I want to swap my Fiat Punto HGT (2002 Spanish reg, LHD) for UK plates RHD

Hi there,

I have brought my Spanish yellow Fiat Punto HGT (1.8i 130hp) to Southampton and insurers here will not take into account the no-claim bonus I had from Spain since I was 'second driver' there. I wanted to keep the car due to it being my first car ever (I bought it new when I was 19) but the premiums they want me to pay  are nonsense (1060 pounds per year! plus the cost or registering it, I pay around 450 euros in Spain!). So I am now trying to swap it for a UK reg RHD. The car is in extremely good condition, it is full eq. ie. it comes with everything that could be added to the car at the time, traction control, 6 airbags, climate control, dual-drive steering (this makes it sooo easy to drive)... also no dents at all. Because it is from 2002 the original paint faded a bit. Other than that everything's good. The inside is in an awesome condition, I have always been a non-smoker and never let anyone smoke inside the car so no nasty smells. Being a helicopter technician myself, I can ensure that the car has always been well looked after, it is mechanically very sound (it never let me down!).  I also have all the receipts from the FIAT dealer in Spain, proving that it has been serviced religiously every 10,000 km. 

I am looking for something similar but I am open to offers.

Thank you for reading!

Sid

This message was last edited by sid82 on 01/03/2011.

 How would you like me to assist

Do you want to P/X?

Do you want to sell outright?

keep me posted

koka

visit us at lefthanddrivespecialist on google

 I am not currently using the car much so I could sell for cash. I would consider P/X for something similar too, I would swap for my own car with the driving wheel on the right and british plates straight away... hehe  

Thanks for the reply

 How much do you want for it?

The only offer slightly similar is a Benz A140 1999 model on a private plate

Full elengance spec panoramic sunroof child booster seats 10 cd changer(optional) etc

It has currently 8 years service record (from current owner) two lady owners from new and so on Year MOT. tax and so on 

let me know whether you are interested

Regards

lefthanddrivespecialist

 I have not thought of price as I would rather swap, but I see the my model (2002) sells for around 3500 pounds.

I would give you a couple of webs with the ads but I can't paste here.

Due to the paint being slightly faded I would be prepared to take that into account but that is more or less the range of price I would be looking to sell for.

I would certainly be interested in the A140. Would it be possible to see some pics? How many miles does it have? 

Thank you,

Sid

..... mmm price is way off my range

Have you thought of placing it on gumtree/ebay for sale or P/X and see how buyers react to it

Good luck

Regards

lefthanddrivespecialist

 mileage is 100k

the car ios advertised on our web

P/X may be considered but I doubt it because the owner is more interested in selling than P/X since she has bought another car already

sid...

Surely you are going to have the same problem with insurance with a UK reg car. If you have no recognisable N.C.D. the Insurance companies are going to treat you like a new driver...

Its also just a point but in Spain its the car thats insured not the driver...

fb

Sid,

From my understanding FB is right you may be charged on premium rate because you do not have N.C.D

However I believe it is the car that is also insured here in UK but with a named driver and additional driver(s) if specified. That is

why all cars must have an insurance if on a public road. Have you considered being a second named driver and after driving for

maybe a year approach the same insurance company and see what your premium will be? This ususally happens with partners

or married couples so that at a later stage they can both have their individual insurance policy

Lefthanddrivespecialist

 Well,

I bought my car in 2002. I have always been THE driver since new, and a the beginning the car was on my name and the insurance too (all my ncb has expired apparently). I transferred the car to my dad's name when I moved in here in 2006, since the car was going to stay in Spain, I did not want to bring it over... I was about to start a degree in Southampton and I was already having 'enough fun' not to have another thing to worry about. Last year I insured it solely on my name again. I have been driving the car from new and with no claims at all but apparently I have to pay more money now than when I first bought it when I was 19 and I had 1 year and a half of driving experience (interesting!).

If I could get an insurance as a second driver now I would do it, but I am Spanish and all my family is in Spain. My girlfriend is English but she does not have a driving license. She would like to learn to drive soon and that was one of the reasons why I wanted a swap (I do not think RHD would be the best to start with in the UK). Also, every insurance company I called told me that to register my car in the UK the owner must be the same as the policy taker i.e. for me to be registered as a second driver with my current car, the car should be transferred to someone else who also takes the main insurance. In spain, drivers are insured not cars. My dad owns the car but I have the right to insure it on my own if I want (with the owner's permission of course). Also, my policy covers me in case of driving other cars. This year I have been insured solely on my name (not as a second driver) and the best deal I have found taking into account this year's ncb is of 1060 pounds for 12 months (only third party of course).  Add to that the cost of registration, modification (light beams, speedo...) and taxes in the UK, approx.  250 quid I'd say, plus road tax.

All in all, if I could swap I think it would be much easier, and if the engine size is slightly smaller I would not mind as it would make the premium cheaper. I have been checking with other insurance companies and being 29 and with 1-year ncd and 11 years of driving experience my car would be insured for around 600 pounds (that is if it was RHD).

Thanks for comments.

Sid

Ps. Oh and in my previous post I meant "I would rather try to swap it first", I was using my phone to post and probably the predictive text came into play...

MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SWAPPING FOR 2005 FIAT PUNTO,  BLUE,  52,000 MILES MOTD TILL MAY

 Yes I definitely would consider it since I am quite happy with this car :)  I sent you a message. Did you get it? thanks,

Sid

Hi thereHave you got sorted with a P/X ?

 When you say you want to swap do you mean you want to register your LHD car in the UK?

If your car is less than 10 years old which I presume is the case with your car then you will need to take it to VOSA where they will do a conformity test . You will need the conformity test certifiacte and MOT from any MOT registered garage to collect your plate number from DVLA

Hope it helps

Cheers

Lefthanddrivespecialist