I have bought a third hand Sukida SK1 125cc bike which has never been registered, and am going through the complicated process of registering it, now I have received the V55/4 form and the V355/4 form telling me how to register it, but the problem lies in the fact that I am the third owner of said bike and I highly doubt HMRC has been informed of its arrival in this country now according to my V355/4 form the original owner of the bike was supposed to have informed them that he had imported the bike 2 weeks after it had been imported, but I am somehow doubtful that he has done so seeing as he never went ahead and registered this bike so my questions are these:
If HMRC have not been informed what do I do?
Am I liable to pay the importing tax if the bike has not been declared?
I also need to get the bike to an MSVA testing station to have them fill out the form, how can I get my bike there if I am not allowed to drive it?
How much does it cost to have them fill out the MSVA form (which requires several tests)?
If anyone can answer these questions I would be eternally grateful.
✅ Answers
? Best Answer
Inform them.
“Am I liable to pay the importing tax if the bike has not been declared?”
Yes, you are.
“I also need to get the bike to an MSVA testing station to have them fill out the form, how can I get my bike there if I am not allowed to drive it?”
On a trailer, in a van, in a pickup, etc.
“How much does it cost to have them fill out the MSVA form (which requires several tests)?”
The M.S.V.A. test costs £75. However, it may cost you several hundred pounds, to modify the bike to get it to pass. Thus is almost certainly the main reason why the bike has never been registered in the U.K. – it’s simply not worth wasting money on (it’s Chinese and therefore cheap, poorly made and unreliable, after all).
1) Never buy a third hand vehicle which doesn’t have it’s correct documentation.
2) Put this down to experience and either find another fool to buy it or scrap it, doing anything else will be throwing good money after bad.
If import duty has not been paid on the bike you can be sure HMRC will be wanting it, it’s their job to collect all import taxes, and don’t forget there will be VAT of the original cost of the bike to be paid as well. You are basically dealing with smuggled goods.
Why the first owner didn’t go through with all the import/registration policy is that he found it too difficult/expense to do so,
Really and honestly, I would sell it. If you’re not used to dealing with Customs, SVA tests, etc etc, don’t bother learning all the ins and outs and hidden costs unless you intend on making a career out of it. Those bikes aren’t worth a whole lot anyway, save yourself the bother.