I may able to get 12 months work in the UK in 2004 & I'll need transport. My 1st thoughts were for a 70's beetle but the MoT & insurance rigmarole is putting me off.
The employment agency I'm using has plenty of strorage avail at their HQ for suitcases & trunks etc for their employee clients between assignments and may allow the storage of a "compact" m/cycle. Do m/c need annual MoT's? (Not that it matters- there's so much less to go wrong!!) How much will I save p.a. on compulsory annual charges for a m/c vs a car??

What I can remember is that an MOT is compulsory for any vehicle ove 3 years old. For a car its approx 40 pounds, for a M/c approx 20 pounds. If you do not have a motorcycle licence you must stay under 125cc.
Road Tax is cheaper for a m/c, for a car its 120-140 pounds approx. Insurance is also cheaper if you have no claims bonus here get proof and take it with you, smaller the car the less the insurance. Your Road tax does not cover you for third party like it does here

I forgot your MOT needs renewing every year. Best get a vehicle that is already taxed and has MOT then there is only insurance to get you may be able to arrange it here. If you need any help or contacts let me know

The first thing you should know is that vehicle insurance in the UK will cost an arm and a leg.
It is very dependent on where you will live and the vehicle you drive.
As stated your road tax does not include ANY insurance and even 3rd party damage (Legal minimum) is expensive.

Just to scare you my bike details were :

VF750
Living in Longsight Machester
1 Year No Claims Discount
1950 GBPounds (3rd party)

Then

Ford XR2 (Like a Laser)
0 No claims
Living in a Pub (25% loading) in Moss Side

2350 Pounds (3rd Party)

The bike was worth about 3000 and the Car 5000

However the areas I lived in would have been in the Top rating area (as in BAD)

In short unless your going to buy a cheap new car whilst nipping over the channel with the intention of bringing it back to OZ then I really wouldn't bother.

Even riding a bike wont be much cheaper and its not much fun in the snow (Actually I just rembered that its lots of fun in the snow)

Public transport in the UK is very good and available ( My dad never bothered learning to drive until he was 55 )

If you do want an actual quote try here

http://www.swinton.co.uk 

Its an agency so they find the cheapest policy. And from experiance when some twat nicks your bike ( And THEY WILL) they pay out without tooooo much whingeing - (for english ppl)

BTW what area you thinking of going to ?

I just got a quote for my old car (XR2) using my new occupation (IT Worker) to get rid of that 25% loading, and my old address in longsight.
Now bearing in mind that their site says they will only provide no claims earned on a UK car policy (So 0 for me - and you)
With an estimated value of $2000

Third party only, came to



951.25 GBpounds or $2360 AUD

Robbing F*ckers glad I dont live there anymore.

:cussing

My mistake it was Third Party Fire and Theft :jesus

Fatboy, a VF750 eh!!?? Fab bike- Love that V4 exhaust rumble! I've had a VFR750 & a VFR400. Have your camshafts pitted? Or is it a young one?
The m/c I'm considering is something cheap & semi-disposable eg CB400 or even 250. Full insurance is not of interest. I am only an interested in the compulsory govt charges & prob 3rd party ie damage other than to my m/c. I've been riding for over 30 years & have never had comprehensive insurance on a m/c- it's always been unrealistic and with good reason!
You've succeeded in scaring me! Is that REALLY 1950 quid for insuring a bike for 3rd party damage??? I'd have to T-bone a Jaguar at 100km/hr to DO 1950 quid's worth of damage!

[Edited on 26-9-2003 by geodon]

Don't get too scared by insurance quotess. Moss Side in Manchester would be like livivng in Compton in LA. Before I left the UK I had 60 beetle that was magazine featured. Agreed value of $6k, unlimited mileage, 130 pounds fully comp. Before that I had a Triumph Spitfire, 1500 twin carb soft top 2 seater living in Liverpool city centre 125 fully comp. Also bear in mind that any car built before 1973 doesn't pay road tax. Beetles are also dirt cheap in the the Uk at the moment. You can pick up a LHD split bug for around 3k for a half decent one.
Bike insurance is horrendously expensive as is insurance for XR2's because they do attract the boy racers (think Commodore driving bogans). public transport in the Uk is crap unless you live in London in which case it isn't worth buying a car.
Have fun over there and visit some of the big VW shows, you'll be amazed.
Chris

Yeah - what 3toes said! Let us know if you need ANY help when you come over and I'm sure one of us whinging pommes can point you in the right direction - it's not all doom and gloom