Registering an imported bike

[Mart]

Just got another DR750 which is an import that has no documents. Is it likely I will be able to register it and if so how many hoops will I have to jump through?

[steveD]

Martyn, with your bad back an dodgy knees I wouldn't try jumping through any hoops at all matey!

[timbo]

To the best of my knowledge you will need a form V55/5. Cost is £55 to register a vehicle in the UK.
I contacted Swansea about a couple of bikes I bought in southern Ireland. Swansea aren't interested until you actually tax the vehicle for the road. In other words, you can't SORN the bike which is what I wanted to do to keep myself right, as the bikes won't be roadworthy for some time.
So, to them, the bike doesn't exist until you first go to tax it, which I find very strange.
Your other problem is not having any paperwork. I'm in the same boat, and don't know how it will pan out. I might just say I bought them as a pile of bits at an autojumble.
Anyway, please keep us all informed, as its an interesting topic.

[Mart]

Thanks Tim, I haven't even got thebike yet and it will need some work.It is coming from Scotland via a courier.  I have hopes of getting the paperwork don e when it is roadworthy. Mart.
Thanks Steve, only one dodgy knee for me Arthroscopy coming soon. I can still ride but have not been climbing fo 6 months now. How are your knees now? Mart

[Steve H]

You will need some form of proof of its age, and ideally proof that import duty has been paid. The VJMC may be able to help with the age related cert and you may have to pay the import duty.
You will also need an MOT and insurance which will need to be done on the frame number.

[Moto63]

Evening chaps, interesting thread. I have a yam fz750 that I bought about a year ago, however the lad I bought it from had lost the log book, I went on the dvla web site and it pretty much led me to believe that if I coughed up £25 good English pounds then a new log book would be sent thro with my name taking pride of place. Have,nt got round to actually doing it yet so can,t confirm just how many hoops one does actually have to jump thro. Please keep us posted of any progress as I would be very interested in knowing just what is involved. Regards Michael

[Oldtimer]

If you require an MOT and the bike is in bits try taking the frame for an MOT as all the documents refer to the frame number so an MOT cannot be refused only an advisory quoting it has no lights, wheels etc.

[Mart]

"if you require an MOT and the bike is in bits try taking the frame for an MOT as all the documents refer to the frame number so an MOT cannot be refused only an advisory quoting it has no lights, wheels etc."

I can't help thinking that they be more likely to fail it than issue advisories.

"You will need some form of proof of its age, and ideally proof that import duty has been paid. The VJMC may be able to help with the age related cert and you may have to pay the import duty.
You will also need an MOT and insurance which will need to be done on the frame number."

Dating certificates £50 quid from either VJMC or Suzuki owner's club. both include a years membership. I have found that there are something called N.O.V.A " Notice of vehicle arrival"  regulations and DVLA require that they be completed immediately the vehicle has been imported. I seriously doubt that this is the case here.
I have a spare frame so I may go down that road and dispose of the frame. There's a lot of work to do without the hoop jumping. There are a lot of parts missing ,most of which I probably have lurking somewhere in my shed. I have always liked to follow the line of least restistance.

[timbo]

Yes, please ignore my previous post on this thread, as it turns out it wasn't accurate. This is despite being given said info, face to face, over the counter at DVLA HQ in Swansea   
Ive just had a close read of the UK Gov website which states that before contacting DVLA, you must first notify HMRC within 14 days of purchasing the imported vehicle, and that you will be charged £5 per day outside this time limit  , so be very careful when you give them the date of purchase.
However, there is a contradiction, as there is a single sentence that says, for vehicles over ten years old, to inform DVLA.
So I'm confused, and will phone HMRC tomorrow to clear up any confusion   
On a lighter note, i loved the suggestion of taking just the frame for an MOT  The reason I'm laughing is that in Northern Ireland all MOTs are done at one of a dozen government MOT centres. So the MOTs are carried out by dedicated MOT inspectors. (Think of The Bottom Inspectors out of Viz  ). I could just see their faces if I turned up with a frame 
So in mainland UK I reckon you're pretty lucky to be able to go to a local bike mechanic who you've probably built up a rapport with over the years, rather than the uniformed face of bureaucracy.
As for you Tommy, you've it all to look forward too  . (Bikes still don't require an MOT in the south, yet  )

[tommy]

I hear its on the cards tim    tommy

[timbo]

OK, just to confirm, you must notify HMRC via there website using the NOVA format. This must be done within fourteen days of purchase or you will be charged £5 per day thereafter. I have just completed the process, and was not liable for any tax, I guess because the vehicle was of some age. Then you can notify DVLA after 48 Hrs of completing your NOVA submission.
(Hi Tommy, I've sent you a pm)

[timbo]

Welcome to the next exciting episode of, 'How to Import a Bike into the UK'.
So, as mentioned above, first stage is to notify HMRC using their NOVA format, Notification Of Vehicle Arrival.
Next stage is DVLA.
Nice lady in Swansea said I would need to complete a V55/5 and pay £55, (no shock as I knew this already).
Nice lady in Swansea said I would need to provide a certificate of date of manufacture from Honda, (kind of suspected this).
Nice lady in Swansea said I would have to pay road tax for bike at the same time. So we danced around for a bit, with me explaining that bike is nowhere near roadworthy or being MOTd, and her repeating that I had to tax it. Eventually logic prevailed and nice lady agreed that I could SORN bike if I submitted a V890.
So in summary, I have requested a vehicle import pack and V 55/5 off DVLA website, and printed a V890.
Contacted Belfast Honda to get  dating certificate. They directed me to Honda UK HQ in Bracknell. Nice lady in Bracknell told me that a dating certificate from them would cost £30, but that I would need to first contact Honda Ireland to request one if they where the original importer of the bike when new.
So, it looks like cost of importing a second hand bike is £85.
Will let you all know how this all pans out as I've three bikes to import, and my mate also has three. 

[timbo]

Honda Ireland. What amazing people! I phoned them, Leon says  to email him details of bikes. Then a very personable reply arrives showing genuine interest and full details of all bikes. No charge, and proof of age which hopefully will suffice with DVLA, saving me £30 per bike, and a four to six week wait. 

[timbo]

  so letter of refusal arrives from DVLA today 
Reasons for refusal is that you can only apply to register a vehicle in the UK when you are going to tax the vehicle for the road, so you will have to MOT and insure the vehicle first.
In other words, you cannot import a bike and SORN it.
Also a dating letter from Honda, stating the year of manufacture is not adequate. They need the date, and month as well!
So the final score is, Bureaucracy 1: Tim 0
And the bikes will stay unregistered until I finally get round to doing them up.
But you still must inform HMRC within two weeks of purchase.

[Mart]

I've received the pack of forms from Swansea.and after reading them have decided to rebuild an already registered [currently sorned] frame that has been in my garage for a few years now, using the mechanical bits from the new bike. That won't happen until I have started the new one to make sure it runs OK. Thanks for all the helpful and amusing responses. I suppose I'd better call it a project and take a few pictures.