Registering an imported vehicle with a NOVA.

[Morrisman]

I've seen a lot of older Harley's for sale at a shop near me, advertised on Farcebook, that apparently have a 'NOVA and title'. What is the procedure for getting them U.K. legal? Pitfalls, hassles, costs?

I've always fancied an old style Harley and these bikes fall in the right price range. Surely, if it were easy enough to get them on a U.K. registration, the person selling would do it, then charge a bit more, and make an easier sale?

I should keep away from Farcebook after dark, or at least fit a breathalyser to my keyboard. My latest purchase, a 2004 Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog arrives tomorrow, a Yamaha V twin I bought, when looking for a Harley......

 

[bricol]

If I remember correctly from when I registered my self-imported Dodge, I had to pay for the vehicle road tax with a cheque, prove it had IVA test pass (for older stuff I think an MOT is needed - even older stuff, not sure), prove who I was with driving licence, bills etc and that it was insured.

I guess if you have a number of vehicles to register, all that lot may mean some considerable cost.

Done it twice now - a Lancia from Italy nearly 30 yrs ago, and the Dodge 5 yrs ago - and both times DVLA managed to make them seem a year older than they were - the Lancia used to make the Lancia nuts get all excited as it was seemingly registered a year before they built 16Vs. Both times they have declined to correct the problem, despite in the case of the Dodge, me having a legal document of the US title history proving how old it was.

 

[cheb]

I've done a couple of Japanese imports. From memory: You need a dating certificate, I got mine via the Yamaha owners club, both bikes being Yamahas. It needs to have a valid MOT test certificate. You have to tax it via post with a cheque and include the other documents. It didn't take that long and was quite easy overall.

 

[Agroshield]

See:

Importing vehicles into the UK

Importing vehicles into the UK - register imported vehicles, GB conversion IVA scheme, type approval, vehicle excise duty and VAT

www.gov.uk

It looks like NOVA means that the duty and VAT have been paid so that is a good thing to have.

The other aspect is the 'vehicle approval' part if applicable. E.g. for LHD cars, you'd need to do something with the headlight dipping direction.

 

[GRW]

I should keep away from Farcebook after dark, or at least fit a breathalyser to my keyboard. My latest purchase, a 2004 Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog arrives tomorrow, a Yamaha V twin I bought, when looking for a Harley......

A keyboard Breathalyser - what a great (& funny) idea! Essential kit lol.

The Bulldog though is I'd think quite a rare and interesting beast.
I seriously considered buying one of the original I think MT-1's (the mad max roadster with USD forks and high spec, with a whacking great cruiser Vee in it). I could see it being one of those bikes that was deeply unpopular with the British Biker (so a lot of bang for buck) which would later gain value and sort of cult status & hold or increase in value later (which it did).

Mind you as a previous owner of a Honda X11, and a long-term owner of a BMW R1150R Rockster, I have a penchant for oddballs.

 

[Morrisman]

A keyboard Breathalyser - what a great (& funny) idea! Essential kit lol.

The Bulldog though is I'd think quite a rare and interesting beast.
I seriously considered buying one of the original I think MT-1's (the mad max roadster with USD forks and high spec, with a whacking great cruiser Vee in it). I could see it being one of those bikes that was deeply unpopular with the British Biker (so a lot of bang for buck) which would later gain value and sort of cult status & hold or increase in value later (which it did).

Mind you as a previous owner of a Honda X11, and a long-term owner of a BMW R1150R Rockster, I have a penchant for oddballs.

I've only ever seen one other, and that was at a bike night last year, and I immediately took a fancy to it.

Mine just arrived today, 7:30 and is sat in the drive. And what a beautiful morning for it, totally clear blue sky. I need to get on the phone to my insurance company.

I've just realised I have no room for a third bike, with two bikes already, and the trike project and it's parts taking up so much space, so I really need some self control of an evening.

 

[sasquar]

firstly i should say, that i have zero personal experience of this, BUT for a long time, ive been looking at adding something american to the fleet (apparently many part finished projects are not enough for me) and from speaking to a couple of importers, they offer to register them at zero cost, then move them on to you, OR provide you with the NOVA and title, so you can register it yourself (most of them offer any assistance with this as well) that way you'll be the first owner on the v5...... i guess thats important to some people, one chap i was speaking to says he registers about 1 in 10 of the cars he brings in, the rest, his customers do for themselves......

 

[jsf55]

NOVA DVLA Registration - Importing Cars

importing-cars.co.uk

 

[Gritineye]

When I registered my Chevy it was easy as the importer helped fill in the forms, there are some questions that are ambiguous, can't remember which ones though. Best to check with someone who's done it recently.

 

[Nomad]

I've been casually looking into this.

Nova rules change last October (before then an individual could import & pay Nove fee, now it has to be done by an official importer https://www.gov.uk/nova-log-in
The good news is the bike you're looking at has already been done which is an important first step.

From 2017 an older checklist of what's needed ( you need to look around for a new list - things might have changed)

1. NOVA Confirmation No.
2. Car Documentation/Confirmation
3. MOT Certificate
4. Proof of Purchase/Invoice
5. £55 Registration Fee
6. Proof of insurance on the car (this can be done via the VIN only) ; this also only applies to Northern Ireland
7. V55/5 Form

Maybe look on Pistonheads website and see if they have any discussions?

Can you add any new info to the thread if you find it, I'm interested

 

[bricol]

The other aspect is the 'vehicle approval' part if applicable. E.g. for LHD cars, you'd need to do something with the headlight dipping direction.

Luckily American stuff, relatively recent stuff at least, has a flat dip, so no issues there. What is an issue is HID headlamps - in the US there is no requirement for self levelling suspension and lamp washers - in the UK there is.

The one that gave me a moment of worry - wheel coverage - they use a big adjustable protractor thingie to work out where the full tyre coverage stops . . . mine just passed.

Being a "production" car, there's quite a lot of the IVA test you can avoid - approval marks on lights for example - if you were testing a kit car, you need the certain markings on the lenses. Production car you don't.

Its all on the IVA book, downloadable from DVLA website.

I found it all reasonably clear and easy to do from buying the car in the USA, to driving it on UK roads legally.