Importing a bike prior to sale

[mrsroynie]

I'm in a bit of a quandary. Roynie and I have just completed a new build in Co. Clare and now split our time more or less equally between our (technically) permanent home in SW France and here. When we moved to France in 2007, I exported my UK-spec 1200GS. The process was a piece of cake. I sent off for a Certificate of Conformity, and the Sous Prefecture accepted it without my even having to do any mods ... so I'm still on my original headlamp etc.

Since buying an '02 1150GS in November (£3,000 with less than 10k on the clock. Need I say more?), it has been my intention to sell the 1200, though it was convenient to keep it for our recent Moscow trip as my French insurance covers Russia and the Ukraine. Now I have both bikes here in Ireland and I really need to sell the 1200 before we go back to France in September, as I can foresee problems trying to sell a UK-spec bike there and, besides, I cannot afford to run both bikes.

I don't know anything about selling a bike over here so, as I was passing, I asked Joe Duffy BMW in Dublin. They didn't seem to think there would be a problem, and recommended DoneDeal.ie. But they did mention that the buyer would have to pay VRT to register the bike in Ireland. I did a little research and discovered that the VRT for an '05 1200GS (1170cc engine) will be €456, then there is road tax and testing ... and goodness knows what else. It seemed to me that I might have to sell for a disproportionately low price to attract a buyer in this economic climate.

Without seeing the bike, Joe Duffy suggested putting it up on DoneDeal.ie for around €6,900. Admittedly, I love the bike. I'm just back from a 6,800-mile trip to Russia without the slightest hiccup. 42k miles on the clock. But even I'm wondering whether that sort of money isn't a tad optimistic. I'm thinking it might be worth my while to import, tax and insure the bike myself, prior to selling. I'm going to have to get the bike cleaned up and serviced anyway.

I'd welcome some local knowledge. What do you think?

Also does anyone have any experience of importing a UK-spec bike to Ireland, and can you tell me exactly what's involved?

 

[Aidan1150]

Also does anyone have any experience of importing a UK-spec bike to Ireland, and can you tell me exactly what's involved?

Apart from paying the VRT and changing the yellow reg plate for a white one I don't think theres anything else involved. Some of the lads who have brought in bikes in the past should be along shortly. Also, there is no MOT test for bikes in Ireland.

 

[luke scott]

If you have "owned & had the use of the bike for more than twenty six weeks in one calender year" then you have no VRT to pay. You can import it as a "transfer of residence". If you do this then you cant sell it for a year. As said before we have no mot for bikes so no hassle there. What country is the bike registered in now ?

 

[Aidan1150]

What country is the bike registered in now ?

France I reckon Luke.

Never thought of the change of residence.

 

[Hairnet600]

what luke said

give cracker a shout on here as he imported a bike from england to ireland a coupla months ago............

but the owning for a while and avoiding the tax thing sounds good to me

http://www.vrt.ie/vrtDetail.php?page=21

 

[patzx12]

Sell it on here
If you Donedeal it have a look what 05,s are selling for and price accordingly.
Sales are slow if the price is high it will be on donedeal forever.

 

[mrsroynie]

Thanks for those responses. I don't think I can go the 'change of residence' route, as I really do need to sell the bike as soon as possible. Can't wait a year. But the process of importing it does seem a lot less complicated than I had feared. It would probably save a whole world of hassle if I and go ahead and register the bike here.

Next question. Does anyone have any particular recommendations for insurance?

Thanks again.

 

[richie]

Another option is to put the English plates back on it and sell in UK. This should be easy as the bike was an English bike, you'll get the same number back...

 

[Bohsfc]

Quinn-Direct. While not the best policy available out there, they are (I think) the only bike insurer who do monthly direct debit so if you want to cancel half way through the policy its easier than trying to get money back from others if you have paid for a full year.

 

[mrsroynie]

Another option is to put the English plates back on it and sell in UK. This should be easy as the bike was an English bike, you'll get the same number back...

Thanks, but we are no longer resident in the UK ... so getting the bike re-registered and sold there presents its own problems.

 

[mrsroynie]

Quinn-Direct. While not the best policy available out there, they are (I think) the only bike insurer who do monthly direct debit so if you want to cancel half way through the policy its easier than trying to get money back from others if you have paid for a full year.

Good idea. Especially as I have only just renewed my French insurance and will have to negotiate a refund from them ...

 

[Hadrian]

Try selling it on the continent a the bike prices are still high over there and there are importers taking bikes out of the UK to sell on the continent because of the exchange rate

Hadrian

 

[luke scott]

Why not sell the 1150 ? Im looking for a low mileage 1150 to leave in spain

 

[Mide]

Thanks, but we are no longer resident in the UK ... so getting the bike re-registered and sold there presents its own problems.

If you sell it to someone in Uk they should have no probs re registering it tho

I imported my 650gs, from uk to ireland, went along to the revenue, paid my €, got new registration, simples

 

[corsicandreamer]

Check out prices for the 1200 gs on French e-bay you will be pleasantly surprised i think. It is very simple to type your add into a translation website if your language skills are not yet up to speed the rest is simple and you become an international e-bayer just like that , worth a try ?

 

[mrsroynie]

Check out prices for the 1200 gs on French e-bay you will be pleasantly surprised i think. It is very simple to type your add into a translation website if your language skills are not yet up to speed the rest is simple and you become an international e-bayer just like that , worth a try ?

Many thanks. I am aware that second hand vehicles, generally, hold their value far better in France. However, the main problem for me is that the bike is still full UK-spec. The Sous Prefecture were able to use the homologation number from the Certificate of Conformity without me making any modifications at all ... so I didn't bother to change the headlamp etc. A bit short-sighted of me may be, but there we are.

Language is a minor concern. But only from the point of view of having to respond any technical questions ... particularly bearing in mind the above issue. I don't know if you've been successful using website translation for a sales ad yourself but, personally, I wouldn't risk it. My French is good enough to notice the nonsense that most of them spit out. I only ever use web translators as a quick check for meaning, before I post a letter etc.

 

[mrsroynie]

If you sell it to someone in Uk they should have no probs re registering it tho

Quite. However, the suggestion was that I should try to re-register it and sell it in the UK, myself. That would be problematic for me ... not for a UK buyer.

 

[Garryc]

....you can only import stuff from outside the EU, so there should be no importation chargers only vehicle registration costs...whatever that entails.