Author Topic: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration  (Read 32659 times)

Offline juitz

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CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« on: March 30, 2022, 07:39:07 PM »
Hello everyone,

First post on this forum and after some advice.


I purchased a non-running 1975 CB550k1 for a cafe racer project and after a few months of tearing down to determine the full condition of the bike and what will need to be repaired/replaced I'm ready to get started with the rebuild.

However, I started thinking a bit more about the registration process. I dont need an MOT as the bike is over 40 years old.
I will need to get the registration from DVLA, can I do this now whilst the bike is in bits or do I need to finish the rebuild?
Another area of confusion is around the condition of the frame when I register it. Do I need to keep it stock or can I carry out the standard rear frame chop and new hoop weld, rebuild then register?

Slightly confused as to what the right order of steps should be and help would be appreciated.

I purchased the bike from DK Motorcycles and these are their instructions, I guess I can register with bike insured on frame then once I receive the V5 I can SORN?

We HAVE NOT got the Certificate of Title but we will provide proof that VAT & Duty is paid on the NOVA system.(This can take upto 4 weeks)

Registration.

1. You need to get the bike MOTed. (Vehicles over 40 years old are MOT exempt)
2. You need proof of year of manufacture in writing. To get a recognised dating letter apply in writing to Honda Motorcycle Operations at the following address.
Year of Manufacture, Honda (UK),Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1HL
The following information for the bike should quoted, Model, VIN, Engine number. Additionally you should include your contact details (telephone number and email).
There is administration fee of £30 (25 + VAT) which can be paid by cheque or postal order payable to Honda (UK).
If information needs to be acquired from Japan the the "Proof of year of manufacture" letter can take upto 6 weeks to arrive.
3. You need to have valid insurance on the bike. You can insure it on the chassis number.
4. Send all this paper work to the DVLA, who will charge you £55 for the 1st registration plus the current amount for the road tax.
The DVLA will send you your age related registration number.

Thanks,
Dave

Online SteveW

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2022, 08:51:41 PM »
Just done mine, DVLA took 3 weeks.
I got a dating certificate from the VJMC.
Put a letter in with your application saying why you don’t have a title, just say it was a barn find in the USA and hasn’t been on the road for years. My mate didn’t do this and got his application rejected as they want to know why the title was missing.

Mine was mostly complete when I applied because you could get unlucky and they might wish to inspect the bike. Don’t know what they would do if they wanted to inspect and it’s in a pile of bits.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2022, 09:13:14 PM by SteveW »
1974 CB550 K0
1980 CB650
2000 CBR929RR Fireblade
1966 Lambretta LI150 Series 3
1981 RD350LC
1972 Raleigh Chopper
1974 Raleigh Tomahawk
2011 Henry Hoover

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2022, 08:52:11 PM »
Hi Dave. Welcome to the forum. The only part of your question I can answer is about the insurance. You don't need to insure it to get it registered, unless you live in Northern Ireland. Just make sure you SORN it ASAP after receiving log book back, if you're not going to ride it.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

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http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Online SteveW

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2022, 09:17:31 PM »
As well as the V55-5, fill in a V112 declaring it as exempt from MOT.
The problem with the DVLA is you can be unlucky and get a jobsworth doing your application so the more stuff you send the better.

Here's a copy of my V55 and V112, just replace the ##### with your details. Most of the V55 you can leave blank.
1974 CB550 K0
1980 CB650
2000 CBR929RR Fireblade
1966 Lambretta LI150 Series 3
1981 RD350LC
1972 Raleigh Chopper
1974 Raleigh Tomahawk
2011 Henry Hoover

Offline juitz

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2022, 09:47:42 PM »
SteveW and Nurse Julie, thanks for the welcome and really quick responses and information. Aside from the risk of DVLA requesting and inspection, its not as dire as I thought.

I'll get in contact with VJMC and see if I can that dating certificate asap. I've got plenty of photos of the bike before it was torn down so hopefully this helps.

Offline Bryanj

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2022, 10:12:56 PM »
Yup DK is a bit out of date as Honda only give letters for UK bikes now, it was too arduous to email Japan and wait for an answer!

Offline AshimotoK0

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2022, 10:25:01 PM »
Yup DK is a bit out of date as Honda only give letters for UK bikes now, it was too arduous to email Japan and wait for an answer!

Are you sure about that Bryan ... Honda UK just contacted Japan for me and got me a dating certificate for my 1970 CB250K2. Granted it was originally UK registered but HondaUK had no record of it . Tokk them about 3 months though but cheaper than VJMC and an easier process IMHO
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Offline Oddjob

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2022, 10:28:59 PM »
Do the DVLA not accept the dating plate on the frame?
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline philward

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2022, 11:11:40 PM »
I watched this video and followed it exactly and had no problems when registering my US import 500k2.
Didn't need an MOT by using the MOT exemption form he directs you to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1Ek5Ybb-Yc
Current Bikes:-
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Offline Bryanj

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2022, 12:43:01 AM »
Thats because yours was originaly UK reg so they are morally bound to, they no longer do private imports, or at least thats what they told me.

