Exporting bikes

[Bangkok Black]

Forgive me if this has been asked before. 

 

Exporting bikes to England. 

Where to start?

What paperwork is needed?

Who to ask?

ETC?

 

Thanks for any advice

[Yellowtail]

Exporting is generally easy. Importing can be troublesome. 

[Hummin]

20 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

Forgive me if this has been asked before. 

 

Exporting bikes to England. 

Where to start?

What paperwork is needed?

Who to ask?

ETC?

 

Thanks for any advice

Why? 

[Magictoad]

Bicycle? Motorcycle? Bike?

What type of bike do you mean?

[MartinL]

On 6/11/2025 at 8:46 PM, Magictoad said:

Bicycle? Motorcycle? Bike?

What type of bike do you mean?

There might be a clue since this topic is in the 'Motorcycles in Thailand' forum.

[Bangkok Black]

Any pointers on where to start?

 

[Yellowtail]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Black said:

Any pointers on where to start?

 

Assuming you want to do this legally, start by contacting a freight forwarder in England and open up a dialog about how difficult it will be to get them through customs, and what it will cost. 

 

Are you going to try and make the bikes legal to operate on the road? 

 

 

[Hummin]

7 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Assuming you want to do this legally, start by contacting a freight forwarder in England and open up a dialog about how difficult it will be to get them through customs, and what it will cost. 

 

Are you going to try and make the bikes legal to operate on the road? 

 

 

Ai says

 

All necessary links in the search

https://www.google.com/search?q=can+I+import+a+thai+motorbike+to+uk&oq=can+I+import+a+thai+motorbike+to+uk&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTE0Mjk4ajBqNKgCAbACAQ&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

 

AI Overview

 

Yes, it is possible to import a Thai motorbike to the UK, but it involves navigating several steps and incurring associated costs. You'll need to deal with Thai customs for export, UK customs for import, and potentially register the bike with the DVLA. 

Steps Involved:

1. Export from Thailand:

You'll need to declare the motorbike as permanently exported to avoid complications later. 

This may involve paperwork and potentially dealing with Thai customs. 

2. Shipping:

Shipping can be expensive and may require the bike to be prepared for shipping by removing fluids and the battery. 

3. Import into the UK:

You'll need to notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about the arrival of the vehicle (NOVA). 

You'll need to pay any import duties and VAT. 

Import duty is typically 6% for bikes over 250cc and 8% for those under, plus 20% VAT on the vehicle's value. 

4. Registering with the DVLA:

Once you've cleared customs and have the NOVA confirmation, you can apply to register the motorbike with the DVLA. 

This may involve providing proof of vehicle approval (like a Certificate of Conformity). 

5. Compliance with UK Standards:

The motorbike may need to meet UK vehicle standards, including an MOT test. 

Costs to Consider:

Shipping costs.

Import duties and VAT.

Potential registration costs, including homologation (if required for single vehicle).

Potential costs for any necessary modifications to meet UK standards. 

Important Considerations:

Bikes from Thailand may be more expensive to purchase than in the UK.

Shipping can be a complex process.

Importing a bike can be a bureaucratic process. 

Alternative:

Buying a similar bike from a UK dealer may be a simpler and potentially less expensive option. 

[Celsius]

Here are some clues for successful business. You have to do the legwork by yourself. And this is a business because you mentioned "bikes".

 

This kind of insight is extremely valuable. If someone has successfully implemented it, they're unlikely to share it freely and risk creating competitors.

 

As the wise guy already mentioned before me....it's not the exports you should be worried about, so you are asking this question in the wrong continent.

 

Your idea is pretty bad and would be successful. There are similar export opportunities to the UK that might be more viable, but I'm exploring those myself given my wife's connections in the industry, including motorbikes.

[Bangkok Black]

On 6/14/2025 at 7:59 PM, Hummin said:

Ai says

 

All necessary links in the search

https://www.google.com/search?q=can+I+import+a+thai+motorbike+to+uk&oq=can+I+import+a+thai+motorbike+to+uk&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTE0Mjk4ajBqNKgCAbACAQ&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

 

AI Overview

 

Yes, it is possible to import a Thai motorbike to the UK, but it involves navigating several steps and incurring associated costs. You'll need to deal with Thai customs for export, UK customs for import, and potentially register the bike with the DVLA. 

Steps Involved:

1. Export from Thailand:

You'll need to declare the motorbike as permanently exported to avoid complications later. 

This may involve paperwork and potentially dealing with Thai customs. 

2. Shipping:

Shipping can be expensive and may require the bike to be prepared for shipping by removing fluids and the battery. 

3. Import into the UK:

You'll need to notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about the arrival of the vehicle (NOVA). 

You'll need to pay any import duties and VAT. 

Import duty is typically 6% for bikes over 250cc and 8% for those under, plus 20% VAT on the vehicle's value. 

4. Registering with the DVLA:

Once you've cleared customs and have the NOVA confirmation, you can apply to register the motorbike with the DVLA. 

This may involve providing proof of vehicle approval (like a Certificate of Conformity). 

5. Compliance with UK Standards:

The motorbike may need to meet UK vehicle standards, including an MOT test. 

Costs to Consider:

Shipping costs.

Import duties and VAT.

Potential registration costs, including homologation (if required for single vehicle).

Potential costs for any necessary modifications to meet UK standards. 

Important Considerations:

Bikes from Thailand may be more expensive to purchase than in the UK.

Shipping can be a complex process.

Importing a bike can be a bureaucratic process. 

Alternative:

Buying a similar bike from a UK dealer may be a simpler and potentially less expensive option. 

thanks for the info,very helpful

[Bangkok Black]

On 6/14/2025 at 7:46 PM, Yellowtail said:

Assuming you want to do this legally, start by contacting a freight forwarder in England and open up a dialog about how difficult it will be to get them through customs, and what it will cost. 

 

Are you going to try and make the bikes legal to operate on the road? 

 

 

yes that is the idea

[cracker1]

On 6/14/2025 at 7:46 PM, Yellowtail said:

Assuming you want to do this legally, start by contacting a freight forwarder in England and open up a dialog about how difficult it will be to get them through customs, and what it will cost. 

 

Are you going to try and make the bikes legal to operate on the road? 

 

 

You have switched the topic from Exporting to Importing ?

[Hummin]

On 6/15/2025 at 8:24 PM, Bangkok Black said:

thanks for the info,very helpful

You also have to expect guarantee returns, service links, parts distribution marketing, competition dirt packages online with more

[Yellowtail]

44 minutes ago, cracker1 said:

You have switched the topic from Exporting to Importing ?

No. The OP wants to ship bikes from Thailand to England. This involves exporting from Thailand, which it's easy, and importing to England, which will be more difficult.