Importing a French M/C into the UK

[Devon]

A friend wants to import his older French 600 Yamaha Diversion into the UK.
I have had a look through this section and there is a lot of information on importing a M/C to France but I can't see anything about bringing a French M/C into the UK.

I bought a few bikes in from Germany and France when we were in the EU but I expect things are different now we are outside the EU.
Can anyone give me some pointers on how it is done now?

Here is a copy of an email my friend sent me earlier:

'I am still having trouble with registering my bike onto UK plates.
I completed an online form and submitted it online. I received an email to say that they had received it and I would hear from them within 15 days - this was last October and I am still waiting to hear from them. I have tried an email to reply to theirs but it just got returned. I tried another address but it ended up in Belfast!
I have no address to write to and am stuck.
Do you have any suggestions to whom I should write, or what I need to do? Any help would be much appreciated.'

 

[leadfarmer]

Taking into account the difference in used bike prices in France and UK he’d certainly be better off selling the French bike in France and buying something else in the UK

French used prices are generally a lot higher than the UK

 

[Cheney Triumph]

A friend wants to import his older French 600 Yamaha Diversion into the UK.
I have had a look through this section and there is a lot of information on importing a M/C to France but I can't see anything about bringing a French M/C into the UK.

I bought a few bikes in from Germany and France when we were in the EU but I expect things are different now we are outside the EU.
Can anyone give me some pointers on how it is done now?

Here is a copy of an email my friend sent me earlier:

'I am still having trouble with registering my bike onto UK plates.
I completed an online form and submitted it online. I received an email to say that they had received it and I would hear from them within 15 days - this was last October and I am still waiting to hear from them. I have tried an email to reply to theirs but it just got returned. I tried another address but it ended up in Belfast!
I have no address to write to and am stuck.
Do you have any suggestions to whom I should write, or what I need to do? Any help would be much appreciated.'

I am no expert, but I would have thought it was a case of registering the bike on the 'NOVA' system & proceeding from there. Loads of info. online.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Taking into account the difference in used bike prices in France and UK he’d certainly be better off selling the French bike in France and buying something else in the UK

French used prices are generally a lot higher than the UK

Yes, assuming that bike has no special sentimental value, a 600 divvy will cost very little in the uk.

 

[g00ner]

Just done it myself, you have to use an (HMRC) authorised shipping agent to gain the relevant ‘code’. This cost me a £105 fee.

Once NOVA authority gained you can approach DVLA.

The duty / fees ‘can’ be as low as 5% of purchase fee though numerous criteria must be met.

The most frustrating issue is DVLA will not interact without the NOVA. HMRC will only communicate with the agent. The agent, if not understanding the particular interest value of a specific model won’t always convey the ‘special interest’ of the bike in question thereby pointing HMRC towards import fees approaching 30%.

I appreciate this may not be relevant to an elderly ‘Divvy’ but if needed I can provide emails, phone numbers and agents that could help. PM if needed

My French acquisition

 

[SBD]

Importing vehicles into the UK

Steps you must follow when importing vehicles into the UK, including making an import declaration, paying VAT and duty and telling HMRC using the NOVA service.

www.gov.uk

You can talk (well, email) personally to the CARS team, though whether it is a highly competent organisation staffed by knowledgable, experienced and motivated individuals, or just the usual bunch of no-hopers that CGAF that we have come to expect from public services in Great Britain is something you can find out by trying.

It might be cheaper than paying an agent. OTOH it might be a nightmare.

 

[Wapping]

'I am still having trouble with registering my bike onto UK plates.
I completed an online form and submitted it online. I received an email to say that they had received it and I would hear from them within 15 days - this was last October and I am still waiting to hear from them. I have tried an email to reply to theirs but it just got returned. I tried another address but it ended up in Belfast!
I have no address to write to and am stuck.
Do you have any suggestions to whom I should write, or what I need to do? Any help would be much appreciated.'

Who is the ‘they’ / ‘them’ that your friend has been emailing?

I hope your friend has not fallen for one of those scam websites, which (whilst looking very ‘official’) just fleece the unwary.

 

[Hustler]

If the Diversion is over 25 years old then it will be eligible for the vintage motorcycle club and I'm certain they could help.
Around £50 per annum to be a VMCC member - https://www.vmcc.net/

 

[MikeS]

Just done it myself, you have to use an (HMRC) authorised shipping agent to gain the relevant ‘code’. This cost me a £105 fee.

Once NOVA authority gained you can approach DVLA.

The duty / fees ‘can’ be as low as 5% of purchase fee though numerous criteria must be met.

The most frustrating issue is DVLA will not interact without the NOVA. HMRC will only communicate with the agent. The agent, if not understanding the particular interest value of a specific model won’t always convey the ‘special interest’ of the bike in question thereby pointing HMRC towards import fees approaching 30%.

I appreciate this may not be relevant to an elderly ‘Divvy’ but if needed I can provide emails, phone numbers and agents that could help. PM if needed

My French acquisition

View attachment 424124

Stunning, how did you find that.

 

[g00ner]

Stunning, how did you find that.

A long way down the FB owners group page, written off as a scammer by others - clearly (to me) the issue was one of language barriers. Luckily, my youngest boy has just graduated with a languages degree so once that hurdle was overcome all was rosy

It was a good day out too collecting it

 

[g00ner]

If the Diversion is over 25 years old then it will be eligible for the vintage motorcycle club and I'm certain they could help.
Around £50 per annum to be a VMCC member - https://www.vmcc.net/

If as I assume the owner will have the Certificat d’immatriculation showing it’s age HMRC will accept it without going through owners clubs

 

[Devon]

Thanks for all the replies.
My mate is a retired solicitor and he is used to filling in forms (though he is knocking on a bit and not so mentally agile as he used to be.
I did find a number for HMRC (0300 322 9434) that deals with importing vehicles which got him through to a helpful chap who has promised to help him sort out getting the bike into the UK, and HMRC have promised to get back to him by Friday.
I'll post up how he gets on in case anyone else wants to import their M/C from France into the UK.

I did pick up a 1979 Z650 while on holiday in Germany 4 years ago and don't recall it importing the bike was so difficult as it seems to be nowadays.

 

[The Other PaulG]

I'll post up how he gets on in case anyone else wants to import their M/C from France into the UK.

I am sure that will be helpful to many, maybe should be a sticky.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Stunning, how did you find that.

I agree, what a lovely bike.

 

[g00ner]

I agree, what a lovely bike.

Had a lucky find, it’s in top order. Just need to find a 34” inside leg now to kick it over comfortably

 

[Oldrat]

Seems that I was lucky then.

Three years ago I imported a bike from Belgium and didn’t use an agent, doing it all myself.

I have to say that once I got through to the correct department, the HMRC personal import team were excellent, service well above expectations. This did entail some to’ing and fro’ing on the phone.

All the online information I’d researched for weeks seemed contradictory and was confusing, so finally finding a real person who actually knew the rules was a watershed moment, and made up for the those HMRC employees who lacked knowledge and sent me on a wild goose chase!

I suspect that with Govt cuts etc, HMRC has been drastically downsized and hence the policy change to deal with import agents only rather than numpties like me on the phone taking up their time.

@Gooner
That Honda looks really sweet, a great find.

and yes they are like riding a block of flats!

 

[g00ner]

Yes, they changed the procedure just post covid.
It’s frustrating because their old advice is still available online and the required methodology not easy to find.