Importing bikes

[wildpudding]

Just thinking out loud here, what process is involved in licensing and registering a newly imported bike? What sort of money are we looking at?

Cheers,

Stefan

[jaybee]

yes im interested to find this out too as been watching bikes on ebay anyone no the shipping prices from he USA ??

[sunhuntin]

hmmm, interesting topic. im interested in something similar...buying a license plate from a canadian vehicle and re-registering a bike using that plate? legal? the plate im looking at is not plain black and white, but white with blue lettering and a blue crown in the middle. [ontario] the plate would be from a car, but cant see any problems there?

[adiddy]

yerrr does anyone on here import bikes???

[motoGP]

Speaking of importing, look at this wee bike on trademe. The guy(?) seemed to have a hassle over markings or something. It looks like it has all the lights, and indicators, but just red tape limiting its legality. Pretty nice price if you want to experiment though.

“I imported this bike from China with the intention of seeing if it could be registered for road use here in NZ. The long and short of it is - it cant.
It does not have the correct markings on the brakes, headlights, indicators or stop lamp. I guess if you were so inclined you could muck around changing everything over for second hand parts and see how you go but I don’t have the time to bother.”

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-70796893.htm

[Crisis management]

Google "importing motorcycle to nz" to go direct to VTNZ or LTSA sites which explains everything.
You need proof of ownership overseas, and a clear paper trail to prove it is a roadworthy vehicle ie. not a wreck. It has to meet NZ standards so if its sold new in NZ you are probably ok.
If you don't have all the paperwork it will not be accepted so be careful!

[adiddy]

yerr there was a massivce argument between a watcher and seller, something about wrecked bikes!
they are so much cheaper when imported though!!!!

[adam666]

The markings he speaks of will be the 'DOT' certification as none of the Chinese lens are accredited.

A friend of mine has the same issue.

cheers
Adam

[heyjoe]

How about exporting a bike?

Is this a difficult process and what is involved in selling a bike to an overseas buyer - say in USA? ie legal paperwork, customs and freighting requirements.

Has anyone out there done this or can give directions to place to get such information.
Thanks.

[crazybigal]

i looked at it a year or so ago. I found it fairly uneconomical, you had to have it crated, crates are like $500+ all the paperwork transport to the shipping agent, +all the customs stuff.
The only way was to find a bike near a port like LA and a good person to take care of the shipping for you.
you would prob be better off finding a contact in japan and bringing in a container.


Just thinking out loud here, what process is involved in licensing and registering a newly imported bike? What sort of money are we looking at?

Cheers,

Stefan

[McJim]

I've been looking at a specific model of bike for my upgrade from 250cc.

The bike in Question is 2000/2001/2002 and sells for about $10K-$12K with less than 15,000km in New Zealand.

HOWEVER

The same bikes with less mileage are available UNDROPPED in the UK for GBP2,500 (NZ$6,750 approx) (AND THAT'S TRADE NOT PRIVATE) therefore if the cost of shipping/Compliancing/VIN is less than NZ$5,000 I'm onto a winner.

AND I know shitloads of people in UK that can check the bike and make sure I'm not gettting my arse felt.

So does anyone know from experience how much it cost to bring their bikes over from UK?

Cheers.

[Bartman10]

I've been looking at a specific model of bike for my upgrade from 250cc.

The bike in Question is 2000/2001/2002 and sells for about $10K-$12K with less than 15,000km in New Zealand.

HOWEVER

The same bikes with less mileage are available UNDROPPED in the UK for GBP2,500 (NZ$6,750 approx) (AND THAT'S TRADE NOT PRIVATE) therefore if the cost of shipping/Compliancing/VIN is less than NZ$5,000 I'm onto a winner.

AND I know shitloads of people in UK that can check the bike and make sure I'm not gettting my arse felt.

So does anyone know from experience how much it cost to bring their bikes over from UK?

Cheers.

Tread carefully... If you are a private individual importing your own bike from overseas (eg you've just moved to NZ) you won't have to pay import duty and GST, and you'll save money. If you're importing a bike to sell you will have to pay those things.

The cost of registering the bike is FA. About $300. You'll need a VIN and a WoF and a imported vehicle compliance cert. This ain't a big deal, just get it at a testing station.

Problems arise with the paper work. If every t is not crossed and every i is not dotted you'll end up with an un-regiesterable bike. Eg if LTNZ think it might be stolen you're in the poo, even if it ain't stolen.

Shipping costs are around $1500 - $2000 depending on who you use for a single bike. If you bring a container load it will be heaps cheaper per bike, as most of the costs are in the 'handling fees'. What ever that means...

[McJim]

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/publications/infosheets/infosheet-2-13-europe.html#lc

It does look easy enough after all (as long as it's pre Oct 2002) - I intend to buy legitimately for me to use the bike - will get it registered in UK to my UK drivers licence - I also intend to keep it for 5-10 years so it's not for re-sale purposes.

I will get in touch with some shipping companies and get some quotes.

Better than a Japanese import as I can have recourse against someone in the UK if they sell me a dodgy bike (will have the good ol' Glaswegian nose to nose conversation with them until they make things good again!).

In terms of duty that would just be GST though wouldn't it? 12.5% which is sweet fanny adams compared to other countries anyway.

[Attract Promotions]

ten characters

[Finn]

PM to SpankMe. He's an expert on Japanese imports.

[scracha]

Tread carefully... If you are a private individual importing your own bike from overseas (eg you've just moved to NZ) you won't have to pay import duty and GST, and you'll save money. If you're importing a bike to sell you will have to pay those things.

Shipping costs are around $1500 - $2000 depending on who you use for a single bike. If you bring a container load it will be heaps cheaper per bike, as most of the costs are in the 'handling fees'. What ever that means...

To give an idea of price, a half container cost us around 10,000NZD from the UK. That included customs fees, GST, loading it up at our house (2 guys) and unloading it at our house in NZ (another 2 guys).
Could have stuck mine in the back of our existing container for an additional $300...wish I had now but I'd been warned getting compliance for a bike not sold in NZ is a @$ng nightmare (I've since been told otherwise by a mate who imports them horrible V8 yank cars)
Gawd knows how many bikes you could stick in half a container. Obviously a lot of our costs were the guys coming to our house.

You can only avoid the GST if you've owned the bike for over a year (I'd had mine 11 months...sigh)

[hec]

McJIm

>>I will get in touch with some shipping companies and get some quotes.

I looked at bringing my bike with me to NZ from the UK. I was quoted £670 - with someone building a custom made container - recommendation from Cotswold Classics bike restorers.

But for me unless I can prove I am emigrating I would have to pay GST tax - formula for me made it another £600.

My experience is new bikes look about the same price in NZ as UK as long as they are not too exotic - but with the credit culture in the UK and large insurance costs - bikes depreciate really fast so a 2-3yr old very lightly used UK bike is cheap compared with NZ.