Getting a British MoT on an Australian registered bike
 

I have a New South Wales, Australia, registered bike currently stored in the UK. Our registration renewal process requires you to get an annual safety inspection before they will take your money / issue the document.

I have spoken with the local staff who have checked their rule books and confirmed that when the vehicle is out of country they will accept a local inspection covering the same areas (lights, wheels, leaks etc) as an acceptable equivalent. Based on this they say they will accept a British MoT certificate backed up by a piece of paper from the garage listing the items checked (since as fara as I'm aware the MoT certificate doesn't explicitly state this). Just to add an extra complication they also noted they can only accept either (i) the original document hand delivered or (ii) a scanned copy sent direct from the test station (ie you can't scan and send it yourself - maybe they don't trust us!)

Questions:
(i) For any Australians reading this: Anybody done this successfully with the NSW RMS? Did the practice match the promises I have been given?
(ii) For Brits reading this: Will there be any issues with getting a British garage to issue an MoT certificate to a foreign registered bike? I've emailed a couple - but so far no replies.

Many thanks for your help.

Book an MOT and ask them to put down the chassis number as the system won't accept the registration number, it is what you would do if registering a foreign or imported bike in the UK, I have recently done it with a Honda I imported. If asked it might be better to tell them it is part of the process for registering it in the UK even if you aren't, test centres should be familiar with this.

Mark,

Thanks for that info.

Additional question if I may - are there any issues in passing the MoT with having a kilometer per hour speedo?

All the best

Hi There,

the UK MOT system actually asks the tester to confirm if the distance covered reading is displayed in either miles of kms, so there's no problem.

Regards

Reggie

goodluck Martin, are you extending the carnet or getting a new one?

I think you need to refer to the MSVA inspection manual on which MOT inspections are based. Specifically look at section 4.1 on "speedometers", and you will find that the law in force as of August 1st 2014, requires speedos to be marked in MPH. They can be marked in both MPH &KPH, but not KPH on it`s own. A paper cut out and stick on is not acceptable.

As the MOT system is now completely computerised,it will neither recognise a foregin reg no or frame no, and you may get asked for a Cert of Conformity and other papers proving re regsitration application before they will test it.

(You will have to google the manual, as Govt web site link is not copyable)

(Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Inspection Manual August 14 revision).

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...sva-manual.pdf

207 pages of lovely bedtime reading :funmeterno:

Ok .. it may 'fail' the MOT.doh But provided the inspector will provide the information as to why it failed and sent that to the Ozie NSW RMS .. and they accept that it meets their regs .. then it should get the NSW rego ..

I think that providing the old NSW inspection thingy so the MOT tester can see it and see what it has to 'pass' then it should 'make sense'. :confused1: Needs some common sense on both sides .. And as it does not fit in the NSW RMS easily then you may get a person who can apply that 'common sense' that a computer cannot. And may be the MOT tester can also apply some 'common sense' too.

Sense is far from common where VOSA are concerned.

I think what the OP wants is an inspection to MOT standards. No need to involve the VOSA database unless the MOT/DVLA are chasing for a more permanent import. A decent garage can just write this on their headed letter.

Andy

I wonder what would happen if the OP was keeping his bike in France.. No MOT 's for bikes here, or road tax :)

It can be tested. I've done a few foreign bikes.

I can create a new record on the VSI database. Need the chassis number, date of first use etc.

The test is only a safety certificate. It doesn't make a foreign bike automatically .. 'Legal'

But you won't be able to tax a bike without an MOT. And any insurance will be invalid without one (unless it states otherwise)..

It still needs registration, insurance and road tax.

As regards the speedo in km, I've got a "grey import" from japan that's been MOT'd for the last 15 years with mph stickers on it. The registration plate might be a problem though. I suggest you talk to a few MOT test centres. Their answers may well not be the same.

Speedo is not part of the MOT.. The bike doesn't even need one.

FFS, your bike doesn't even need an engine to pass an MOT... Seriously.

It can be tested. I've had my foreign registered car done a few times as it simplifies insurance and the production of documents for the police if they pull you for any thing from speeding to not in the road tax database to "It must be stolen...." (because it is not registered at Swansea)

As stated above a record on the VSI database is reqired This can be against the chassis number and so on.

Tax is still purchased in the foreign jurisdiction.

Some countries do not require a MOT or equivalence.
UK Insurance companies will query this!

Everyone, many thanks for your replies. They make me reasonably confident I should be able to organise the MOT test and get something to satisfy our local authorities.

In case you wonder why I'm bothering and not just photo-shopping a "new" up to date registration and saving the several hundred dollars my local registration costs (most of which is compulsory insurance which provides no coverage outside Australia) it is because in mid 2015 I want to get a carnet and I'm told the local provider may do a check with the local registration people to confirm registration is current. Anyone got any experience on this?

Anyway in a couple of months time I'll let you know how it all went.