Registering a french plated bike in UK?

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WesleyDRZ400
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Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by WesleyDRZ400 »

Brought a french plated bike, to save me time searching online has anyone else registered a french bike in the UK?
i will have a receipt and Cession de Vente / Carte Gris
reedro72
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by reedro72 »

I registered a Ktm 640 adventure last year with French plates , had to get a letter of conformity from Ktm uk by showing them frame and engine no in a picture , then got forms from Dvla which looks like a blank v5 filled all them in from the conformity cert from Ktm as has all the details you need on it and had to fill a excise form in which I done through my company as need a vat no but there was no import duty on it as paid £2000 for bike ( May be more if bike is more expensive not sure ?) then had to mot bike and insure bike on frame nos only then sent all this off and got a log book back after about 2 weeks or so , bit of a headache but done it
SteveW
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by SteveW »

Good luck Wesley, I tried it last year, I thought I'd done everything correctly.
The good ladies at the DVLA sent my application back with loads of Red ink comments scribbled on it, I felt like a naughty school boy. I didn't bother reapplying.
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Chris S
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by Chris S »

I brought in a Dutch WR last year, partly to find out about the EU import process.
What a palaver! I'm sure importing XRLs from Ozzie 15 years ago was easier.
It took about 3 months because I think I was slow on the NOVA or VCA (didnt even know, tbh), which delayed the MoT or DVLA or something.
Get on the one which only needs the VIN + carte gris copy, asap.

This is all from memory:

Leave Fr with the right dox - carte gris like you say + a export doc? (I got smth issued in NL from an 'RAC'-like kiosk in a shopping centre for €100; also got temp insurance which was handy).

Send off VAT form to Customs with copies of logbook.
They send letter saying you're VAT-cleared as its EU.

Apply for NOVA (new vehicle) certificate.

Get a European certificate of conformity from the manufacturer (free or cheap and quick, iirc)

Certficate from VCA - another quango. (not sure about the order of these last 3)

Prepare bike for MoT (I had to buy a left dip light and prove my digital speedo could flip to MPH)

Get MoT - Nearly there - have firework party!

Get insurance (can get on a #VIN for a month? then will need a UK rego).

Apply with DVLA with all the above dox or info from them.
take your time/get a copy as it's got to be 100& right as SteveW found. If all well you get a rego number. Halleluia; you're on the road ;-)


Cost at least 2-300 quid + the travel and took 3 months. Could have done it in < half that had I known.
Overall I'd not bother again unless it was an usual bike/good deal (like to think mine was).
But now I know.

Good luck
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catcitrus
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by catcitrus »

Firstly I didn't think the speedo was part of the MOT?--maybe single type approval? Having registered a couple of imports I've started with the original import doc, then got confirmation of the bike through the manufacturer/one make club, then the NOVA clearance--thats just import duty/VAT--if its old then there is normally nothing to pay. Then MOT on the frame number--and THEN the DVLA for an age related plate. I must admit that I had serious trouble with the DVLA as its all agency staff and they couldn't give a monkey's--and they don't know what they are doing. I eventually ended up dealing with a section supervisor direct and got it through without a problem. I did pay for a specialist in these basket cases--in Bristol I think--because he knows how to fill the forms in and how to deal with the NOVA scheme , DVLA etc--but even he was tearing his hair out at the lack of knowledge and professionalism of the DVLA agency muppets--they just love to put a red line through things as that is actually easier than getting you a reg number!
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Chris S
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by Chris S »

I think if you have a speedo it must show in mph, same as if you have a light it must dip left (and if you have ind switch there must be inds, etc)
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I am spadger
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by I am spadger »

Just done this with two bikes from Germany , the process is exactly the same , depending on age of bike a cert of conformity may be required . Initially and within 14 days of import you have to notify hmrc of the importation of the bike , this is done on their website although you need a government gateway log in to do it , you may still be able to submit a paper notification but will need to ring and ask , the process once into system pretty simple , you are then emailed a nova no and reference , print this off , which is required by dvla , as it's a Euro bike no vat will be charged as it's paid at source in EU, then you need to ring dvla for an import pack , form v55/5 , fill this in , keep it simple , you will require , proof of address, licence, or passport , the bike needs to be insured and mot'd ( the insurance was the biggest pain as it's done on frame no as is mot and some policies only allow 30 days , I did it through bikesure they allowed 60 . Make sure all no's match on mot . You then need to send the docs in with v55/5 including original reg documents from France , you don't need receipt ( although on nova you put in address of purchase etc ) you don't need any import doc s as it's from EU , you need 50 odd quid for registration plus a years tax in cheque form , you will not get reg doc returned so copy of you wish , it took me four weeks from submission due to error by mot not inc all the recorded no's letters of frame no as per log book this must match as should date of first registration with nova/ mot / log book / v55/5 , think that's it , John , as for ins and outs of speedo / headlight , it probably depends on your not man I didn't have an issue
Tonibe63
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by Tonibe63 »

A mate moved from the UK to Switzerland and took his beloved 1985 KLR650 with him. To register it he had to return it back to standard spec before going through an inspection. Eventually he jumped through all the right hoops and got a Swiss plate on it but it would have been cheaper and easier to sell in UK and buy a bike out there.
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catcitrus
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Re: Registering a french plated bike in UK?

Post by catcitrus »

That description sounds spot on--I used a "specialist" for the NOVA registration etc--cost 100 quid but he knew his stuff and what was needed--I just did the MOT etc. On one of my NXs it was allegedly a "barn find" but someone had substituted an under the counter bike (US import) for one on the original registration--this was spotted at an MOT and the DVLA withdrew the registration. I bought it after a poor Polish guy in London had spent over a year trying to get it re-registered--and even got the frame number over stamped with THE DVLA recommended number--they wanted to put it on a "new" registration because its age was indeterminate--and that attracts a single type approval inspection at one of the only 4 inspection places in the UK. Now we are talking about an 89 bike!--he gave up!. Fortunately it still had the original riveted plate (which is what the MOT tester Should look at I believe?). I then got certificates of manufacture from Honda UK and Honda Motorsports US--the US certificate was free--the UK one wasn't!
I then did some frame "modification" and restamped the correct VIN on the headstock--again! I started from fresh with the DVLA as though the bike was a recent import and finally got it registered on an age related plate--in fact the bike was now correct in all respects and genuine--engine and frame numbers matched from Japan. There are a number of hoops to jump through but if its genuine then its possible.
On the headlight all "old" japanese bikes have a flat dip so it should pass the beam test--none of this up at the right or left nonsense.? (I've had several and never had a problem). I've had a couple of BMs from Europe (old ones) and they have had km/h speedos--all that is necessary is to mark off the relevant UK speed limits--30 etc--but I don't think that is even necessary. I have a kawa with a digital speedo display thats in km/h--and can't be changed--and its passed several UK MOTs in different places without a problem. If anyone objects I could make up a little stick on legend with the conversions! (I can do the conversions in my head anyway). My Yam has a speedo drive signal generator off the gearbox so every time you change gearing its way off anyway--even if it does read mph!. The Kawa has a digital pick up off the front wheel so has a much better chance of being reasonably accurate!--speedos are NOT tested for accuracy at the MOT!--again I agree its up to the MOT tester--if anyone would like to quote the testing manual then that would be helpful. Its a bit like number plate illumination--its NOT part of the MOT but IS in construction and use --so you can be prosecuted for not having one. On indicators you DON'T have to have a tell tale as long as you can see the indicators from the riding position--I'm sure that there are other funny ones!
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