Importing a bike - Am I missing something

[TheHighlander]

Hello All,

I was doing my usual having a nosey on American Ebay at bikes and found a really nice Harley running project.

Harleys are not my thing but more recently I have began to like them anyway.

I found a bike in Illinois and about £3k under UK market value and it's from a dealer I spoke to them and they said they would be happy to help arrange shipping to the UK.

Spoke to the shipping company and the costs seemed cheaper than I thought

$745 to collect in a lorry and delivery to New Jersey
$400 to prep it and stick it in a container etc
$90 customs
$15 for something else I can't mind.

I can have it delivered to Southampton or Milton Keynes and upon collection I pay £330

To me this seems cheap as there is a significant cost saving in me buying the bike from the USA.

I know I need to get it registered in the UK but even then it's still a saving after all of the above.

Have a I missed something?

[Nigel Worc's]

Watching with interest, as Guzzis seem far more plentiful and much cheaper over there !

[stang65]

Surely there's some VAT and duties to pay? Where are they factored in on your numbers? Have a look on the HMRC site for details as I'd guess it depends on the age of the bike etc. I don't know how bikes are dealt with but know classic cars get reduced fees.

[TheHighlander]

The $95 is the customs clearance fee and the $15 is the SOLAS VGM weight

The £330 payment upon collection is the UK fees. The shipping company has sent bike from this dealer all over Europe.

I always had it in my head it would be thousands to buy a bike and have it shipped.

I've spoken to another shipping company and the price is around what I have been quoted as well.

I'm just awaiting to hear back from another company and I think I am going to do it as the man maths add up, the bike is perfect for what I need and in the correct colour, has the right mods, I say rolling project, it's perfect now but I always fettle with bits and make them worse or better haha.

[sjg]

Assuming it's the same as cars and not old enough for the classic reductions then add 10% import duty (on vehicle plus shipping costs) and 20% VAT on that. For my car, shipping, port fees and taxes was all paid here when it arrived.

MOT here, then register (£55 or so, plus first years VED) to get a reg number and get plates made up.

[Bob_Defly]

I shipped a bike from France to Canada, just the shipping was about $1,000, so ~£600. All in it was about £1,700 once all taxes and fees were paid as I had to get it across France first.

Do you have to pay VAT on the price of the bike too?

Also, check you can actually register it. Sometimes if the specific model wasn't sold in the EU you might be in for a headache.

[Pothole]

Will it have a US title proving its age? Save you getting a Q plate. (or is that not a thing any more?)

[TheHighlander]

Pothole said:

Will it have a US title proving its age? Save you getting a Q plate. (or is that not a thing any more?)

Yes it has a US title etc

Its a 1998. I've spoken with the export company who have said the prices they have quoted there is no more I am required to pay.

In the UK I pay the £330 and the bike is mine to take away.

[LuS1fer]

TheHighlander said:

Yes it has a US title etc

Its a 1998. I've spoken with the export company who have said the prices they have quoted there is no more I am required to pay.

In the UK I pay the £330 and the bike is mine to take away.

Don't forget it will be LHD though

[Pothole]

TheHighlander said:

Pothole said:

Will it have a US title proving its age? Save you getting a Q plate. (or is that not a thing any more?)

Yes it has a US title etc

Its a 1998. I've spoken with the export company who have said the prices they have quoted there is no more I am required to pay.

In the UK I pay the £330 and the bike is mine to take away.

California bikes may have emissions control equipment you'd like to remove, too. Make sure you can get the parts.

[black-k1]

LuS1fer said:

TheHighlander said:

Yes it has a US title etc

Its a 1998. I've spoken with the export company who have said the prices they have quoted there is no more I am required to pay.

In the UK I pay the £330 and the bike is mine to take away.

Don't forget it will be LHD though

The headlight will dip the wrong way ...

[TheHighlander]

LHD and the throttle been on the opposite side worries me.

Not sure what to do 😂

[Rushjob]

TheHighlander said:

LHD and the throttle been on the opposite side worries me.

Not sure what to do ??

Ride it in reverse, simples!

[stang65]

TheHighlander said:

In the UK I pay the £330 and the bike is mine to take away.

