Importing vehicle from EU

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

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Joined
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I have bought a motorcycle in Germany and it is being delivered this weekend. My understanding is that it needs an MOT before it can be registered. In order to get it MOT'd I'll need to drive it to the MOT centre.

My first question - as long as I'm insured, can I drive it to the MOT even thought it won't have a registration, tax, nor MOT?

Secondly, I understand that I need a NOVA certificate before I can pursue registering the bike in the UK. It's a classic bike so there will be no VAT due. Does anyone have experience of how long this can take?

Thirdly, the DVLA claim it can take up to 6 weeks to register an import. I assume I have to keep the bike off the road until registration is complete and a plate is assigned. Is this correct?

Thanks
 
From here: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/overview
You must complete certain steps as soon as you bring a vehicle into the UK permanently.

You can pay an importer or shipping company to do them for you.
  1. Tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within 14 days that the vehicle has arrived in the UK.
  2. Pay VAT and duty if HMRC tells you to.
  3. Get vehicle approval to show your vehicle meets safety and environmental standards.
  4. Register and tax the vehicle with DVLA - they’ll give you a registration number so you can get number plates made up.
You must also insure your vehicle before you drive it on UK roads.
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Hey Scuzi, did you have to pay any taxes when importing from within the EU? I've been thinking about doing the same for a car.
 
GhostWKD said:
If you have a friendly garage they could potentially drive it to themselves on trade plates? :)
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I could get them to pick it up in a van but that has a cost and it would be much easier to just drive it there as long as it is legal to do so. I can find plenty of posts online suggesting that it is legal but nothing from an official source. I guess I'll call them tomorrow.

prosk said:
Hey Scuzi, did you have to pay any taxes when importing from within the EU? I've been thinking about doing the same for a car.
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Not yet. Because it is used and old (1991) there shouldn't be any VAT due.
 
arfoll said:
In Germany you can get for a small fee red trade plates that are valid for a certain amount of days. However I'm not sure if you could get those without having German residency paperwork or if they'd be valid without a TUV or even if valid in EU (although my guess is they would be). But a dealer may be able to arrange them for you.

That being said it's likely going to cost you more than just renting a van from B&Q for an hour and definately more paperwork so likely not worth the hassle ;-)
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The bike is being delivered to the UK from Germany. I'll get the German registration certificate but I don't think it will have a plate on it.
 
one of our phd tutors in uni came over from germany and afaik he was driving his audi on german plates for years before he sold it and got a prius, although how this helps i'm not so sure.

if it's road legal in its eu source country surely can't it be driven on its existing reg until you get it changed?
 
Scuzi said:
I could get them to pick it up in a van but that has a cost and it would be much easier to just drive it there as long as it is legal to do so. I can find plenty of posts online suggesting that it is legal but nothing from an official source. I guess I'll call them tomorrow.
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darael's link says it all. I think it means that before you can even consider getting the MOT, you need to follow all the steps, e.g. get the 'European Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer', and register it with the DVLA (which as you say involves a lot of paperwork and can take up to 6 weeks).

After all that I imagine you can drive it to a pre-arranged MOT test as usual (but only directly to a pre-arranged test).

You're right that no VAT will be payable (assuming VAT paid in the EU already).
 
joeyjojo said:
darael's link says it all. I think it means that before you can even consider getting the MOT, you need to follow all the steps, e.g. get the 'European Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer', and register it with the DVLA (which as you say involves a lot of paperwork and can take up to 6 weeks).

After all that I imagine you can drive it to a pre-arranged MOT test as usual (but only directly to a pre-arranged test).

You're right that no VAT will be payable (assuming VAT paid in the EU already).
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Everything I have read says that the bike can't be registered without an MOT. The MOT has to happen first - hence the potential logistical problem of getting it there.

My understanding of the steps that need to be followed (for a 26 year old bike previously registered in Germany) in order:
1. Notify HMRC and get NOVA certificate
2. Obtain MOT.
3. Register with DVLA.
 
This may be out of date now but when I had this some years back I was told to:

1. Insure the car on the chassis number
2. Book the MOT
3. Put the chassis number on a sticker front and rear
4. Drive straight for the MOT

That's what Ive heard from other importers too. However, for ease I would just arrange for a transporter.

On the registration you do need the MOT first as you have said.

You don't need the EC COC as said in the post above as its over 10 years old. The registration process is much easier for 10 yrs and older.
 
Scuzi said:
I could get them to pick it up in a van but that has a cost and it would be much easier to just drive it there as long as it is legal to do so. I can find plenty of posts online suggesting that it is legal but nothing from an official source. I guess I'll call them tomorrow.
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Sorry yes didn't think about the fact it's a bike not a car :) Good luck finding a solid answer!
 
Thanks for the advice. Bike was delivered today and all of the German docs were with it, so hopefully a painless process to register here.

For some reason when I log into gov.uk to do the NOVA it automatically redirects me to my self assessment tax return and keeps looping every time I log out and back in. I'll have to call them next week.

I'll insure it next week and get it down for an MOT

They make a great pair :D
GCCozPi.jpg
 
Love it, those DR800s are ridiculous, I rode a mate's one once on a private road many years ago, it's got enough torques to split a car in half :D
 
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