Many thanks for your reply, the car I have in mind is a restored classic car in excellent condition, I'm just wondering if I can legally save myself a few hundred pounds in transportation costs by driving the car directly from the docks 150 miles to my local MOT garage for a pre-booked test. The DVLA guideline are a little vague - you are allowed to drive an unregistered car to a pre-booked MOT but would the circumstances I have described be acceptable.

I am considering buying a used car from the Republic of Ireland, the car has Irish tax and registration. The DVLA website indicates that a UK citizen cannot drive a non UK registered car in the UK and it must be registered and taxed in the UK to be driven legally. As I read it however the car must have a valid UK MOT before registration and taxation. Can I legally drive the car from the ferryport where it comes into the UK directly to the MOT garage nearest my home for a pre-booked test, a distance of about 100 miles. I will have insurance.