I've never heard of vehicle imports with zero duties and VAT, but my experience is by friends importing cars not bikes.

With a bit of Google....Motorcycles - generally 6% import duty or 8% import duty for smaller engine size and 20% VAT. is what they say on this site: https://www.specialised-shipping.co.uk/customs
Looking at other sites I'm seeing the same rates. Note the taxes are cumulative so I believe you'll pay VAT on the import duty (and cost of bike, shipping, etc.).

I really don't think you'll be importing without giving the Government a chunk of cash.

[TheHighlander]

stang65 said:

I've never heard of vehicle imports with zero duties and VAT, but my experience is by friends importing cars not bikes.

With a bit of Google....Motorcycles - generally 6% import duty or 8% import duty for smaller engine size and 20% VAT. is what they say on this site: https://www.specialised-shipping.co.uk/customs
Looking at other sites I'm seeing the same rates. Note the taxes are cumulative so I believe you'll pay VAT on the import duty (and cost of bike, shipping, etc.).

I really don't think you'll be importing without giving the Government a chunk of cash.

See I was thinking this as well.

I didn’t think it would be that straight forward, where would I get a coating for the exact amount? The 2 companies I’ve spoken to haven’t mentioned it at all and tell me this is the cost landed.

[KTMsm]

TheHighlander said:

See I was thinking this as well.

I didn’t think it would be that straight forward, where would I get a coating for the exact amount? The 2 companies I’ve spoken to haven’t mentioned it at all and tell me this is the cost landed.

The companies you're talking to only deal with shipping the import costs are paid to HMRC

I'd suggest googling "Import fees" and "Registration fees" I think "NOVA" will bring up results too

I've played with such things in the past but have a poor memory

I'm not seeing the shipping fee in your list either ie from New Jersey to the UK, plus insurance

[sjg]

It’s on you to notify HMRC within 14 days and pay the tax on it (or have a customs agent do all the paperwork for a small fee), not the shipper.

Without that you won’t get a NOVA, and thus won’t be able to register it with the DVLA.

With my car I paid the shipping on arrival in the UK (which I think is the usual thing) - so I paid one sum to the customs agent for shipping, taxes and their £55 fee. I’m guessing the £330 quoted is what you’ll be paying for shipping.

Edited by sjg on Friday 22 October 21:21

Edited by sjg on Friday 22 October 21:25

[Gareth9702]

stang65 said:

I've never heard of vehicle imports with zero duties and VAT, but my experience is by friends importing cars not bikes.

With a bit of Google....Motorcycles - generally 6% import duty or 8% import duty for smaller engine size and 20% VAT. is what they say on this site: https://www.specialised-shipping.co.uk/customs
Looking at other sites I'm seeing the same rates. Note the taxes are cumulative so I believe you'll pay VAT on the import duty (and cost of bike, shipping, etc.).

I really don't think you'll be importing without giving the Government a chunk of cash.

There are no import duties or VAT if the vehicle is shipped as personal property as part of a home relocation. I believe this is the only exemption.

[Simon Cadelic]

Get in touch with HMRC, they will be happy to send you leaflets and information about importing. Different products attach different rates of duty - used motorcycle parts are 1/2 % just as an example, ( so not a big issue).

However the addition of VAT on the whole total ( Bike + shipping + uk import duties) can soon add up to a lot of money. Then someone will make a charge for submitting this and expiditing it on your behalf.

The VAT alone on each grand of the invoice is going to be another 200 notes on the final cost. so lets assume the bike and shipping and all US fees is 10 grand. Import duty at 6% would be £600, then there is the VAT on the £10600 that would be £2120 making it £12720, then the processing fee of £330 bring it to £13050, overall getting on for a third more.

Edited by Simon Cadelic on Saturday 23 October 11:11

[J__Wood]

Quite a good guide at https://www.devittinsurance.com/guides/buying-a-mo...

Duty and VAT in article rate still appears correct based on current commodity code/duty/vat from https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/8...

As said by others Customs Duty (6 % if > 250cc etc) is paid on total of:

the price paid for the goods
postage, packaging and insurance

Then your 20% VAT on all the above added together including the duty (tax on tax...)

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-...

However I'm not a Customs expert so read it all yourself...