Importing Motorcycle to UK - Horizons Unlimited

**kylepreston** · #1 28 Feb 2004

Anyone know what the cost is of importing a motorcycle to the UK? Do you have to pay duty or VAT? Are there any other implications to consider?
I looked up several websites and it appears to indicate that as long as you have owned the bike for more than 6 months and can prove that you paid taxes on it in your home country that you are exempt from paying VAT in the UK? Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Kyle

**Steve Pickford** · #2 28 Feb 2004

Try looking here:

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/welcome.htm

I've registered French & German bikes in the UK in the past, quite easy to do. I think the "over six months & over 6,000km" rule is primarliy aimed at EU citizens within the EU? I'm not sure how it applies to a Canadian citizen.

Steve

**Barry Johnson** · #3 22 Mar 2004

See HM Customs:
http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/graphics/3.pdf

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Barry
3AJ Tenere

**mojo** · #4 15 Jun 2004

We just brought our Aussie registered bikes into the UK and were given 6 months temporary import. After that, according to the customs lady at Tilbury (where we entered), it's no longer a temporary import and you have to pay VAT - AARGH! She said the 6 months applies to the whole of the EU, which is a huge pain as we plan on being here for longer than that... So we are also in a quandry. If anyone has any advice we'd also appreciate it....!

**beddhist** · #5 15 Jun 2004

Mojo,

What you are describing is not an import (subject of this thread). While you are on the road nobody will ever check this kind of documentation. I rode my NZ reg. bike into Europe from Turkey in '89 and there were no formalities whatsoever (apart from a green card check at Greek customs).

You can always leave the EU before the six months are up and then re-enter. There are plenty of land border crossings...

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.