Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => Project Board => Topic started by: iainm on August 20, 2017, 08:56:53 PM
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OK, anybody had experience of importing a bike from the USA as an individual? I've found the bike - well, a choice of three - more than 30 years old, and all conversations with HMRC point to a 5% VAT charge, and zero duty. But what other costs (beyond shipping) can I expect as unexpecteds? Destination port fees, customs checks etc? I can smell a few fast-buck "advisers" online, but not sure where the line is drawn between those pulling a fast one for something that should cost nothing, and those with a valid and valuable contribution to make.
Any intel or insight welcome.
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Do you work for Border Force ?
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10 years ago it cost me over £1000 to ship an individual Triumph T120 bike from Minnesota.
I bought it on E Bay from a Dealer and he built a Frame around it - having dismantled it to make a smaller package, and also to pack a spare Crankcase which I bought in California on E Bay and had shipped to him. He charged me £200 for that which I thought was OK. It took almost 3 months for the bike to arrive at my doorstep. The final fees were more than originally quoted, and the UK Shipping Agent was a bit of a pain TBH.....and they don't release the bike until ALL monies due are paid.
There are some sohc Members who ship stuff over from USA in Containers....which reduces the cost per bike, but you need to fill a container to the brim to make it worthwhile, and you need someone and somewhere to store and pack the bikes......so more additional costs I'm afraid.
All in all, I would say that unless you get into bed with one of these people....it's probably not worth the aggravation shipping one bike over as you certainly won't make a worthwhile profit.
Good luck - whatever you decide to do.
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If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. You need someone the other side of the pond that knows what they are looking at and, you have to trust that person. Seen many damaged bikes come out of a container.
If you have a company in the USA and one here, it is just a stock transfer.
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Unless your buying several bikes or parts to fill a container, then forget it. If you have a particular bike you want then I would speak to the specialists who do this every month the like of dk cycles etc and ask them how much it would be to include your bike in the consignment of importing to the uk. Yes they will ask for fees and the like, but speak with them as it would be less hassle and costs for one bike.