Online SteveW

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2022, 02:37:41 PM »
Also you need to send a copy of your driving license and a utility bill or similar no more than 3 months old with your name and address on.
Apart from the driving license copy, make sure all the other paperwork is original, they will not accept copies.

The slightest thing wrong they will reject it and you basically end up at the back of the queue again. Even though they ask for your contact details in case of a problem, they will not contact you.

And send it all recorded delivery.

The hardest bit I found was trying to find a cheque book to pay the £55.
1974 CB550 K0
1980 CB650
2000 CBR929RR Fireblade
1966 Lambretta LI150 Series 3
1981 RD350LC
1972 Raleigh Chopper
1974 Raleigh Tomahawk
2011 Henry Hoover

Offline MCTID

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2022, 05:42:43 PM »
Some time ago I sent an important letter to the DVLA - Recorded Post. You won't believe me that it was delivered to my House the next day.......some zombie in the PO Sorting Office had read my 'Return address' on the back of the envelope and another PO zombie delivered it.

I had a moan at my local Postwoman and said I couldn't believe that anyone could be so stupid......she just rolled her eyes and said "With some of the people in our PO Sorting Office....I certainly can believe it" ! She said if I had anything 'important' such as original Vehicle documents it was vital to send them to the DVLA by REGISTERED POST. Recorded Delivery Post just means that you had some confirmation that it had been delivered but Registered Post meant that the PO could tell you the time and date when it was delivered and who signed for it.

Like many other Government Departments, many people working in the DVLA are just Agency workers who may or may not be there next week so they don't get much training, and the Procedures used by many Government Departments are so overly complicated and bureaucratic, that even seasoned personnel don't actually know what to do when something out of the ordinary lands on their desk.....hence long delays in processing time.

Better safe than sorry in my view !
Now: 2008 CB1300S, CB750K4, 1970 Bonneville. Various other 1960's 650 Triumph T120's/ TR6's/ TR6C's (all in bits...many, many bits unfortunately). Previous: 2007 CB600FA, 1976 CB500 Four. BMW F800ST. GS750E. ZZR1100. CB1300 (2). ZXR1200S. VFR800. CB750 Nighthawk. CX500. XS500 Yam. Suzuki GT500. BSA A10. Various Lambrettas. Zundapp Bella (honest).

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2022, 07:56:52 PM »
Here's a potential reason why things are so slow at the DVLA!

https://youtu.be/PZZ8SqKcNwk
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline MCTID

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2022, 11:32:56 PM »
Back in 1988 I was a Quality Manager for a Blue Chip Commercial Vehicle Component Manufacturer in Runcorn when I went on a Seminar on Total Quality Management (TQM). It was a good days Training and I thoroughly enjoyed it.......although I remember giving my MD a Debrief after and saying that although I enjoyed it, he really was the one who should have attended....but it 'Wasn't for him' (his words),

One of the more interesting presentations was from a Senior Quality Manager from Natwest Bank, which had recently introduced a new type of Bank Account for existing Customers only. It really was a great deal and lots of people took it up. After a few weeks, local Natwest Bank Managers from all around the UK were regularly complaining to their Head Office that they were getting serious grief from some of their best and longstanding Customers, who Natwest was really pi*sing off because they had no response to their postal applications to participate in this wonderful new initiative.

After a lot of legwork, this Natwest Quality Manager tracked down the problem to the fact that 6 or 7 sackfuls of mail (Applications) were being delivered to the HQ of the Natwest Bank EVERY day, but the number of Employees assigned to process them was totally inadequate, so the old sacks of mail were being left at the back of the room gathering dust and they were only processing the latest Applications.....so the older Applications just went backwards - hence the complaints from some of their best Customers that 'If Natwest can't process my Applications in a timely manner, then maybe I need to find myself a more efficient Bank to look after my money and substantial investments'....so not only were Natwest missing out on the takeup of their new Bank Account, they were losing some of their oldest and most profitable Customers in droves.

Remember that this was back in 1988........and I could be a smartarse and say that surely the DVLA and all their highly paid (overpaid) Executives should have seen this coming, but as we are talking about the DVLA, it's hardly surprising really is it !
Now: 2008 CB1300S, CB750K4, 1970 Bonneville. Various other 1960's 650 Triumph T120's/ TR6's/ TR6C's (all in bits...many, many bits unfortunately). Previous: 2007 CB600FA, 1976 CB500 Four. BMW F800ST. GS750E. ZZR1100. CB1300 (2). ZXR1200S. VFR800. CB750 Nighthawk. CX500. XS500 Yam. Suzuki GT500. BSA A10. Various Lambrettas. Zundapp Bella (honest).

Online SteveW

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Re: CB550k1 US Import - UK registration
« Reply #14 on: April 01, 2022, 07:24:59 AM »
I was pretty amazed that my registration for my 650 that I posted in Feb took exactly 3 weeks.
From what everyone else was saying I was expecting 6 weeks absolute minimum.
1974 CB550 K0
1980 CB650
2000 CBR929RR Fireblade
1966 Lambretta LI150 Series 3
1981 RD350LC
1972 Raleigh Chopper
1974 Raleigh Tomahawk
2011 Henry Hoover

 

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