Border crossing with company registered bike?
 

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Straightforward? Pain in the arse?

I know that not having the V5 in your own name can mean 'no entry', but what if the bike is registered in the name of a company owned by the rider?

Thanks

I have the same problem in the US. I, as the director of the Montana LLC that legally owns the motorhome, had to draft an authorisation for myself as the driver, to cross the border into Mexico.

In Germany we have another vehicle but to get around prohibition on non-EU people registering and insuring a vehicle, the company we bought it off acts as our proxy and registers and insures it in their name. We carry a letter from the company identifying us as the real owners but it is in German and does not show our passport details. Getting into Morocco was a hassle but luckily the sensible customs bloke just pushed the paperwork across to me and suggested I add my name under the company's. In that case the documents had been filled out by the ticket seller in Spain and it was my first border crossing so didn't know the ropes.
Next hiccup was getting into Turkey - same problem but mainly because of language and no passport details on the letter. No way would she budge. Luckily another officer came along who could speak German and English and he smoothed the way.

So I suggest you arrange for some sort of certified letter, preferably including translations of whatever languages are likely to work wherever you are going. Ideally it probably should be a Power of Attorney or equivalent but I imagine something signed by a JP or Clerk of the Court with some fancy stamps would also work as long as both parties and the vehicle are fully described and referenced
We haven't had problems anywhere else in Europe or the Balkans but I guess the german plates are enough even though the owner's and our details don't match. I'd suggest you will strike problems if you go into the 'stans or Russia so it is worth being prepared

(Obviously you could take along your company documents but trouble might be that there is nothing tying it to your documentation and the customs officer needs some non-forgeable document to do that, and the passport works best.

You don't mention which borders, but I guess you have to plan for worst case. In South America they may pick up the discrepancies but they there are many overlanders getting around with technically borrowed vehicles and there you use a PODER to smooth the way. I have the name of the company as my full name so that is what appears on the registration papers and nobody ever noticed the "LLC" on the end so I never needed the PoA anyway.
If you are going places needing a Carnet then there may be further complications that can't be overcome so of course having all paperwork matching is certainly going to be the best solution

Many thanks for your reply Tony. Much appreciated.

There's a few things in there I hadn't thought of.

Funny you should mention Morocco. That's the first border I'll encounter.

Could you not simply add your name onto current V5? (Title)
In most USA states a title can show multiple owners, including a company and an individual person, both shown as owners.

Perhaps this is possible in the UK?

Here in California it's a two minute process with DMV, filling in a form, paying a small fee. Done. New title arrives in mail with BOTH names shown.

I have a Mercedes overland truck registered in the name of our company.

When entering Morocco, we always have to provide a letter from myself on company headed paper stating that I authorise the named drivers to drive the vehicle.

The drivers have to show this letter along with the V5 to be allowed into the country.

From Morocco on into West Africa the carnet is sufficient, even though it is in the company name.

Totally agree with Dave here, same approach, with 0 problems until now,

cheers
Dooby

Thanks for your reply guys, much appreciated.

Mollydog - I'll look into that with the DVLA...if the automated 'contact' system will let me :mad2:

DMV offices are great in that you get to speak to a real person :thumbup1:

I managed to email the DVLA regarding this and here's there reply. Looks good to me :thumbup1:

DVLA - "Yes, you are able to register the vehicle with your company and your name. You will need to fill in the relevant section of the V55 Application to Register and Tax a Vehicle.

If you are registering the vehicle to your company, you should submit two of the following, one of which must show their address, with the rest of application:

• Companies House registration certificate (embossed).
• VAT registration certificate.
• A utility bill sent to your business dated within the last three months
• A National Non-Domestic Rate bill or Northern Ireland rates bill
• A Bank/Building Society statement for your business dated within the last 3 months
• A certificate of company insurance
• A letter from HM Revenue & Customs showing the company details and tax reference number
• Company mortgage statement
• A property leasing agreement
• A solicitor’s letter relating to the purchase of your business premises
• A consumer credit licence

Wow! The Brits are stiffening things up, eh? That's a load of paperwork to simply add on your name onto an already existing V5 title document.

Seems DVLA would already have details they need as the vehicle is currently listed under a commercial keeper?

Here in CA you just give them the name ... that's it. Pay your $20 fee and done.

Hope it goes smooth! bier