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

Deregistration in Thailand, 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 import declaration for the bike, NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.

Which bikes are built in Thailand?

The one riders ask about most is the Honda CT125 Hunter Cub. Honda's Japanese press release for the CT125 lists the maker as Thai Honda Co., Ltd. and the country of manufacture as Thailand, even though the bike is sold in Japan. Other Honda small bikes have the same pattern. Do not assume: the registration document and the maker's plate say where a bike was built, and the model name does not.

Why it matters: the duty follows where the bike was made, not where you bought it. A CT125 on a Japanese dealer's floor, with Japanese plates and a Japanese bill of sale, is still Thai origin for customs.

What duty and VAT do you pay on a Thai-built bike?

The UK Trade Tariff (read 13/10/2026) shows 8% third-country duty on scooters and on bikes from 50cc to 125cc. It lists a 0% preference for Japan and the EU, but no preference row for Thailand. gov.uk says VAT of 20% is charged on the total cost of the vehicle, plus delivery and extra charges and the customs duty.

Here is an illustration with made-up numbers: a 125cc bought for £3,500 with £400 for delivery, so £3,900 at the border. The delivery figure is an example, not a price.

The last column is there for comparison only: it does not apply to a Thai-built bike. A bike over 250cc pays 6% duty instead of 8%. Our guide to motorcycle import duty and VAT has the table by engine size.

Does a bike bought in Japan or Europe still pay Thai duty?

Yes, if it was built in Thailand. The 0% rate for Japan or the EU needs proof that the bike was made there, and a Thai-built bike cannot give it. Ask the seller in writing where the bike was built before you pay, and send us the registration document: we check the paperwork first. The Japan guide covers the bikes that do qualify.

Does a motorbike from Thailand need an approval test?

If it is under 10 years old, it normally does. gov.uk says a vehicle not registered in the EU needs either Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) or, for a two-wheeler, Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA). A Thai-market bike does not come with a European Certificate of Conformity. DVSA lists £85 in working hours or £109 outside them for a motorcycle MSVA (DVSA fees, updated 20/08/2026).

The same gov.uk page says that if a vehicle was first registered or made more than 10 years ago, you might not need approval. The test station carries out the test and a garage handles any changes; we handle the paperwork. See our MSVA guide.

What does DVLA want to see?

DVLA asks for the original foreign registration certificate "to show when the vehicle was manufactured", and you will not get it back, so photograph it before it goes. After the import declaration and the NOVA notification, the form is the V55/5, sent with the approval certificate, the £55 registration fee and the first vehicle tax. Allow up to 6 weeks for the V5C. gov.uk says you can be prosecuted for riding on a public road before the import steps are done, unless you are riding to a pre-booked MOT or approval test. Our DVLA guide goes through the form.

What about MOT, tax and licence?

An MOT is needed from the third anniversary of registration, with a maximum fee of £29.65 for a standard motorcycle (gov.uk, updated 09/09/2026). Vehicle tax for a motorcycle up to 150cc is £27 for 12 months (DVLA rates, April 2026). A 125cc rider needs category A1 on the licence, which covers engines up to 125cc and 11kW, so check the kilowatt figure of the actual bike (gov.uk, driving licence categories).

What we do for you

We make the customs import declaration, work out and pay the import VAT and duty, submit NOVA within the 14 days and prepare every DVLA form: you just sign and post. Before you buy, send us the make, model, year and where the bike was built and we will tell you which duty rate and which approval route we expect.

Quick answers