Help with importing a bike

[iamgigglz]

I hope someone here can help me get back on two wheels

I've recently moved from South Africa to the UK. I couldn't face selling my 990 Adventure so I brought it with me, but three months later she's still sitting on the battery charger with a ZA plate.

 

I have:

• Original South African registration document
• The NOVA/TOR clearance document from HMRC
• A "Letter of Authenticity" from KTM UK (which cost me £180...)
• A UK passport and proof of residence/address
   

As far as I can tell I need to now submit a V55/5 form, after which I can do the MOT and get a plate made, but I'm not certain of the order of those steps.

The V55/5 form asks for a "Type approval number/category", which comes from the "Certificate of Conformity". Either that or I can provide an "Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) certificate".

 

I don't know where to get either of those things, or whether I actually need them. Please can someone help me through this red tape?

 

Edit - added proof of life

 

Edited January 9, 2024 by iamgigglz
Added a pic

[Ian Frog]

Hi

I am sure you can check the details required with one of the regular importers on ebay like DK who bring in a lot of bikes from the states etc for the restoration guys.

Don`t be surprised if the info requires a donation lol.

I believe the cert of conformity info might be covered by the letter of authenticity then an MOT based on frame number following which number plate can be issued but please check with the experts last time I imported a bike it was from the Channel isles and Cosmo Classic bikes of Hastings helped me with the paperwork and it was a long time ago.

Good luck.

Cheers

Ian

[Lacey]

I'm not really up on my KTMs, but seems like that one might be over 10 years old? If so you don't need a certificate of conformity, and you can leave that part of it blank and it makes the form a whole lot easier. I brought a bike in from Australia so went through all this - I found this site to be handy:https://www.spannerrash.com/how-to-fill-in-a-v55-form/

 

There was a lot of the form that I didn't fill in, yet it was accepted without issue. You don't need numbers for emissions etc. I got insurance based on the VIN with the understanding that I'd provide the insurance company with the number plate once it was registered. I then rode it to the MOT station - you can drive an unregistered vehicle if you're going to a pre-booked MOT and have appropriate insurance. I did the MOT before the registration, again, it can be done on the VIN.

I can't remember now if I had to get the MOT first or not, but I'm 99% sure I did on the bike and on the car I brought in, then once the V5s came through I was straight off to get plates made up and I was on the road. It's a good feeling when you get there!

[Lacey]

Oh something else - I wasn't sure of what to send tax-wise and that corner of the form had me pretty confused. I sent a cheque for my best guess, and the DVLA quickly got in touch with a refund for the extra.

[iamgigglz]

3 hours ago, Lacey said:

I'm not really up on my KTMs, but seems like that one might be over 10 years old? If so you don't need a certificate of conformity, and you can leave that part of it blank and it makes the form a whole lot easier. I brought a bike in from Australia so went through all this - I found this site to be handy:https://www.spannerrash.com/how-to-fill-in-a-v55-form/

 

There was a lot of the form that I didn't fill in, yet it was accepted without issue. You don't need numbers for emissions etc. I got insurance based on the VIN with the understanding that I'd provide the insurance company with the number plate once it was registered. I then rode it to the MOT station - you can drive an unregistered vehicle if you're going to a pre-booked MOT and have appropriate insurance. I did the MOT before the registration, again, it can be done on the VIN.

I can't remember now if I had to get the MOT first or not, but I'm 99% sure I did on the bike and on the car I brought in, then once the V5s came through I was straight off to get plates made up and I was on the road. It's a good feeling when you get there!

 

Very useful info. Thanks very much!

 

Edit - cracker of a first forum post, too! Welcome.

Edited January 9, 2024 by iamgigglz

[Lacey]

Thanks! I just searched for a UK forum to join and yours was the first post that jumped out at me - I feel your pain, it's really not the clearest process when you're doing it yourself, and I couldn't wait to get back on two wheels!

[Joe85]

On 09/01/2024 at 14:53, iamgigglz said:

I hope someone here can help me get back on two wheels

I've recently moved from South Africa to the UK. I couldn't face selling my 990 Adventure so I brought it with me, but three months later she's still sitting on the battery charger with a ZA plate.

 

I have:

• Original South African registration document
• The NOVA/TOR clearance document from HMRC
• A "Letter of Authenticity" from KTM UK (which cost me £180...)
• A UK passport and proof of residence/address
   

As far as I can tell I need to now submit a V55/5 form, after which I can do the MOT and get a plate made, but I'm not certain of the order of those steps.

The V55/5 form asks for a "Type approval number/category", which comes from the "Certificate of Conformity". Either that or I can provide an "Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) certificate".

 

I don't know where to get either of those things, or whether I actually need them. Please can someone help me through this red tape?

 

Edit - added proof of life

 

For the MSVA you need to take the bike to a test centre for inspection to ensure conformance with UK roads/law.

 

You have to fill a form out online stating your preferred test centre. After a few weeks they’ll email you took a date/time.
 

Once completed you send that, along with proof of import fees and duty paid, and proof of ownership, proof of address etc to the DVLA, who will then issue you a V5C and Reg for a small fee.

Edited January 10, 2024 by Joe85

[Joe85]

I think you can avoid the MSVA if you can get a letter of conformance from KTM. Doubt they’ll do it though.