Non-citizen buying a bike in Europe/UK
 

Hi everyone,

I've read a fair few threads about this topic, but for some reason I never can get a concrete answer. Maybe the fact that I can't get a concrete answer IS my answer!

Anyway, I'm from Australia but I also have an Irish Passport.

I want to go to the UK and obtain a bike, tour around Europe for a few months, and then get rid of said bike.

From what I can gather it's a real pain in the backside to buy/insure a bike without a fixed address in the country you are buying. Does anyone have any first-hand experience with this?

What about some kind of under-the-table ways? I'm not trying to encourage anything illegal, I'm just wondering if there is anything possible like finding people who will lend me a bike for a few months and I will pay them a fee for that (but a cheaper fee than renting!) and make some agreement about insurance/potential fines/potential damage etc....

What are my other options?

Renting from a 'rentals' place for months is far out of my budget range. I would have enough money to pay a $2000 fee or something to lease a bike; and then enough emergency money to pay for any damages etc (unfortunately, it can happen, so at least I've put aside the money for it).

Thankyou in advance for your advice!

Nicola

Hi Nicola

I'm in the same boat as you, an Aussie with Irish Citizenship. I've just purchased a bike in the UK and so far age just needed an address to let them know where it was registered to - I used a friend's address. The UK registered body is very slow which may affect your paperwork - I haven't got mine through yet.

The biggest hurdle has been the insurance - in the UK it is the rider who is insured not the bike. If you don't have a UK license you pay 3 times more for insurance. I'm just in the process of trying to get my British licence so will let you know how it goes. PM me if you want more details.

The other option is to rent my bike (cheaply) when I finish with it..what date where you going over?

Cheers
Adastra

Uk reg bike
 

Hi Nicola.
Sent you a PM.
Hope it helps
Rory

Bike for Europe trip
 

Hi Nicola,

Posting this so that I'll have enough posts to PM you.

The best

brian