Interesting one here. I've brought in an Australian bike with a date of Manufacture of 2007, purchase date of 2009. Type approval in the UK was just about a year ago and date of first registration was one year ago next month.

So what I am trying to understand is if an MOT is now due. If I take the year of manufacture - then yes. If I take the date of first registration - no.

DVLA told me 'it depends' and the only sensible answer customer services gave me was 'try to do your tax online and it will reject if you need an MOT'. Very helpful.

Any ideas?

m

__________________
------------------
http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com

As you know, MOTs are due on an anniversary of 'first registration' and at intervals thereafter. That anniversary varies according to class of vehicle but for private cars and motos is currently on commencement of its 3rd year.
EG. Buy a new vehicle out of a showroom in UK and the MOT-free period starts from that day - not date of manufacture that can be many months earlier.
The Manufacturers Type Approval (MTA) certificate for that specific unit is handed over to DVLA as part of the initial registration process.

However, Date of 'first registration' is not necessarily when 'first registered with DVLA'.
EG. A friend, having lived in Germany for some years, returned to UK with his 5 year old car. He had to take the German registration document to DVLA who took it as proof of MTA. DVLA issued a standard age related UK Registration. The vehicle required an MOT at the moment of re-registration, being over 3 years from 'first registration', and further MOTs annually thereafter.
In practice I believe one should have it MOT tested first with its foreign registration prior to presenting all documents to DVLA. The DVLA amend the MOT accordingly - like on transfer of personal number plates.

I do not know the full extent, but clearly DVLA accept other countries Registration Documents (and therefore evidence of a MTA having been issued for the unit) at face value on a recriprical arrangement. Just as much, there are presumably 'rogue' countries they do not accept!
In the absence of such acceptance of proof of an original MTA for the specific unit, or there is no Registration document, the vehicle must be subjected to a VOSA Inspection (not an MOT) to ensure it is safe, legal and within C&U regulations and to establish an identity for it. Such vehicles were then assigned a registration number starting with the Prefix 'Q' - the same as for vehicles you build/rebuild yourself from parts or from self-build kits. I do not know what happens under the latest registratuion number format.

__________________
Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

Hi Tony - that's really helpful thank you.

The bike is from Australia so no reciprocal EU agreement on type approval - so had to take it to VOSA this time last year to get type approval and an age-related number plate (rather than a Q plate as I was able to demonstrate year of manufacture).

So... the bike had no MOT (no such thing in Oz) but now does have UK Type Approval with a Manufacture Date of 2007 and a First Registration Date of 2009. I have a horrible feeling I'm going to have to just take it for tax renewal and see what they say when I try.

m

__________________
------------------
http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com

Just in case this comes up in search I now have the answer.

The date for an MOT is calculated from the date of manufacture if the bike has been used on any public roads in the UK or elsewhere prior to UK registration. If the bike has been used AND requires type approval - the type approval stands as the MOT for the first year regardless of age of bike.

If it's not been used on the roads then it's calculated from date of first registration. (3 years).

The other important point is that the DVLA calculate requirements for your vehicle when they generate the reminder (sent at the start of the month that your tax is due). When they do this they can tell you what they need (but not before). Top and bottom is that when you get your reminder in the post it states right there on the doc exactly what you need.

I do now need an MOT :-)

Thanks all.

m

__________________
------------------
http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com