Importing my bike from the States help please

[barefoot]

My daughter lives nr Orlando in Florida where I bought a new Harley 1200 Sporster 3 years ago in her name and I have hardly used it. I go there twice a year but I have only done about 1000 miles or so on the bike. Can anyone give me any advice on the cheapest freight company to import the bike hopefully to Liverpool and what sort of import duties I would pay on the bike plus any other paperwork I will need ? Someone mentioned trying to get it in a container that someone else is using and helping out with the price but I think that is a bit of a longshot.

I have used the search engine but have found no advice on this. The bike has free title and as I say is in my daughter's name it cost around $12,000 when new and I have the bill of sale etc. I am looking to do this in time for summer any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kev

[tezzer]

Sure there are plenty of people able to help but as I understand it you pay VAT and import duty on the declared vale of the bike. Now, if you were to buy it from your daughter, at say $5,000 and import is as a used bike, I would guess that the duties and taxes would be significantly less.

[yellowbentines]

I know someone who did the exact same so ill try to find out for you, from memory he had to ride it down from Orlando to Miami where it was shipped to south of England and a specialist courier brought it up North by van.

Be warned however, you'll need to get it road legal in the UK which may mean new exhausts, indicators, plate mounts etc to get it the paperwork required to use here.

[jonno990]

This company should be able to help you import your bike.
http://www.icl-ltd.com/ It's called groupage when you share a container with other peoples goods.Should be pretty easy.They have a ship dock at Liverpool every week. You might also be able to use ACL RO/RO if you don't mind other people riding you bike/potential damage.I'm not sure whether you would need to get the bike to New York though.
Here's a handy little tool for your your duty
http://www.dutycalculator.com (not sure if they've put the vat rate up yet though)

Edited by jonno990 on Tuesday 4th January 10:53

[Twin Turbo]

I can recommend using STS Imports. They have a location in Apopka, Fl, and ship via container. Give Ron a call....he's got lots of happy customers in the Mustang Owners Club, me included

http://www.stsimports.co.uk/

[barefoot]

Twin Turbo many thanks I have just spoken to Ron and the good news is the bike would have to go to Apopka for freighting up which is 19 miles from my daughter's house I drop it off there then collect it from his garage in the UK! If the price he quotes me is acceptable I will be using him. Can't beat Pistonheads eh!

Edited by barefoot on Tuesday 4th January 12:11

[Sideways Tim]

Another vote for Ron - very helpful and I'm sure the price will be good.

[Twin Turbo]

Cool, I'm sure Ron's prices will be agreeable.

Hope it all works out