Buying and importing a bike from the US.

[Franm]

Hi Y'all,

Has anybody on here ever purchased a bike from/in the USA and had it shipped back to our shores?
If so what was your experience? Advisable or not? What are the highs and lows? Do's and Don'ts?

Thanks is advance.

Cheers
Fran

 

[King Rat]

I know several people who have bought choppers and brought them back - frought with problems, because of the SVA / MOT thing. They don't have the same condition and use regs that we do - so the lights, indicators etcc were up the guff. To the point it would have been cheaper having a bike built over here

On standard bikes, you have the same considerations of lighting etc - but if you get a classic, the indicators and stuff don't matter because they are too old for those things, so you can just junk them.

 

[Tractors are go]

Depends upon what you're bringing in and age; if it was made in uk, I don't think you have to pay vat or import tax. If it is European, import tax. There was also an age limit.m

There is also NOVA now, if you're member of relevant owner's club they can be quite helpful/useful.

Easiest way is to get agent to do everything for you, cost's more but how much is your own time and hassle free life worth ?

Good luck.



Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[Davy Doherty]

Contact Rick Brett he ownes the Kawasaki triple club, he's based in the USA now but he shipes container loades of bikes on a regular basis and does all the import paperwork.

 

[luke scott]

I know several people who have bought choppers and brought them back - frought with problems, because of the SVA / MOT thing. They don't have the same condition and use regs that we do - so the lights, indicators etcc were up the guff. To the point it would have been cheaper having a bike built over here

On standard bikes, you have the same considerations of lighting etc - but if you get a classic, the indicators and stuff don't matter because they are too old for those things, so you can just junk them.

STOP ! Fran is from Ireland. So we have different rules. Fran, VAT . . . . Duty . . . VRT . . . . . Customs Duty . . . . . Vat on the shipping cost . . . . . All of the above will apply.

 

[younger06]

Probably best to stock up on the lube now (and I don't mean for the bike)

 

[de crowe]

STOP ! Fran is from Ireland. So we have different rules. Fran, VAT . . . . Duty . . . VRT . . . . . Customs Duty . . . . . Vat on the shipping cost . . . . . All of the above will apply.

Luke is right I am afraid. And indeed when the Brits leave europe the same rules will likely apply to imports from the uk, it then no longer part of the eu (depending on the Deal). Given the strength of the dollar v. the euro, the fact that you have to pay vrt , then Vat, them import duty on the C.I.F(cost insurance freight plus of vat) at a 20 odd per cent rate the price differential would want to be massive. obviously less so on older bikes, i brought in two bikes from the states in the early 90's, they were late 70's. much easier to buy one in the states, get it registered in blighty, and then import into Ireland from (for the moment )Europe.

 

[Franm]

Sh1t, it's strarting to sound complicated and expensive.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Sh1t, it's strarting to sound complicated and expensive.

Guarantee, it will be.
I brought in a car from Qatar. It was only at the 'special' MOT that I learned about little things like CE marking.
I might have been faced with changing all the glass, all the lights etc etc.
Turned out the car was mostly EU compliant but that was pure dumb luck. It could easily have gone very wrong.
Not worth the hassle unless it's a seriously big price difference and you can get a proper compliance appraisal before you buy it.

 

[patzx12]

Is there any saving, I brought a bike years ago but now you could pick up the same bike in Ire or the UK.
eg: A Harley would probably be cheaper in Ireland.
My buddy just got a classic from Canada, Air Canada was no hassle and no VRT just import duty.
Paperwork will have to be all present and perfect.

 

[Franm]

It would be a 40 yr old or so vehicle that I would be after.
/F

 

[patzx12]

The guys in Classic Bikes and Bits in Dublin bring all the bikes from the USA.
Give them a call for advise.
If you pm me i will give you my buddies email, he can can give you the benefit of your experience.
Air Canada fly bikes un-crated.
If its a runner, why not do a big USA bike ride and drop it at a port for shipping.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

It would be a 40 yr old or so vehicle that I would be after.
/F

Ah. Totally different ball-game. Piece of piss then.....in the UK anyway.
Don't need any of that Euro compliance shite.