Importing from the US - UK

[Simon]

Hi guys,

I've asked this question before, but if someone has any further advice, It'd be greatly appreciated.
I'm thinking about buying a bike in the USA (slightly damaged with an "Ohio salvage title" whatever that means) and having it shipped back to the UK.
The seller can arrange to have it crated and get it to a port in New York or New Jersey for a reasonable sum, and I can arrange collection at (say) Tilbury docks, but it's the bit in-between and the duties/taxes that I'm really in the dark about.
I need to work out if it's viable before I go ahead and commit.
Any advice gratefully appreciated.
Thanks,

Simon

 

[Simon]

Also is the "salvage title" going to be an issue when registering over here?
Thanks
Simon

 

[Joe T]

Most good shipping companies should be able to give you some clue of the duty paybale as well as the "least expensive" paperwork description.

But for the absolute facts a booklet titled "Valuation of imported Goods for Customs purposes" distributed by HM Customs gives a few clues, my version is an old one we used it for working out the best way to bring crated Computer equipment into the UK fom the US. But I reckon a more up to date version is still available its Notice Number 252.

One offs are not normally a problem its repeat orders that seem to come up on the Radar.

 

[John W]

Simon, your best bet is to contact a company that specialise in shipping goods.

This way you may only have to pay for a part container rather than a whole one, with most of it empty. I've not done this myself but a good friend has (brought a titled porsche).

I have no idea about the import duty. Worst case you would have to pay duty on its market value, best case you import it as spares (may cause complications wen you come to register it).

Good luck !

Cheers,
John.
p.s. what's the bike ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BenL]

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I'm thinking about buying a bike in the USA (slightly damaged with an "Ohio salvage title" whatever that means)

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A "salvage title" usually means that the vehicle was severly damaged and the insurance company wrote it off (the cost to repair was more than the value of the vehicle).

This could mean it was in an accident, it was submerged under water (I wouldn't recommend buying any cheap vehicles from New Orleans), burned, .... A vehicle is typically given a salvage title when the former owner (if the damage wasn't too bad) decides to buy the car back from the insurance company, or when someone spots a car at a junkyard that they think they can repair.

I would be very suspicious about a vehicle that has a salvage title and claims to be only "slightly damaged". Since the bike is from Ohio, make sure that the bike has a "rebuilt salvage title", which means that the state has inspected the bike and verified that it has been repaired and is safe to operate.

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http://bmv.ohio.gov/tltg_faq.html

Q5:
My insurance company has salvaged my vehicle, but I am keeping it and repairing it for my use, what steps do I need to follow?

A5:
First apply for a salvage title in your name changing the status of your title from regular to salvage. (NOTE: The vehicle cannot be operated on the highway while evidenced on a salvage title.) Upon completion of the repairs contact the closest Highway Patrol Inspection Station and make an appointment to have a salvage inspection done. ($50 fee) Take any receipts for repairs and new parts with you to the inspection. After the vehicle has successfully completed the inspection, take Form HP106 and your salvage title, and proceed to any title office and apply for a "rebuilt salvage" title. After all of these steps have been completed, the vehicle is now operable for highway use.

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On the other hand, I have a friend who got a nice Ducatti motorcycle that way because someone slid it sideways on the road, scuffed all of the plastic fairings and damaged the handle bar and brake lever. But the rest of the bike was fine. The replacement cost of the plastic farings were more than the resale value of the bike, so the insurance company wrote off the bike. He bought the bike and repaired the brakes, but instead of spending money on new fairings, he just left them off the bike.