Hi,

I am thinking of buying a bike in France and riding it back home to the UK.

What sort of problems might I expect? will customs and excise stop me?
will I have to pay import duty? insurance?

Sorry if this sounds vague but I have no idea what to expect.

regards, Bob.

This is not as eay as you might think -in fact it's a can of worms and could cause you a lot of stress, and the hassle starts in France.

If you buy a used bike in France, which is French registered, there are controlled procedures of sale which include a declaration of sale by the vendor with a copy to the prefecture, and a copy to you to enable you to register it in your name also at the prefecture. Non French residents or those without a provable French address - like a holiday home- are not legally permitted to register any vehicle in their name. If you can't register it, you can't get it insured. No Insurance no ride.

If you are just wanting to bring a used bike into the U,K., believe me it is easier, far less hassle and probably far less expensive having avoided all the paperwork to use a trailer or a van.

A used vehicle won't attract any VAT on import if TVA has already been paid in France, but make sure you have a recepit to prove it from the vendor. The old system of applying for a Carte Grise ( registration document) for export on a used bike has been scrapped, but you will need a certificate of identity for export from the prefecture where the bike is currently registered.

If it is a brand new bike and it's exported from France with no TVA ( French VAT), you will have to pay U.K. VAT on entry.

HTH.

John

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Hi John,

thanks for the detailed reply. I guess i'll give up on the idea of riding it back to the UK then, picking it up in a van would make it prohibitive cost wise.

I'll keep looking in the UK.

regards, Bob

I have no knowledge of new bike prices in France, but secondhand bikes are cheaper in the UK than in France.