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UK or Germany - Any advice for buying a bike??? UK or Germany - Any advice for buying a bike???
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  #1  
Old 1 Mar 2009
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UK or Germany - Any advice for buying a bike???
Hi Folks.
I'm living in Kazakhstan, and want to buy a bike in Europe and drive it to Kaz. Originally I thought I was going to fly into Frankfurt, buy the bike there, get 1 year export plates and drive to Kaz. (1 year because it'll give me the chance to decide if I'll be in Kaz in 2010/11.)

Since now I'm flying into London, I have an option.

1. Fly/Rail to Germany and follow the original plan.

2. Buy in the UK.

For option 2, would I be able to register and keep it registered as a UK bike without residency. (I'm Canadian, but I don't think that really helps) It would be much easier than importing and exporting the bike if/when I leave Kaz.

Does anyone know what the export plate situation is in the UK. I've looked, but found nothing.

Any help, advice would be welcom.
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  #2  
Old 1 Mar 2009
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Couple of points -

Germany only has 1 month export plates as far as I know, well did last year.

UK - see the thread about the UK's perpetual registration. I am not aware of any export plate scheme in the UK.
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  #3  
Old 1 Mar 2009
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If you are looking in Germany a good site is mobile.de

Steve
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  #4  
Old 1 Mar 2009
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If possible or practical. I would recommend buying in the uk if second hand and registering in France.
second hand bikes are cheaper in uk. Especially due to currency rates.
French registered bikes ( at the moment) do not need MOT or road tax. I would have cheap 3rd party french insurance and buy separately wherever this did not apply.
as an exampe I pay 86 euros a year for my 1985 BMW R80RT 3rd party and mediacl care rider and passenger. last year I had a cable short out and was stuck for two days, they paid the 90 euros ( hotel bill) whilst I waited for repair parts.
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  #5  
Old 1 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveindenmark View Post
If you are looking in Germany a good site is mobile.de
Also AutoScout24 Europas Automarkt für Gebrauchtwagen und Neuwagen

In the UK, try Auto Trader UK - Buy & Sell New & Used Cars, Car Loans, Car Insurance

There is no export plate scheme here in the UK as far as I know. However, you can declare a bike as scrapped or exported but then you have the problem that you can't legally ride it in the UK as it would be unregistered. If you did ride it and were caught, I'm fairly sure you would have the bike seized/crushed by police.

I think most UK sellers would be reluctant to sell a bike to you without a UK address anyway, as the DVLA would be unable to send the new registration document out to you.
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  #6  
Old 3 Mar 2009
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well...
Thanks for the replies.
I won't go the France route just because dealing with the French wothout knowing the language can be more a pain than it's worth.
Being Canadian, and guessing since we inherited GB's flair for the bureaucratic, it's not worth it either. I want to look at a bike, buy it, and be gone right away. Whether it's possible in the UK, I don't know. Prices actually seem pretty close to or worse than Germany for the bike I want (either a Tenere or another Africa Twin).
Also, there is a fair bit of info on German export plates, including that they are available for up to a year, which may suit me better.
If any of you still have advice to share, please do.
Cheers,
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  #7  
Old 3 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RogerM View Post
Germany only has 1 month export plates as far as I know, well did last year.
this is wrong...
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  #8  
Old 4 Mar 2009
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Export plates Germany
Hi Macosie,

check this thread: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...=export+plates

I posted all the information you need. The infos are directly from the licensing office in Munich.

In short: Export plates are valid up to one year, depending on for how long you buy them. The expiry date is stamped on the plates. The first three months are free. An insurance can be obtained at the rego office or from any insurance company. And you don't need a residential address in Germany for such a deal.

Good luck!
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  #9  
Old 4 Mar 2009
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Originally Posted by Vaufi View Post
In short: The first three months are free. An insurance can be obtained at the rego office or from any insurance company.
Hans
hello hans et al.
nothing is for free except death and even for this you have to pay.
of course you have to pay a fee at strassenverkehrsamt for registration and paperwork and for the plate(s), plus the money for insurance.
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  #10  
Old 4 Mar 2009
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answer me this
I'm wondering, would it be possible, or even worth it to register the bike in Germany. I have family in Berlin, and eventually plan to live in Germany for a while. If I can keep the bike registered and insured in Berlin, and have it in Kaz (possible from Kaz point of view) it may be worth while for me.

Talk me out of this if it is possible but a horribly stupid thing to do.
recap:
option 1. buy the bike in Germany, get export plates + insurance. Drive to Kaz. Drive for a year, and import it if I stay another year. (import fees and duty and insurance/registration to be purchased.)

option 2. (theoretical at this time) Buy the bike in Germany, register + insure it in Germany. Drive it around Kaz and where ever I go. Move to Germany, and bring the bike back. (pay temporary importation fees in Kaz)

Thanks for all the advice you you've given.
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  #11  
Old 9 Mar 2009
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Question any foreigners register a bike in Germany with family
Still wondering if it's a possibility. I'm not sure what documents are needed to prove residency, especially if I don't have anything other than a tourist visa.
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  #12  
Old 9 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by macosie View Post
Still wondering if it's a possibility. I'm not sure what documents are needed to prove residency, especially if I don't have anything other than a tourist visa.
are you talking about german or kaz residency?
i thought we had emphasized, that you don´t to be a german resident to purchase, register and insure a bike in germany.
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  #13  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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almost
Quote:
Originally Posted by airhead View Post
are you talking about german or kaz residency?
i thought we had emphasized, that you don´t to be a german resident to purchase, register and insure a bike in germany.
I'm talking about registering the bike in Germany, but not with export plates, because I'm hoping to move to Germany in 2010 or 2011. It would be easier just to have the bike registered there rather than registering in Kaz and then re-importing to Germany a year or two later, which seems like a waste.

I'm hoping to use my aunt or uncle's address as a home base, but I'm not sure that is enough.
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