Any advice welcome on buying second hand car?

@JimJ

i only have a one year Prolonged Residency and they have said at both Silistra and Ruse that I would have to go to Sofia. I don’t want to do that journey as it’s 6hrs each way only perhaps to find out they still won’t do it?

It seems that I have to get the seller to cancel the purchase for me to buy it in the company name.

This has been advice from a lawyer and a Notart.

Also getting it done is now urgent because of the 30 days.

@janemulberry

Just an annual Prolonged Residency. We left France in 2016 and pre Brexit so as hubbie was working 7 days a week we didn’t get round to getting residency.

I seriously feel sick with it all as you queue for ages to see someone and then get told no.

The lady at the dealership found it strange as she has sold to many non EU citizens.

@jeanmandredeix

Aha - yes, if you have a Prolonged Residency then you will have to do it in Sofia; given the hassle involved in going back to KAT every time you renew your residency you're right to look at the EOOD route (with standard white plates) but bear in mind that you'll then be required to hire an accountant to make annual company returns, which is likely to cost you around €150 to €300 per year. Maybe a drive to The Smoke once a year ( or every 5 years when your residency is upgraded) is actually worthwhile - we even have running water and electricity in Sofia nowadays for visiting Provincials to marvel at... 😎

@JimJ

If I hadn’t got three dogs now (the usual Brit thing that I fell for) then I would opt for that but two are puppies still at the crazy chewing stage probably about 4 months old 😂 and I don’t know anyone yet who could look after them.

Currently undecided and some discussions going on but will see what happens when they get back to me.

@jeanmandredeix

I wouldn't say "usual Brit thing": to my mind it's the sign of a civilised and humane person - sadly, when it comes to animals, they're in rather short supply in the Balkans..

Does anyone know if we could get by at KAT Sofia without a translator? Having difficulty finding one.

@jeanmandredeix

You MIGHT be able to get by but it'd be a gamble.  Unfortunately I'm still not mobile or I'd offer to help but vrprevodi(dot)com are not far from the KAT offices and have good reviews; they apparently offer interpreter services, so it wouldn't hurt to ask them....

Well I finally have the car registered with blue plates.

I am obviously not the luckiest person. I tried three translators, one was rude, one answered ok after two days and one nothing at all. However I did manage with my local translator via the phone.

First, sent to wrong address, then queued up to be told I need to go to the 'canal' first. After 4 hours of backwards and forwards from desk to canal inspection and shuffling cars we finally got it done!

One final question. My plates have a small 29 in the bottom right hand corner - is this when the plate is valid to?  Just thinking if I have to do this every year does the plate remain same?

@jeanmandredeix

Yes, the "29" is the year if expiry - which should match the expiry of your Residence Permit. You'll keep the same number and the same plate, including the "29"

@JimJ

Cheers. Today went to the two insurance companies to register new plates - even that wasn’t straightforward. Public liability guy said he will phone next week when it’s ready. CASCO meant we had to get car washed so pics could be done again and he has to send it to Sofia to do so again we have to wait till he phones me.

I didn’t do the e-vignette so got notification of fine. Obviously paid but otherwise it would cost more but appealed and the paperwork needed was totally ridiculous! So no chance of getting it back.

This has been a major rookie error that has cost us hundreds. Hope this is the end of it.

@jeanmandredeix

Most other things that are likely to happen to you here will be plain sailing now that you've had a taste of Balkan Bureaucracy; but, as I've said before, they're mostly tyros compared to the heights of lunacy you'll come across in Greece!

I hope it all resolves easily now! Goodness me, what a saga!