UK registration

[LTB]

Hello

I'm looking into buying a bike in the UK and and drive it back to Sweden
so I wonder how UK registration and insurance works when buying a bike.

Am I correct that you have a V5 document that is the document of ownership ?
Are there more docs involved when buying a vehicle?
How do you report change of ownersip to the registration office?

How does insurance work in UK. Is it personal or connected to the vehicle ?
Do you get insurance before buying the vehicle ?
Are the number plated connected to the vehicle or the owner.
In Germany the owner keeps the plates and you need to get new ones
at a registration office before driving the vehicle home.

I'm looking into getting a Tiger 1050 and the price at Autotrader starts at £4750
and in Sweden prices start at about £8000 for a -07 bike.
Even if I probably will need to change the lights to drive on the right hand side
+ cost for travel and registration it will still be worth it, not to mention
that it will be a nice little adventure :-)

[iansoady]

Hello

Am I correct that you have a V5 document that is the document of ownership ?

Strictly it's the registered keeper. It doesn't prove ownership. The registered keeper is responsible for parking fines etc. I understand that the V5C is common across the EU.

Are there more docs involved when buying a vehicle?

Just the usual receipt. If it's more than 3 years old it also needs an MoT certificate (roadworthiness).

How do you report change of ownersip to the registration office?

Change of registered keeper is via the V5C above.

How does insurance work in UK. Is it personal or connected to the vehicle ?

Personal - but tied to specific vehicles. There is a database that has details of whether vehicles are insured or not.

Do you get insurance before buying the vehicle ?

Easaiest to wait till you get it - although get some quotes first. I believe it may be difficult / expensive for a non-UK resident.

Are the number plated connected to the vehicle or the owner.
In Germany the owner keeps the plates and you need to get new ones
at a registration office before driving the vehicle home.

The vehicle - and they are for life, not renewable annually like in some countries. There is also the tax disc - this shows that vehicle licence has been paid. You need insurance and MoT to get this as well as V5C.

I'm looking into getting a Tiger 1050 and the price at Autotrader starts at £4750
and in Sweden prices start at about £8000 for a -07 bike.
Even if I probably will need to change the lights to drive on the right hand side
+ cost for travel and registration it will still be worth it, not to mention
that it will be a nice little adventure :-)

I sold a Norton Commando to a chap from Norway a few years ago and the main problem for him was the import duty as I remember - otherwise straightforward. As Sweden is a member of the EU I would expect it's easier for you.

[Chris Canning]

As incredible as it may sound,all you need is a receipt for the money when you buy the bike,it is up to the UK owner to notify the UK authorities that the bike has been to sold to a european buyer and shipped out of the UK,that is not your problem.

Even riding the bike out of the UK,if you are stopped the mechanism for doing anything to you is poor,technically it is possible for the police to take you to court on the spot,but very rare apart from serious accidents.

Bizzar oh yes.

As has already been said the problem is your end!!

[Sin_Tiger]

You can get insurance for a bike even before the registered owner is changed as long as you know the vehicle details, the only problem you might encounter is buying a new bike that you haven't received the registration number for yet. Normally the insurer will issue a cover note on the chassis number for 30 days but if you are buying already registered then that won't be an issue. You might have a problem getting them to issue an EU cover green card on just a 30 day cover note, which I guess would mean technically you would be uninsured when you get on the ferry.

I don't believe there are any restrictions on non British nationals owning a UK registered bike, depends how long they will allow you to ride around in Sweden before you have to reregister it.

[oxnsox]

I'd take the time to see what paperwork is required at your end. (Import duty, taxes etc)

Five years ago I shifted within Europe (Switzerland-->Spain) with a car. The biggest issue was proof of ownership to be able to get the new registration. (and of course the $$$ in fees). When I left it was easier to sell the car there than re-export it. One of the guys I was working with simply kept his car on Swiss plates for the entire time (3 years) he was on the contract, but that wasn't quite legal.

I seriously looked at buying my Tiger in the UK but after that hassle I got a feisty Spanish one instead

[Nick Calne]

What is the EU for eh?

[iansoady]

I think you may find that Switzerland isn't in the EU......

[Nick Calne]

Um... yes. :oops: Spain and the UK are though!

[Sin_Tiger]

Que?  :lol:

[oxnsox]

Sometimes I think the UK is more outside the EU than some of the none EU states....

(Actually it was easier to export my Girly from Spain back to NZ, than get a Bike from the UK.... maybe it was a Spanish thing???)

[Bixxer Bob]

Sometimes I think the UK is more outside the EU than some of the none EU states....

(Actually it was easier to export my Girly from Spain back to NZ, than get a Bike from the UK.... maybe it was a Spanish thing???)

Aha... you've spotted that Brussels spends its time dreaming up ludicrous beaurocratic rules that the majority of europe will give a stiff ignoring  to whilst good old UK ties its over-retentive self in knots trying to comply  while they look on p**sing themselves.  :P

[Sin_Tiger]

The Noggies have got it right in my opinion. They stay outside the EC but adopt what rules and regulations they feel are beneficial and appropriate.

[Chris Canning]

When the time comes i can get points on my license for misbehaving while riding across Europe i'll worry about the EU and not untill,it's coming but it won't be in my riding lifetime.

[Bixxer Bob]

When the time comes i can get points on my license for misbehaving while riding across Europe i'll worry about the EU and not untill,it's coming but it won't be in my riding lifetime.

It's not the points I worry about... it's the police escort to the cash point so they can empty your bank acct.  Some of the fines are draconian :shock:

Mind,  it doesn't have to be EU, I was stopped for doing 8mph over the legal limit in Iceland last year - and to put this in perspective I was on a 200 mile drive with no towns or villages, and the only other person or vehicle I saw all day, from leaving to arriving, was the officer of the law - and it cost me £140.  He even had a credit card machine in his car!!!!



Am I right in thinking this thread has been hijacked somewhat.... :oops:

[Sin_Tiger]

Can't make up my mind who is the worst, the masked thread hijacker or the Icelandic card swiping robber baron.  :shock:  Really that is a claim to fame  :lol: