How do you import a motorbike from Germany to the UK?

Which German papers do you ask the seller for?

Ask for both parts of the German registration certificate, the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Teil II. The older names are Fahrzeugschein for the Teil I and Fahrzeugbrief for the Teil II. The German federal administration portal says the Teil I is the document carried while driving and the Teil II proves ownership.

Gov.uk tells you to send DVLA the original foreign registration certificate, and says you will not get it back. Which part of a German set DVLA wants to keep is not something the official pages spell out, so do not let the seller keep either one until you have told us what you have. Send us photos of both before you pay.

Alongside the certificate you need a bill of sale. HMRC asks for an invoice or bill of sale to tell it about the bike through NOVA if you bought it in the last 6 months. If there is no bill of sale, gov.uk asks for a current valuation carried out in person in the UK instead, which is a much longer road.

Is there UK VAT on a bike bought in Germany?

Yes. A private buyer who is not VAT registered pays UK import VAT of 20% on a bike from Germany. Gov.uk says it is charged on the total cost of the vehicle, plus delivery, any extra charges and customs duty. What the German seller charged or did not charge is between you and the seller, and we only deal with the UK side.

Compare the real total: price, transport, UK VAT, any duty and anything the bike needs to be ready for UK roads, not the sticker price in euros.

Is there duty on a German bike?

Maybe not, but not because of where you bought it. The UK Trade Tariff lists 8% for motorcycles up to 250cc and 6% above, with a 0% preference for the European Union. That 0% follows where the bike was made, not where it was sold or registered, and gov.uk says the importer needs a statement on origin from the exporter or their own knowledge that the product is originating. A claim can also be made after import, within 3 years, with valid proof.

A German number plate and a German seller do not answer the question. Send us the frame number and the listing and we look at the origin side before you pay.

Does a German bike need an approval test in the UK?

It depends on age and paperwork. If the bike was first registered in the EU and is under 10 years old, gov.uk says it needs a European Certificate of Conformity. If it is set up for right-hand traffic only, there are two official routes to show a left-dipping headlamp and a speedometer in mph: GB conversion IVA through the VCA (£100) or a Partial MSVA through the DVSA (£12). Which one DVLA prefers is not stated on the official pages, so ask us before you buy. Our guide to MSVA and approval has the details and dates.

The VCA form says a bike more than 10 years old is exempt from its procedure and tells you to contact DVLA, and gov.uk says DVLA might inspect. Treat it as the start of a conversation with DVLA, not the end.

What happens after the bike reaches the UK?

You must tell HMRC within 14 days through NOVA, and gov.uk says you may be fined if you are late. DVLA will not register the bike until NOVA is processed and VAT and duty are paid. The DVLA registration fee is £55 plus vehicle tax, and the V5C can take up to 6 weeks to arrive. Gov.uk says you can be prosecuted for using the bike on a public road before you finish these steps, unless you are driving it to a pre-booked MOT or vehicle approval test.

Deregistration in Germany, any export plates and the export paperwork are handled by the seller. If you need it, we arrange the transport to the UK, and we handle the customs declaration, NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.

What we do for you

Before you pay, send us the listing, the make, model, year, frame number and photos of both parts of the German certificate. We tell you what the UK side involves. We make the customs import declaration, work out and pay the VAT and duty, and submit NOVA. We prepare every DVLA form: you just sign and post. We do not test or modify bikes, we do not buy, sell or inspect them, and we do not say which bike to buy.

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