V55/5 form for an imported motorbike: which DVLA form do you need?

When is the V55/4 the right form instead?

The V55/4 is for a vehicle that has never been permanently registered before. The gov.uk registration page adds a V267 form, sometimes called the declaration of newness, for a brand new import. DVLA's V355/4 guide (edition 5/25) says that without proof of age you fill in a V55/5 instead, and the bike goes on the record as used with a Q number.

A bike with a foreign registration, even one with 20 miles on the clock, is a used bike. A bike that left the factory and was never registered anywhere is the rare case. If you are unsure which one you have, send us the papers before you buy.

What must be done before the form goes in the post?

gov.uk lists the steps in this order for a bike that is shipped to the UK: the import declaration, paying VAT and customs duty, NOVA within 14 days of arrival, vehicle approval, and only then registering and taxing the bike with DVLA, which is where the V55/5 goes. A rider who brings the bike in alone starts by telling HMRC instead. Our import declaration guide covers the first step.

DVLA's V355/5 guide (edition 10/25) says you are required by law to notify HMRC within 14 days of the vehicle arriving, and HMRC then confirms in writing that you can register and tax it. That is NOVA, and our NOVA guide covers it. The one exception for motorcycles is an engine of 48cc or less (7.2kW or less if electric), which gov.uk says can be registered without telling HMRC first.

You also need proof of approval for the bike. Our MSVA guide covers that side. The rest of the order is in our DVLA registration guide.

Which boxes on the V55/5 catch riders out on a motorcycle?

DVLA's guide numbers every box. These are the ones that behave differently on a bike:

• Top right-hand box: the country you bought the bike from, plus a tick for left-hand or right-hand drive.
• Box 8, type of body: DVLA's example list includes "motorcycle", "tricycle" and "moped".
• Box 9, wheelplan: for motorcycles the guide says this is "2 WHEEL".
• Box 11, type approval: taken from the Certificate of Conformity. With an MSVA certificate, the guide says DVLA records the details in its own "Official Use Only" boxes.
• Box 18, maximum net power in kW: whole numbers only, no decimals, rounded up or down.
• Box 21, unladen weight: not needed for a vehicle under 3,500kg, unless it is a tricycle. A two-wheeler does not need it.
• Box 23, maximum permissible mass: the guide says you do not have to give it for motorcycles or tricycles.
• Boxes 24 and 26, dates: the date of first registration in any country, and the date of first registration in the UK.
• Box 32, VIN, chassis or frame number: the full number stamped into the bike, as DVLA words it.
• Box 33, engine number: the full number, taken from the engine itself.
• Box 34, cylinder capacity in cc: from the Certificate of Conformity or the manufacturer.
• Box 48, power/weight ratio in kW/kg: the guide says this applies only to motorcycles and tricycles. It comes from the Certificate of Conformity, the MSVA certificate or the manufacturer.
• Box 69, list price: only required for M1 type approved vehicles, which are cars, so a bike leaves it empty.
• Box 72, exempt from type approval: if yes, you give the full reason. DVLA's own example is "Enduro Bike".
• Box 73, mileage: in miles, not kilometres, as shown on the speedometer. A bike that reads in km needs converting.

DVLA also asks you to write in black ink using capital letters, and says it will not accept forms that are unsigned or not filled in properly. Many boxes can be left blank if you do not have the information, such as several of the emissions fields, so you do not need to invent a figure to fill every square. The edition of the guide can change, so check the box numbers against your current form.

Which documents go with the V55/5?

DVLA's list of supporting documents for the V55/5 includes the Certificate of Conformity or the MSVA certificate where appropriate, proof of a valid MOT if the bike is over 3 years old, and the original non-UK registration document. The guide says it is the one document you do not get back, while the others are returned. It also says evidence of MOTs for motorcycles will not be returned.

You prove who you are with a photocopy of your photocard driving licence, or photocopies of one document that proves your name and one that proves your address. If you do not have an original foreign registration document, DVLA's guide says to send a letter of explanation and a dating certificate from the manufacturer or another acceptable source. Our guide to bikes with no papers and proof of age covers that case, and the outcome is DVLA's decision.

How do you pay, and where does the form go?

Post it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BE, with the registration fee and first vehicle tax. DVLA's guide says to pay by cheque or postal order payable to DVLA, never cash, and that damaged or altered cheques are rejected. gov.uk gives the registration fee as £55 (read 06/11/2026).

DVLA says it will send the V5C within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application, and that the bike might need to be inspected. If your documents do not come back, the guide says to contact DVLA within 1 month of the application date or it cannot investigate.

Do not order number plates until the V5C is in your hand, and do not ride the bike on the road before registration is complete, other than to a pre-booked MOT or approval test, as gov.uk words it.

What are the common mistakes?

DVLA's guide says it will not accept a form that is unsigned or not filled in properly, so each of these costs you time:

• Using the V55/4 for a bike you cannot prove is new. DVLA's guide says it will register it as used with a Q number.
• Posting before NOVA is processed. DVLA's guide says you notify HMRC first.
• Filling in kilometres in box 73. The form asks for miles.
• Decimals in the kW box. The guide says whole numbers only.
• Buying a seriously damaged bike. DVLA's guide says it cannot register and tax an imported vehicle classed as seriously damaged, and it is not liable for the fees or costs you incurred.

What do we do for you?

We make the customs import declaration, work out import VAT and duty, submit NOVA, and prepare your whole DVLA pack. We prepare every DVLA form, you just sign and post. We do not test, modify or insure the bike, pay road tax, or arrange SORN. A garage and the DVSA test station handle those parts.

Deregistration in the country you buy in, 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.

Your path from a bike abroad to a registered bike

1. The customs import declaration, made by an agent: how the import declaration works for a motorcycle.
2. VAT and customs duty paid at the border: what VAT and duty come to on a bike.
3. NOVA, telling HMRC the bike has arrived: who files NOVA, and what must come first.
4. Approval, so the bike meets UK standards: the MSVA test and what it covers.
5. The V55/5 to DVLA: you are here.
6. Registration, number plates and V5C: registering an imported motorbike with DVLA, in order.

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