I'm getting our XT's transferred onto Spanish plates and had the bikes checked over this morning.

I found out that my Registration Certificate (V5) has an extra number in it (it has 5 zero's on the document instead of the 4 zero's that are on the frame).

And yes, before you all ask, the hubby did check the frame number when he bought the bike, and yes, he does wear glasses, but missed the extra zero on the V5 - an easy mistake for anybody to make.

I'm told it is very common on UK motorbikes and many people don't realise, so check your numbers.

If I get stopped by the Guardia Civil, my bike can be impounded (lucky they didn't check it last month then). DVLA say there is a 2-4 week turnaround on getting a new Registration Certificate to me, so I will be riding my bike illegally for the next 5 weeks or so.

I'd be interested to know just how common this is.

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well I guess it's more common than thought....
I had my KTM 640 from a dealer 2nd hand.... when I went to the post office and I received my V5 later my bike was magically changed from a KTM to a KAVASAKI....

a few years later I moved to Germany and had to change to German plates and registration, similarity what you did with Spain... well the V5 chassis No. had a little twist... the bike had the right No stamped in like xxVBxxx but the V5 did show up with a xxV8xx all other paperes I had showed up with the xxVBxx, the combination xxV8xx was never ever used by KTM at all so far...

Now who ever had to deal with the German Authorities know what I'm talking about.... the German TUV man realized the mistake, and refused to give me the test without the right papers means no German Plates at all.

So I had to get the "CoC" the Certificate-of-Confirmation !!
that's a peace of paper given to the 1st importer of a new vehicle to the dealer, who actually had the bike 1st from the factory.... to be able to do the 1st Registration at any EU-registration office to make it road legal.

The dealer who imported your bike if you can find out, has to have this "CoC", well my one didn't had any... but one from a bike later down the line of that year and modle.... now the DTP artist down the road, bless him ....
No problems getting the right registration right away than "oh look my bike dealer found the CoC last week in his pile of old folders, he was so kind to send it over to me " .... the TUV man was happy and the registration office as well....

my advice is. If you buy a bike and trip over a miss-spelling in the V5 registration, ask for the "CoC" if you plan to register it abroad, or if you are still in the UK with a bit time before moving, get the DVLA to change it right away to avoid all that hassle you may run in too later on.

spooky

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