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  #1  
Old 28 Nov 2008
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Question Export: India To England (!?)
I'm trying to export an Enfield from Bombay to England, seems shipping isn't a problem but does anybody know what costs and taxes I'm likely to accure on the bikes arrivial in England ie. Iport tax, VAT, emissions testing...........?
Its a '97 model 350cc Bullet.
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Old 28 Nov 2008
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Dunno about Enfields but I've just paid about £500 for taxes, import duty and testing etc for my Dr650 from Australia. The Customs & Excise costs were based on 10% import duty plus Vat on the value they put on the bike. I had to have an SVA test done which was a total pain in the ass, only took 2 months in total to get a registration number but could probably done it a little faster.
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  #3  
Old 28 Nov 2008
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A bunch of Finns bought Enfields from Delhi, and rode them home. A great trip, but nobody ever got them registered here, and I dont remember why exactly (because this was in 1998) but I´d guess it was something about compatibility with the EU regulations. Bikes bought in India are usually ´Indian type´, and the ones that the importing companies sell in Europe are ´Euro type´... think it must´ve been something to do with this.

They were actually mad at the importer here, who refused to issue them a paper stating that those bikes meet the regulations, which was something the importer couldnt do, because according to the law, they in fact didnt. Still a very nice ´souvenir´, I think!
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  #4  
Old 29 Nov 2008
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My brother rode an old one home a few years ago (about 2000), I'll ring him & see what he did, I know that it all took a while to get it legally on the road.

Kira
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  #5  
Old 30 Nov 2008
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Think that that was a bit of an understatement 'I know it took him a while to get it legally on the road' - it's actually covered in tarps on the road still on Pakistani plates.

He bought a BSA M20 in Pakistan, rode it around India & then back to the UK, he got it into the UK without paying duty as he'd run out of money & couldn't afford the ferry fare from Calais, so put it on the back of an empty Irish truck & got a lift over the channel with some kind driver, who then dropped him on the M25 so therefore bypassed customs! I seem to remember him having a carnet for it to bring it through Iran/Turkey etc ...

He said that getting it registered is fairly straightforward (when he gets around to it, it might not be!) just ring the DVLA & they'll guide you through apparently!

If you're in Bristol, he's not too far down the road from you!

Kira
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Old 30 Nov 2008
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I believe that vehicles imported to the EU, must comply to the homologation of the same make/type of vehicle that are already been sold here. Otherwise getting them registered here may be a big problem (and I think that´s where it went wrong with the Finnish group in 1998).

A friend of mine brought a Goldwing from the US a couple of years ago, and needed to change the headlight units and all indicators, before he could get that done. But at least the similar version of the GW was already sold here, so on top of that, he only needed the paper, that states, that the vehicle imported is otherwise fully comparable to the EU-type version ("Coc-paper", maybe? Im not 100% sure, if that is correct).
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Old 30 Nov 2008
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Thanks
Thanks to all who have contributed so far, I'm still trying to search around at the moment for more info so far. If anyone knows of anybody or any sites that may be of further use to me, could you forward them. Would be a shame to have to leave it in India.
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  #8  
Old 30 Nov 2008
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I am pretty sure that you have two options.....

Certificate of conformity from the manufacturer showing that the vehicle meets UK / EU specs & regs.

or...

SVA Test (single vehicle approval) which is like a more indepth MOT. There are test stations dotted about that can do this test. You could build a bike or car out of bits of old washing machines and angle-iron then apply for an SVA so you should be able to sort your bike.

This might help a bit

The regulations concerning the SVA / ESVA are fairly complex, but the basic rules are as follows:
All passenger vehicles with 8 seats or less and goods vehicles with a G.V.W of less than 3500kg need to show compliance to ESVA standard unless it falls into these catagories:
1. Left hand drive vehicle
2. Personally imported vehicle (with proof of overseas usage)
3. Amateur built vehicle
4. A vehicle manufactured in very low volume
5. A vehicle manufactured using parts of a registered vehicle (manufacturers only)
6. A rebuilt vehicle
7. A motor caravan (optional)
8. An ambulance (optional)
9. A hearse
10. An armoured vehicle
These vehicles require a standard SVA test only, and are not subject to the enhanced regulations. Any vehicle over ten years old does not require any SVA / ESVA testing.

Full information regarding the regulations can be found at : www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/pdf/dft_roads_pdf_506874.pdf
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  #9  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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?
Does anybody know if it is possible to ship to France instead and then drive England. Maybe this would mean I don't need the import tax as it is leaving the country thats its being imported to- make sense?
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  #10  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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I'd be careful with that idea; you could ship it to France but French customs would probably make a meal out of it.

You'd then ideally need to register it here (you'd need an address to use) before taking it onto the UK ... to get around the UK duty.

You could always do as my brother did, stick it on the back of a truck over the channel & deal with registering it in the UK later!

Kira
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  #11  
Old 6 Dec 2008
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You can only avoid the tax if you've been outside the EU continuously for 12 months.
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