Importation

[LEGOscum]

An Italian work colleague of mine knows a number of Italian bikers who only use their bikes for commuting, and being doctors and lawyers regularly sell them off quite cheaply. This piqued my interest so my colleague investigated further and was able to find out that there were several GS's ranging in price from 35600 to 4500 Euros (knock 10% off for £) with 2005 to 2007 reg's. A quick eBay search tells me that this is nearly 50% off!

Now aside from this being too good to be true, and having to ride the bike back from Northern Italy, does anyone have any thoughts or comments on the cost and difficulties of importing and registering a bike in the UK?

 

[gwigglesworth]

As long as you have a certificate of conformity, full Italian registration documents and proof the taxes are paid (normally the registration docs are good enough).

All you would then need is insurance for the bike and a ride back and a trip to the DVLA to register it (and the usual DVLA registration fee).

 

[Lamble]

Shouldn't be too difficult as the bikes are within the EU.
Now when you want to bring your US spec GS back to the UK, that's a completely different kettle of bastards!!!

Thanks customs and VOSA!

 

[gwigglesworth]

For your US Spec.. it just needs SVA as it is not made to the correct spec for europe... or did you look up and see if it meets the Enduro rules

 

[Tonibe63]

A quick search on Ebay Italy shows 07 GS with 43000km's advertised at 11000 Euros. I think I will sell my UK bike on Ebay Italy because I see them as being at a 25% premium rather than a 50% discount. I hope you prove me wrong because I'll book a flight.

 

[LEGOscum]

As long as you have a certificate of conformity, full Italian registration documents and proof the taxes are paid (normally the registration docs are good enough).

So it's the same as buying a vehicle in the UK then. As long as I've got a temporary registration document in my name and the road tax paid I'm free to go?

My only question is where does the certificate of conformity come from?

All you would then need is insurance for the bike and a ride back and a trip to the DVLA to register it (and the usual DVLA registration fee).

I guess the insurance could be done over the phone or internet once I'd bought the bight.

A quick search on Ebay Italy shows 07 GS with 43000km's advertised at 11000 Euros.

I'll be buying privately from people who aren't too worried what price they get.

Thanks fellas. This is a lot less complicated that I thought.

 

[Decster]

.... I think I will sell my UK bike on Ebay Italy because I see them as being at a 25% premium rather than a 50% discount. I hope you prove me wrong because I'll book a flight.

Bikes in Italy are more expensive..anything else is a a scam

 

[Decster]

I'll be buying privately from people who aren't too worried what price they get.

there is no such thing.

Beware, it takes a lot of hard study and big bucks to get to be a doctor or lawyer in Italy and they don't flog anything there because they have a few bob.

 

[Miz]

My only question is where does the certificate of conformity come from?

The Certificate of Conformity is with the original paperwork for the bike when it is delivered to the dealer, if it gets passed onto you by the seller, all is OK, if not, you have to go to VOSA and have the bike tested (think it cost me about £70).

 

[LEGOscum]

Beware, it takes a lot of hard study and big bucks to get to be a doctor or lawyer in Italy and they don't flog anything there because they have a few bob.

Don't worry, I won't be buying sight unseen. These sellers are largely located around Pisa so I'll pop out on a Ryan Air flight for a couple of days, inspect the bikes and possibly make the purchase then and there.

But it's certainly not a given that I'll be buying a bike in Italy. I still have to look in the classifieds section of the glorious UKGSer forums first.

 

[gwigglesworth]

The Certificate of Conformity is with the original paperwork for the bike when it is delivered to the dealer, if it gets passed onto you by the seller, all is OK, if not, you have to go to VOSA and have the bike tested (think it cost me about £70).

Of find the certificate number and prove that the bike complies!

 

[Miz]

Of find the certificate number and prove that the bike complies!

You can try, I managed to get MV Agusta to send me a copy of my bikes Certificate as a PDF, printed that off and took it to the DVLA, application turned down as the cert was not the original, so off to VOSA for the test.

 

[phooey]

There is rather a lot of FRAUD involving vehicles advertised on Ebay. I would be VERY circumspect when considering a purchase.

I work in a busy crime management office in London fwiw.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Never get involved in a business deal you don't understand.

I suspect you are being played.

 

[LEGOscum]

Who said anything about eBay? The info is coming from a trusted colleague, and I do understand the deal. The bikes are for sale locally, he's found some suitable prices and if I am interested he'll get more info on the bikes. There's no commitment so I'm not being played. If I do buy one of the bikes I'll check them out first and pay when I purchase.

 

[Glyno]

Good luck and hope you get a good deal.
Heres another Euro example..... Spain, local dealer 06 GSA, nowt special, UK bike but on Spanish plates 17k miles..........11,700 euros.
Uk is by far the cheapest place to buy within Europe at the mo and has been the case for the last 18 months or more.

 

[LEGOscum]

That's strange. The dealers I've spoken to have all said that UK GS prices are high because European dealers are buying them from private sellers over here and taking them back to the continent to flog. Or maybe he's just trying to justify his prices.

 

[sloukes]

An Italian work colleague of mine knows a number of Italian bikers who only use their bikes for commuting, and being doctors and lawyers regularly sell them off quite cheaply. This piqued my interest so my colleague investigated further and was able to find out that there were several GS's ranging in price from 35600 to 4500 Euros (knock 10% off for £) with 2005 to 2007 reg's. A quick eBay search tells me that this is nearly 50% off!

Now aside from this being too good to be true, and having to ride the bike back from Northern Italy, does anyone have any thoughts or comments on the cost and difficulties of importing and registering a bike in the UK?

Look into it all very carefully - I seemed to remember that getting vehicles out of Italy was tricky so a quick google found this:
"Number plates in Italy are issued by the local authorities and not purchased from an auto accessory shop as in England. Some dealers will allow you to drive the car away with these plates, others may not be so keen to do so. The reason for their reluctance is that as number plates in Italy are issued by the local authorities, and the car is registered in their name, they will be responsible for the road tax on that vehicle year in and year out until those number plates are returned to the Council (Comune) as proof that the car is no longer in use on the road in Italy.

If the private seller or dealer does allow you to drive away with the plates on the car he will normally ask you for a deposit, returnable when the number plates are returned to him. If you are offered this option, take it, as it is the easiest way to drive home"

http://www.maserati-alfieri.co.uk/alfieri05.htm

Steve

 

[LEGOscum]

Thanks sloukes, that's the kind of factual info I was hoping for.

I've subscribed to the forums now and can see there's plenty to be had in the classified section so I´m torn. Cheap and foreign or domestic and convenient?