Importing from the USA

[Jon P]

I tried the search but can not find any info..........I wonder if anyone else has imported a bike from the USA.

I have an 07 GSA that I bought new here in the US and want to ship it to the UK and register it as I will be living there for a couple of years. It is not my intention to sell it in the Uk..........well at least not for some considerable time.

So a couple of questions please.....

1. I have heard mention of 9% import duty and 17.5% VAT.

2. Also, something about SVA and only two places in the UK where I can get it inspected?

3. If I did sell it one day would it have a lower value because it came from the UK.

4. Lastly - what about insurance - will there be a premium because it is an 'import'?

Any help would be greatly appreciated................

 

[alimey4u2]

1. I have heard mention of 9% import duty and 17.5% VAT.

You need to be resident in the States for 1 year or longer & have documentation to prove it. The bike must have documentation that it has been licensed/ insured for the road for that period or greater. Once imported you cannot sell the bike for 1 year. If all those apply no import duties or taxes are (or will be) liable.

2. Also, something about SVA and only two places in the UK where I can get it inspected?

You must take the vehicle to a SVA test center, there are many..

3. If I did sell it one day would it have a lower value because it came from the UK. correction USA ?

As an import possibly yes

4. Lastly - what about insurance - will there be a premium because it is an 'import'?

Not a q plate so no probs there...

 

[Rushy]

HI Jon,

These guys are great to deal with and specialise in bringing cars in from the USA but can also help you with a motorcycle.

http://www.goldenchariotsinternational.com/

HTH,

Ian

 

[alimey4u2]

If you meet the criteria & have supporting documentation, importing to the UK is easy. United Van Lines shipped my bikes & houshold goods, I found them to be very effective. You will need a specialised wooden crate which is "approved" by the UK customs, it being free of bio organisms, United Van Lines secured these for me. They are expensive but then I sold mine in the UK for a loss but covered the major investment. You will find VOSA & their personnel to be extremely helpful together with the personnel at the SVA test centers, I couldn't fault them...

 

[Commuter]

Agreed

Agree with all of the above.

If you are coming home, get your removal company to crate the bike (if not speak to Max at Max Bmw and they will give you one of the old pallets from a new bike to attach it to.

Bike arrives in the UK, you will of gone to this website, make an appointment with the SVA office when you know the bike is going to be in the country. You cannot ride the bike from the port to home and you must only ride it on your USA plate until you have your appointment. Around 2 to 4 days later you will get a plate number sent to you for you to have made and then the bike needs to be taxed and then it is ready to go. You will need insurance (ebike do insurance on the VIN number) when you are doing all of this. You will need to change the headlight on your bike. Don't listen to anyone else on this. The USA headlight is COMPLETELY different to Europe (you cannot just adjust it) as the pattern is wrong for the test. I nearly failed, the chap actually helped me to fix the problem. If you have any extra running lights, make sure you can turn them off independantly as the SVA advises for not having 2 separate headlights which effectively what running lights are.

The total cost for bike to be registered and SVA test was 300GBP. I didn't pay extra for the bike in the container because the container wasn't full and my company paid for the whole thing.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/importsapproval/thesinglevehicleapprovalscheme
and you will need to complete a V55 form. Once inspected, you will hand over title(vermont one), insurance, SVA certificate and V55 form. You will get a v5 document issued. By the way you bike is actually a 06 bike in the UK but you will get it registered as a 07 as your title says this. DVLA will send your title back. You will send your tag and registration back to Vermont to get your insurance cancelled.

Here is my Mass registered bike in Bristol getting inspected.

Any questions, let me know. I did it only a year ago. Took around 6 weeks to get it sorted when I got the bike into the country.

Hope it helps, Nick.

 

[alimey4u2]

Here is my Mass registered bike in Bristol getting inspected.

I used the same inspection center in Avonmouth. Great peeps who were actually trying their best to help me. Just a tip, make sure your bike is very clean, it helps them in their job of inspection & in so doing they will help you...

 

[Shep]

Plenty of BM's already here, why don't you find a nice old Harley or Indian and bring that in, you might even make a bit extra for your efforts.

Shep

 

[alimey4u2]

10 years & older, no SVA required, all you need is an MOT. ALL other criteria remains the same though...

 

[Owen Snell]

Have you looked at used prices here? They may be higher, but you will get it back on resale and loads of GS / GSA available. If you bring your bike over then back again you will have 2 lots of shipping, new headlamp, test etc., plus the hassle.....

 

[Jon P]

Thanks for the guidance folks.........I definately qualify to not have to pay the import and VAT duteis and I had already lined up a BMW pallet form MAX BMW.

So it seems that shipping to the UK is going to cost $300 to ship bike in my container plus SVA plus registration plus a new headlight - over a $1000 in total.

The other thing is that my plans will probably mean that the bike will be in storage in the UK for a year or more before it will be used so I guess I'll sell it here and either just cough up for a new GSA or maybe I'll go and get myself a nice old airhead GS like the one I started on in 1990.

Thanks again for all your help!