Importing vehicle from EU

[Scuzi]

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

 

[Scuzi]

If you have a friendly garage they could potentially drive it to themselves on trade plates?

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.

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.

Not yet. Because it is used and old (1991) there shouldn't be any VAT due.

 

[Scuzi]

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

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.

 

[Scuzi]

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).

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.

 

[Scuzi]

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

 

[Scuzi]

It sounds like a chinook! I had a quick go on it earlier and i forsee numb balls in my future. It vibrates a lot

They don't make bikes like this any more which is a shame. One of the reasons I've been looking for one of these, they just have a lot more character than modern bikes imo.

 

[Scuzi]

will you need to sort the lights and speedo before the MOT ? (a friend did, via ebay, on an import from France .)

The speedo will need some stickers put on it for sure. Not sure about the headlight on this bike. I have a feeling it points straight ahead rather than to one side but I'll get that checked out during the MOT.

 

[Scuzi]

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.

Just to confirm, I did the NOVA online this morning and it came back instantly with £0.00 due.