Can an Aussie buy a UK bike and travel Europe?
 

Hello! Hopefully I'm not repeating others questions - I've been searching through the paperwork section here but am still looking for some answers.

Have any non-UK residents (specifically, Australians) had success buying, registering, insuring, etc., a second-hand bike in the UK and then travelling through Europe? I will have an IDP, but am mostly worried about insurance.

First problem is proof of residency when registering at the DVLA - do people just rely on friends' addresses? I could be there up to 6 months, but plan to be either staying in hostels or camping, i.e., won't have an address to give.
Second, will insurance companies actually insure non-UK residents? I've had a look at some of the links I've found on threads here and on Lonely Planet (Carole Nash, Down Under Insure, Bikesure), but it's hard to find cover for bikes, non-UK licences, and more than 90 days European travel, all in one company (also I am 22, which might pose a problem). I'm still investigating/contacting various companies, but any further pointers would be appreciated!

I'm starting to see how shipping a bike might be easier in terms of insurance, but it's a lot of extra money and time that I'd like to avoid if possible!

Any info would be amazing.
Cheers,
Stevie.

Stevie,
:rofl: when I read this! Sorry.

You will see why if you read this thread:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-vehicle-61877

ps
For the insurance issue, the most recent reference I have to this is post number 172 in this thread (the "sticky" grand daddy of them all about insurance):-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...cheap-34822-12
For the registered keeper (RK) address issue, there are loads of ideas about that in the sticky threads within this forum.

Anyway, the Canucks can sort it out, so can you:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...and-bike-62949

Thanks for the links, Dave!

Clearly the process is a bit of a pain, but doable. Good to know. :)

Stevie.

Stevie, I had very similar circumstances - Aussie with a UK reg bike.

After phoning dozens of companies who all said no, this guy came to my rescue and negotiated a policy.

He's a broker and a biker.
St.John Canfield-Payne
CanfieldPayne Insurance Consultants Ltd
Tel: 01342 302422 Fax: 01342 301432
The Cravens, Ship Street, East Grinstead, RH19 4DX
jcpayne.canpayne@tamcentraluk.com

Easy as !
 

G'day Stevie,

Read your post and have been there done that !

In my experience, and I guess I'm fortunate to have bought from the right bloke and... I have friends in the UK which I might add....makes all the difference because an address in the UK is the stumbling block.

My advice is to buy privately and ask if you can use the vendors address to register and insure you bike, cheeky yes but it was offered before I had to ask and it worked for me. Offer your details and leave a few quid to forward mail. The whole process took place at the local post office and took an hour before I was on the road.

I have just returned from buying a bike in Spain ......... It took 10 days and it was difficult and very frustrating! Again the vendor offered his address ! However it could have taken a month and consider myself again fortunate to have completed the task in just 10 days. Thankfully you will have the advantage as they speak english in the UK, well kinda !

As far as insurance goes I would try Alliance, they have been great in the past and even in Spain it was a painless exercise, the price was 250 Euro for 12 months, sure I could have cancelled after I left and claimed a rebate but I just might go back :-)

Get in touch should you require any more info.

Regards Dave

There is absolutely no problem buying a bike in Ireland and riding it to Europe. If anybody needs help, don't hesitate to contact me.
My email is sfadvmoto@gmail.com

Stevie,

I am in EXACTLY the same boat as you, but 34y/o, Aussie, full motorcycle license.

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread. And thanks to Wheatwhacker, who I've 'met' over on ADVRider - he comes with resounding accolades from everyone who's dealt with him and seems like an absolutely top-shelf guy.

The bike I want to buy is an 07 Isle of Man Edition K7 GSX-R 750, and unfortunately, there does not seem to be any for sale in Ireland :'(

Hi, I would like to buy a used bike in Ireland next May, ride it around Europe for four months, then re-sell it back in Ireland? Can you help me with this? Thanks.

Mark Renshaw
Phoenix, Arizona USA

MYTH BUSTED: Aussie bought bike in UK easy!
 

I have just bought a bike in the UK, from a dealer, insured it, and got tax and am a legal bike owner in the UK.

Arrange insurance through Bennett's (bad rep, but you're paying for the paperwork) - state bike is garaged, costs HEAPS less. All you need is an English address to register bike to, i used friend's parents place, and they dont even send you mail there if you dont want - all email.

Get MOT (i got mine from dealer) and was in and out of post office within 10 mins. £30 at post office.

Easy.

Sorry have held out for so long, i've been waiting to make sure it all worked before posting this.

Enjoy!

Just came on this post.
For what it's worth, Mark's bike is sitting in my barn right now awaiting collection this summer.
It's not a very complex thing but, does take a lot of trust from both the buyer, seller and me. So far, there have been no hiccups and every transaction has gone smoothly.
For less than the cost of shipping, you can easily buy a bike here in Ireland or the UK, ride it, drop it, smack it, whatever, and sell it when your done.
No shipping stress, no waiting for your bike at a port, no being without your bike for a month, no expensive rental issues, no huge payments for a scratch on a rental, zero stress. Of course the bike you buy may have an issue here and there but, really, it's all part of the immersion experience.