Importing a classic motorbike to the UK

An old bike from abroad comes with one question that a new one never asks: when exactly was it built? The answer decides the tax, whether it needs an MOT, whether it pays road tax and what registration number it ends up with. Get the dating right and the rest of a classic import is kinder than a modern one.

Three birthdays that matter

For a classic bike there are three age lines worth knowing, and each one does something different.

All of these hang on the bike's build date, or in some cases its first registration. That is why dating evidence is the centre of every classic import we do.

The 30-year tax rate

A modern bike from outside the EU pays 10% duty and 20% VAT. A qualifying bike over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which on a valuable machine is a big difference.

The 5% comes from a reduced valuation that HMRC allows for vehicles of historical interest, and GOV.UK names motorcycles specifically. The conditions are more than age alone. The bike should be in its original state, and HMRC also looks at scarcity, value and whether it is still used for its original purpose. You need to keep proof that it qualifies.

In practice, a well-kept standard bike is the easy case. A machine that has been heavily modified or modernised is the one to ask about. GOV.UK suggests contacting HMRC's Tariff Classification Service before buying if you are unsure, and we can advise when we quote.

Tax is worked out on the price plus the cost of shipping. A bike bought for £12,000 and shipped for £1,250 would pay 5% of £13,250, which is £663 in VAT. Two other routes bring it to nil: Transfer of Residence if you are moving here, and a former UK bike coming home with its UK purchase invoice and old V5C.

The 40-year MOT exemption

GOV.UK says a vehicle built or first registered more than 40 years ago does not need an MOT, as long as no substantial changes have been made. You do not apply for this. You must still keep the bike roadworthy, and riding one in a dangerous condition can mean a fine and penalty points.

What counts as a substantial change on a motorcycle is less clear-cut than on a car. GOV.UK's detailed criteria list the main components for vehicles other than motorcycles and point to expert bodies such as the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs for advice. If your bike has a different engine or frame to the one it left the factory with, ask before assuming it is exempt.

Two other points catch people out. A bike on a Q plate still needs an MOT. And even when a bike is exempt, we still put older imports through an MOT as a check when we register them, because a long sea journey is not kind to perished tyres and seized brakes.

Road tax at 1986

The historic vehicle tax exemption works on a rolling date. From 1 April 2026, vehicles built before 1 January 1986 can stop paying vehicle tax. If the build date is unknown, a vehicle registered before 8 January 1986 qualifies instead.

It does not happen on its own: you have to apply. And again, it rests on proving the build date. Our guide to road tax for imported vehicles covers how tax works once a bike is registered.

Dating a classic bike

A dating certificate records when a bike was built, for the cases where the original records are missing or incomplete. It can be needed for registration, road tax and insurance. Certificates come from an authorised organisation or a vintage motorcycle club for the make, and they will want the make, model, engine number and frame number.

When the DVLA is satisfied about the bike's age and identity, it registers it accordingly. When it is not, it issues a Q registration number. That is not what most classic owners want, and as above, a Q-plated bike loses the MOT exemption.

Getting the original number back

Some old bikes left the UK with a British registration and come home decades later. GOV.UK has a route for reclaiming the original number on form V765, endorsed by a vehicle owners' club and backed by evidence linking the bike to that number, such as an old log book. If the number cannot be reissued, the DVLA gives one suited to the bike's age.

A bike with no VIN plate or stamp may still be registrable. Talk to us before you rule one out.

Shipping an old bike

Bikes travel in shared containers, which is why shipping starts from £1,250 from anywhere. That is a guide price for shipping only and excludes import tax, testing, registration and any work the bike needs.

For a classic we recommend a crate. It is built around the bike, so no straps touch it and old suspension is not compressed for weeks at sea. Add marine insurance, because your normal policy will not cover the bike in transit. Our guide to importing a classic car covers the same principles for four wheels, and shipping a non-running vehicle is worth a read if the bike is a restoration project.

How it comes together

1. 1

   Before it ships

   Paperwork and dating

   We look at the documents, check the age lines and work out whether the bike qualifies for the 5% rate.

2. 2

   Collection

   Crated and shipped

   The bike is crated and travels in a shared container to the UK.

3. 3

   On arrival

   Customs and NOVA

   We clear it as HMRC CDS authorised agents and tell HMRC it has arrived within 14 days.

4. 4

   At our site

   Checks and MOT

   The bike is checked over and, if under 40 or as a safety check, put through an MOT.

5. 5

   Registration

   UK plates

   We send the DVLA the application and dating evidence through our dealer-level account.

Questions people ask

Got a classic in your sights? Tell us about it on the quote form and we will check the dating and tax before it ships.