/2014 15:35

Sold ours before we went. Wished we hadn't as we stayed and cars cost silly. Money here. Think it depends on where you're going and what your circumstances will be there.

MelanieCheeks · 22/04/2014 15:37

Sell it. A 7 year old car isn't really worth hanging on to.

DelGirl · 22/04/2014 15:40

If it doesnt cost to store it and someone can keep it ticking over then id keep it. Can you take it with you though? I took my uk to europe and I'm still using it 4 years later! I take it back to the uk every year to mot and tax and have european insurance.

DelGirl · 22/04/2014 15:40

Uk car thag is

DelGirl · 22/04/2014 15:41

That!!!

FiscalCliffRocksThisTown · 22/04/2014 15:42

Sell it or take it with you

NaturalBaby · 22/04/2014 15:44

We've taken ours to Switzerland but will be taking it back and loaning it to family so we can used it when we return for visits.

Longdistance · 22/04/2014 15:45

I had a 2 year old Vauxhall insignia. I sold her back to the dealership much to my disgust. The fees for taxes were astronomical. So, she had to go. I used the money to get another car in Oz. Sold that privately on Gumtree when we were leaving, and bought another Insignia back here in the Uk.

We were in Oz for 2 years. I would have loved to have kept the car, but my mil wanted to keep it 'safe', and use it.

What we didn't realise was that second hand cars didn't really depreciate in price in Oz, so we bought a brand new one, as it wasn't much difference in price.

Original poster

photocop · 22/04/2014 15:56

Yes we can store it free of charge and in a garage.
We can't really take it with us (will be driving on the right!)

Thanks for all your replies - food for thought.

The next huge dilemma will be what do with our beloved 12-year old cat :(

OP posts:

mrsnec · 22/04/2014 16:14

Drive on the same side here and we didn't realise until we got here that they have an allowance to import cars now without paying duty. I. Bought a car last year here its 10 years old and we paid 3750e for it despite the garage wanting 5k. I was gutted when a client recently told me you can now pick up the same thing for 900 quid in the UK! I checked auto trader and he was right. Good job I love it!

Good plan with the car. Can you take the cat though? I know lots of people who work on assignments and take their animals with them.

specialsubject · 22/04/2014 17:43

sell it. SORN means no insurance, so no cover if fire or theft, and after 3 years out of use engine and tyres will be knackered. You could put it up on bricks, drain oil, etc etc...

JuniperTisane · 22/04/2014 17:46

Sell the car. Take the cat.

Lifestooshorttosleep · 22/04/2014 18:56

We put ours into storage, paid for by the company sending us abroad, as we had a two year contract. Then the company extended our contract one year at a time. We eventually sold the car after 6 years....wish we'd sold it as soon as we went 6 years ago!

NaturalBaby · 22/04/2014 20:36

I'm driving our British car on the right at the moment and it's not a problem.
We've left our cats with a relative. I'm gutted but we're going back regularly to visit and they are being thoroughly spoiled so are very happy.

DelGirl · 22/04/2014 22:35

I drive on the right too, i've had no problems whatsoever.

tb · 23/04/2014 15:54

We took our 12-year old cat to France. The only thing we didn't do was to feed her wet food on arrival, and she got quite dehydrated. Her trip was Manchester - Paris, and then Paris - Bordeaux.

She now 19, and for her age, fit as a fiddle.

Cerisier · 24/04/2014 16:55

Sell the car. We sold both of our cars when we moved to Asia for two years. The two years turned into ten and we are still here. I wish we'd sold the house too but we didn't.

Take the cat with you. Pet passports make it straightforward to move cats and dogs. It isn't cheap, but compared to the cost of a move it is nothing.

Isthiscorrect · 26/04/2014 08:22

I'm pretty sure insurance is an issue, not impossible but expensive when you don't live in the country. We used to keep a cheap car as we were over about 4 times a year but it was quite complicated about insuring it, in fact I think we eventually ended where my friend was the insured and I was added as a named driver. Aside from that I would sell it. You will need the money for deposits and unexpected extra expenses when you arrive.

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