Quote: Originally posted by thecorfiot on 26 October 2008
Quote: Originally posted by Buxworth on 26 October 2008
Not trying to wind you up honest Bob. The guy that I mentioned who had his car impounded and then won his case in the European court is still driving around with UK plates. He is well-known to the police because of the court case and as he has a property development business he drives all over Corfu daily. If he is driving illegally and has no insurance (I don't know if he does or doesn't} why don't the police have their revenge and pick him up? Or is it the law is not clear or overridden by European law?
Neal,
I too am not trying to wind you up but ..... where did you hear this gem from? Not the person themselves, surely? I am tempted to add my views on most (not all) property developers but I won't as the forum has strict rules on this!
I would have thought that a court decision such as this is easily verifiable and would have received serious press coverage.
Don't believe everything you hear in Greece!
(I have had to edit this post as the original made reference to the people who supply manure for our garden originating from male animals of the bovine variety. Quite rightly, it was thought inappropriate by those entrusted with the smooth running of the forum. I hope they have a sense of humour <BIG GRIN>)
Email me at ... you know where!
All the best,
Bob G.
Heard it from the man himself, surely your not suggesting that property developers tell lies or exaggerate! Will email you later
Message posted by thecorfiot on 27 October 2008 at 10:58am - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by Buxworth on 27 October 2008
Heard it from the man himself, surely your not suggesting that property developers tell lies or exaggerate! Will email you later
FOL!
Message posted by daveyh on 27 October 2008 at 12:25pm - IP Logged
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daveyh
I heard from someone on the Island this year, and theyve lived on Corfu for over 20 years that the way round the 6 month rule is to have 2 cars (as most families do) while you use one the other is stored (for a small cost) at the Docks by Customs. It never leaves the Island but is deemed to have done so. At end of six months you collect it and put other car in.
Message posted by trisa on 27 October 2008 at 1:52pm - IP Logged
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Bob,
Both NFU & SAGA give continuous Euro cover without any time limitation.
Not sure on the 1 month to start the registration process.
If RTA applies to the policy, and the policy is valid for Euro use for 365 a year then I suspect RTA will apply. As I will never drive drunk, drugged et al then I wouldn't need to use it. I did stress that it's not something I would suggest or condone. Just the fact it exists so third parties would be covered in the event of loss.
Agreed that "no insurance" is a matter for the police although they would probably have their hands full chasing locals, in Greek registered cars, over lack of insurance, MOT etc. Either the Greek MOT is very lax or the majority of Greek cars on the Corfiot roads don't have one.
Love the "persecute" comment. It feels like that whenever authority attacks your liberty. Even for minor indiscretions.
Quote: Originally posted by thecorfiot on 26 October 2008
Quote: Originally posted by Denis O on 26 October 2008
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There are 2 UK companies that will insure you for 365 days a year for European cover. SAGA (for over 50's) and NFU for all ages and not just for tractor drivers. As has already been mentioned LV will cover 180 days. All the rest are 90 days with the proviso you don't go for more than 30 days at a time.
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Dennis, This is useful information as I know people who regularly visit the island for longer than six months and agonise over "Having to break the law".
Can you clarify whether the coverage by SAGA and the NFU actually covers the insured for stays that exceed 30 days at a time. Those same people that I have referred to have suggested that they have always been told that stays must not exceed 30 days.
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Notwithstanding the 365 day cover you can get, you still need to abide by the specific country laws and in the case of Greece it's 6 months maximum stay. You then have to either i). take the vehicle out of Greece for a minimum of 6 months, ii). put the vehicle into a customs compound for a minimum of 6 months, iii). register the car in Greece.
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Again, I am happy to be corrected, but does the regulation relating to registering an imported car in Greece still stipulate that you must commence the process within 1 month of the vehicle arriving here? It certainly was the case when I went through the process six or so years ago.
