V5

[heliwilly]

I have recently re-kindled my interest in bikes, In particular the Honda 400/4.
I want to know what the legalities are in regard to V5's.
If a V5 is not available for a frame, can it still be registered? I suspect no.
If a bike is imported and the frame is offered for sale, what are the legal requirements before you can get it on the road.
Does the seller have to disclose whether the frame is a UK one or if it is imported?
I ask this as I am going to build a Honda CB400/4 and would like to get things done legally.
Thanks  Bill W

[Nurse Julie]

Hi. Very, very difficult to get a V5 from a VIN number alone, you need the registration number, if it's a UK bike. If it's an imported bike, you need NOVA certification to start the registration process. The seller does not legally have to inform you if it's imported or not, that's your job to find out. Honda UK only hold and supply info for UK registered bikes, no imports whatever, so no good asking them about imported bikes.
The only safe way to ensure you can get a V5 is either to buy a bike that is already on the DVLA system, or an import with NOVA certificate, so you can register it with DVLA, anything else is a huge gamble.

[heliwilly]

Thanks for that Julie.
Just had a bit of a ding gong with an eBay seller ho was selling a frame and an engine form a Honda 400/4, which he bought from a complete bike in the mid '90's, The bike was said to have 1,380 Kilometers on it.
He didn't have a V5 for it and wouldn't tell me if it was imported or not. He said that he wasn't selling a bike, just parts, so wouldn't say.
He gave me a right slagging of on eBay, when I withdrew my bid. 
I thought the frame on a bike was the same as the chassis on a car, that was where the VIN/ Frame number was, and so you would be able to get a V5 for it if the original was lost.
Thanks for the info. I have assumed that the frame number and the VIN are the same thing??
Bill W.

[AshimotoK0]

Sounds like you did the right thing steering clear of that one. There was a guy at Newark Autojumble two months back selling a complete non-runner 400/4 and a rolling chassis and loads of parts. I bought a set of  carbs and a kickstart from him and took his number. Probably long gone now but still got his number if you are interested.  I don't think any Hondas had matching frame /Eng.numbers except an odd few of the really early 1960's models.

Welcome by the way .. whereabouts in Hull are you? .... I am in Willerby and the only East Yorks. member on here, as far as I know, so stick with us! There is a native 'ull lad' on here who is now residing in Orkney though.

[Nurse Julie]

Hi Bill. A frame number (VIN) on a bike is the same as a chassis number on a car. You can get a  V5 from DVLA if it's a UK registered bike BUT only if you have the registration number, without that, its a no go. On an import, which that was was that chap was selling, unless its been registered with DVLA in the past as an imported vehicle, with a NOVA certificate, then officially, the bike does not exist in the UK and therefore DVLA have no way to issue you a V5. Good thing you swerved that one on ebay, it was a headache and nightmare in the making and the seller sounded a bit of a nut job by what I saw on ebay. Good luck with finding the right one and welcome to the forum.

[SteveD CB500K0]

There was some discussion on here about this ebay ad:

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,16949.msg144611

General consensus was not to touch...

If you are looking for something like this, there will probably be someone on here who can help (or point you in the right dirrection).

Steve

[heliwilly]

Hi AshimotoKo,
Just to let you know, I live on the Hull - Hessle boundary near the roundabout that takes you up to Clive Sullivan Way. Sainsburys Store is my corner shop. Cheesr Bill W.

[philward]

There was some discussion on here about this ebay ad:

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,16949.msg144611

General consensus was not to touch...

If you are looking for something like this, there will probably be someone on here who can help (or point you in the right dirrection).

Steve

Welcome Bill - Think you had a lucky escape with that one

[andrewsimpson]

Hi, I am sure this query has been covered many times before and was wondering if anyone had found the answer.
Recent purchase of mine was a 'barn find' cb750 supersport sohc. Previous owner has lost v5 and the number plate is missing. I believe it to be a uk bike as the previous owner claimed to have used it back in the day. Frame number is:CB75F-1021834 Am hoping that there is a way of finding out what the original registration was so that I can apply for the v5 etc. Thanks. Andrew

[Bryanj]

Without V5 or an MOT cert there is absolutely no way of traving a reg number. Only thing you can do is go for an age related registration; and as already stated if it is an import it is not worth a light as HMRC will charge duty by the day from the day they estimate it was imported until the day they admit to receiving paperwork from you unless you have a Nove cert

[Nurse Julie]

You could try and find a friendly car / bike dealer and ask them to HPI it on the VIN number and see what comes up. You may be opening up a can of worms doing this though as if its on the HPI stolen register, you may have some questions to answer !!!