Bringing an African bike to Europe with no CBT
 

Hello,

I am planning on riding from Ghana to the UK, leaving late Feb and travelling over about 4 months. I own a Ghanaian bike and with this in mind, have some questions:

Is there any problem in taking a bike with African number plates into Spain/France? My research leads me to believe that it’s fine (to pass through) and that I can also take the bike into the UK, as long as I register it with HMRC within 14 days of entering the country. Has anyone does this before and did they experience any problems? I don't have a carnet and do not plan on getting one.

Also, as I learnt to ride a bike in Ghana and have not been back to the UK, I have never taken a CBT. I have a full British car license but that does not cover me on the bike (owing to engine size). As such, I was planning on entering the UK and driving immediately to my home, where I would not use the bike until I had passed the CBT. I’m not sure on the legality of my idea but can anyone advise on how stupid they think it is? My view was if I am pulled over, the British police are usually reasonable enough. However, obviously it is a risk…

Thanks in advance

Hi again.

If you have a Motorbike license from Ghana then you should be ok but if you can get an IDP from Ghana that would be very handy as well.

Just finished a trip from East China to the UK on a Chinese plated bike and like you I don't have a UK CBT but at no time was I stop by the police in the UK and I would think not many Chinese plated motorbikes make it to the UK?.
So I was expecting to be stop but it just didn't happen.
I had a conversation with a Traffic cop who was riding a motorbike and was stopped at a service station on the M4.
And I did ask about my Chinese DL and "he" said if he had stopped me for some reason it would not have been his concur about what country DL I was riding with but only that it covered me to ride a motorbike and that it was valid?.

And it was down to DVLA people to check matters like that?.
How true that is I don't know, can only pass on what the traffic cop said.


Pictures say 1000 words.


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Hi again!

Firstly, thanks for your responses and amazing pictures. I would love to hear more about your journey. Do you have a blog/site?

Your experience of using a Chinese plated bike in the UK is interesting – and gives me some confidence. I actually already have a British issued IDP. However, unfortunately cannot get anything issued in Ghana, as I am not a permanent resident.

Have you registered the Chinese bike in the UK? If so, how was that experience?

Thanks

Sorry no and don't want to live back in the UK so didn't consider that option?

The start of Blog here .....http://thelongwayhome.simplesite.com/428678170

Not back home to China yet, should be back by end of May 2017 then I should have time to finish the blog.

Rory, I do believe you'll only need to tell HMRC about the bike if you are permanently importing it to the UK and it is under 2 years and 20,000 miles at the time of entry. My numbers may be wrong on that, so check the HMRC site, it's on there somewhere.

Even if it is under the limits and thus VAT liable make sure you have a receipt which proves you've paid VAT on it in the county of origin.

Oh, the other thing you'll no doubt need is a Certificate of Conformity - if you plan to register in the UK. The manufacturer will provide one, assuming that make and model of bike is approved for UK use.

(Disclaimer: I only have a vague idea about these things because of a daft scheme I came up with to avoid paying VAT on the bike I purchased shortly after moving from the UK to Germany, it led me to do a lot of reading on UK/EU vehicle import rules. I could be completely wrong, but I hope I've been of some vague help!)

Thanks for all the replies. Does anyone know if I will have an issues bringing a non-EU plated motorbike into Spain and France (just to drive through)?

Thanks