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Whatever UK insurance cover you have and whatever you do you are always covered by an absolute minimum insurance cover called RTA (Road Traffic Act) So in essence you can be banned, drunk as a skunk, full of cocaine and driving at 3 times the speed limit but you still have cover. This is part of the requirement on insurance companies. That cover will provide indemnity for 3rd parties. I'm not suggesting that anyone should rely on it but it does exist in law.
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Ah yes, the good old Road Traffic Act! I can confirm that this is accurate and further, that it works as a member of my family was involved in a serious accident whilst he was uninsured. The accident wasn't his fault and he successfully sued the other party. However, he still got the points on his licence and all that entailed!
I must confess that I cannot see how the Road Traffic Act can be applied to offences and circumstances outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.
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Last point, which is not necessarily fact, but to my knowledge, which may be anecdotal, the enforcement of 6 month maximum stay rules is the responsibility of customs and not the police. I guess that's why the police aren't stopping English plated cars that have been on the island for a long time and customs only have authority within the port area.
That makes sense. Mind you, the insurance aspect is clearly a matter for the police. I guess that if the tax authority thought that they could successfully persecute ... Oops! Sorry! I meant prosecute people who evaded the tax, that would be a bit of a frightener! They certainly frighten me!!
Thinks, "This is a good thread!"
All the best,
Bob G.
Message posted by doug on 28 October 2008 at 4:31pm - IP Logged
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As regards to the point of the customs having jurisdiction in the port area only.I know for a fact that the customs have stopped uk plated vehicles on the roads (Agios Ioannis) for one and when the driver did not have all his documents with him followed him to his house.
Doug
Message posted by nuffstrong on 28 October 2008 at 7:13pm - IP Logged
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DaveyH, Interesting and relatively simple idea assuming in the absence of Greek insurance that they have continuous European insurance from the UK (SAGA?) and just change the cover details every six months it sounds good. Presumably when the registration process becomes simpler, which it will, they can actually register the car/s within one month of the expiry of each of the 6 month periods since it's "deemed to have been out of the country".
Incidentally even with 365 day cover I would have thought that the insurance would become invalid when the vehicle was being driven "illegally" ie beyond 6 months in a European country in the same way that insurance ceases when you drive without an MOT although
compensation to victims of accidents caused by uninsured vehicles should be paid by the compensation body of the Member State in which the accident took place and subsequently the compensation body should have a claim against the body of the Member State in which the vehicle is normally based.
PS Denis O speaking of misinformation I just rang NFU and was advised that they will not cover UK vehicles for 365 days in Europe but that in fact the car has to be in the UK for a minimum of 6 months so that just leaves SAGA.
Steve
Message posted by nuffstrong on 29 October 2008 at 4:04am - IP Logged
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Since so much of this relies upon year round UK insurance in Europe can anyone tell me why the UK don't appear to adhere to the Third Council Directive of 14 May 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (90/232/EEC)
see link
http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/7501-0.pdf
Steve
Message posted by Denis O on 29 October 2008 at 3:31pm - IP Logged
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You are absolutely correct with regard to NFU and I apologise unreservedly for inadvertently leading folks up the garden path. In my defence I had looked at their policy document and it doesn't mention any restrictions to their European cover (Page 13 on the link below). However, when you speak to them they admit they do not cover 365 days for Europe. They also don't commit to what the actual restriction is; only that if the car was outside the UK for more time than in, it would not be covered. At least with the regular insurers it's clear: 90 days a year with a maximum of 30 at any 1 time.
Quote:
PS Denis O speaking of misinformation I just rang NFU and was advised that they will not cover UK vehicles for 365 days in Europe but that in fact the car has to be in the UK for a minimum of 6 months so that just leaves SAGA.
Steve
Message posted by nuffstrong on 29 October 2008 at 3:52pm - IP Logged
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Denis, no need to aplogise non of us are claiming to be experts on here and it should be said that whilst posts are based on our own personal experience and opinions they should not be taken as gospel. Your posts have been particularly informative so thank you.
Steve
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