When you move to the Continent, you may decide to take your car with you, rather than buy a left-hand drive one when you arrive in your new country. This should be possible so long as you have no outstanding finance against it - if you do it will be illegal to export the car out of the UK. You may also wish to consider the value of your car. If your car is not worth a lot, then it will more likely be cheaper to buy a new car once you move abroad, as the shipping can be costly.

When moving a car abroad you must be sure to alert the relevant authorities, namely the DVLA. You can do this either over the phone or by sending them a V5 registration form with ‘section C’ completed. This form is used to inform the DVLA of the intended export date of the vehicle. In return you will receive a Certificate of Permanent Export (V561). Whilst it is sometimes possible to ship cars abroad without this certificate, the shipping process can be delayed significantly by customs, should they choose to check your vehicle.

Another option is to rent a car, however this is generally not advised as a long term solution as it can be expensive. A general rule of thumb might be:

If you are in the country for less than a month or so – rent a car. Less responsibility and more cost effective.

If you are staying in the country for three months or longer, it will work out more cost effective to buy a car.

When buying a car abroad you should always ask the questions you would ask when buying in the UK and take the same precautions as you would here. Seek a reputable salesperson, (word of mouth is good for this abroad) and ensure you have all the correct documentation. The whole process is similar to the UK. You must ensure that you are the legally registered owner of the car.

Having your own transport does not necessarily mean you should own a car however; there are plenty of alternative transport methods... for example, if you are living in a town or city, a moped or scooter is the ideal way to get through the traffic and the back roads. A bike or motorbike is also a good way to get around, especially if you do not need to travel every day.

Start your hunt for a home abroad here…
If you’re searching for an overseas property, a good place to start is the Overseas Guides Company’s new property search facility. To start your search now visit http://www.emigrationguide.com/content/emigration-properties