Buying a Bike from Italy

[John Taylor]

Advice please.

If I buy a bike from a private individual in Italy, assume I pay by PayPal, he will cover the shipping costs.

What other costs will I have to pay and what paper work will I need to obtain from the vendor, shipper or anybody else.

Your help would be appreciated.

JohnT.

[mark2]

how old is the bike and where was it built ? I would not use paypal for expensive items (which for me is any item over @£5000) , it can also get complicated for both seller and buyer . I would want to see any machine over £5000 so a nice road trip

[John Taylor]

It's a MotoGuzzi Lodola, value circa £2k. I thought by using PayPal I would have some protection. Plus I have bought lesser value stuff of this fella without issue.

[mark2]

if you know him then why not , do paypal cover motor sales ? and why use it ?  you may still have to pay a tax I think its now called NOVA? unless its in parts , I have bought bikes back from and taken too  , Italy , Austria , spain france , always in large lumps with no problems or duty , some where british some not , things may have changed as im going back over 15 years

[murdo]

Have bought a couple of bikes with PayPal with no problems. You might have taxes to pay to get it back into the country.

[iansoady]

The rules have changed regarding imports and there is some confusion about whether a NOVA certificate is required. It's worth looking at the appropriate HMRC web pages: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/vat-and-tax-vehicles-from-within-the-eu

[mark2]

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Access-and-security/Advice-about-selling-a-car-recieving-payment-via-paypal/td-p/273176?profile.language=en-gb

[John Taylor]

The rules have changed regarding imports and there is some confusion about whether a NOVA certificate is required. It's worth looking at the appropriate HMRC web pages: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/vat-and-tax-vehicles-from-within-the-eu

Thank's for that. I had a look and this statement was among a lot of other stuff.   
"You don’t usually have to pay VAT if you’re importing a second-hand vehicle and the VAT was paid in another EU country". 
Are they referring to when the vehicle was new whoever bought it in Italy must have paid some kind of tax (even in 1952 or thereabouts). So does this mean I will not have to pay vat. How do I find out?

JohnT

[mark2]

Did the EU exist in 52 , there was import duty on vehicles from Europe still in the late 90s unless they were built here , you might want to bring this in dismantled to be on the safe side or  build the cost  of any duty into the purchase , you need to look at the new NOVA situation very carefully

[john.k]

If you are going to have the machine picked up and freighted by professional vehicle/motorcycle carriers,then they will be conversant with all the requirements and latest regulations/taxes.If you are going to pack up the dog in the old Vauxhall Velox and trailer and take off for sunny Italy then you can easily dismantle the bike somewhat before packing it into the trailer for the return journey.Regards John.

[mini-me]

If you are going to pack up the dog in the old Vauxhall Velox and trailer

Is it still 1955 in Oz?

they've all rusted away here long ago.

Our customs are a law unto themselves and will do whatever they want. They have more power than the Police.
1977 I came back from Spain, in the back of the van was a Rudge, an AJS big port, and a Brough 680,  draper spring frame; sounds good but they were well rough.
At 3am customs were very bored; pulled me over and went through the van, then started on the bikes,trying to suss a value to charge duty on; their reference point?
....a copy of Exchange and Mart, not exactly full of adverts for same bikes.
Stymied, they pulled a figure out of a hat, reduced it by my personal allowances, and worked out 37p duty for each bike. An unbelievable waste of time for all concerned.
You cannot question or challenge HMRC, on anything. I have had worse experiences with them in 30yrs of back and forth vists and trade.

It'd be interesting to know how the OP got on?

[murdo]

They don't rust here, just get left in the paddock after kids have thrashed them until they stop.

[mini-me]

Our paddocks are now housing developments to accomodate lots of nice newcomers, or at least those who do not wish to live near them.

As for rust, I park my cars under trees, no other choice, and if they are left for a fortnight they start to go green.

The roof of one of the cars is covered with snail tracks, window surrounds have moss growing in them,  its why I am not car fussy.

Shall I send you a pic of some grass? I hear you have none?

[Rex]

So did the OP buy the Lodola or not? The DVLC seem more concerned about the NOVA issues than the HMRC themselves, but then we can thank all the free-movement Europeans and their VAT scams on new cars for this little piece of red tape nonsense.

[mark2]

I left this under a tree in my garden , 23 years , time flys