Advice on importing a Vespa?

[snoopyonn]

Hi all,

Me and my girlfriend are trying to import her '76 Vespa from Germany and we are having an absolute nightmare with the DVLA. They aren't letting us register it as we are not providing them with the "correct documents". The documents they are asking for don't exist in Germany!

Has anyone been through anything similar? If you can offer us any advice it would be hugely appreciated! We can't actually get through to the department who handle imports to speak to anyone, so if anyone knows how to do that (nobody at the DVLA will forward out calls) - that might help.

One thing I should mention: The Vespa is actually already here - she had it with her when she was a student here, and was allowed to have it still registered/insured in Germany at that point. Now she is working in the UK, she needs to officially 'import' it so we can get it properly insured etc.

Cheers!

[rab]

Import docs and v5 is all you should need but I've not done it so there could be something else

[henri]

as its from a EEC country an a personal import ,as rab says import docs an ya german version of registration docs/v5c , TUV approval i think it is part off . if you go to www.HMRC.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/registering-an-imported-vehicle ,here it explains the rules an gives a link to the info pack an forms to fill an send to dvla . seems the bean counters at dvla are spitting the dummy as youve jumped this step,they do like every box ticked ,I dotted,an T's crossed , an whatever ya do dont colour outside the lines . thats a whipping offence it seems ,
just recently ive been hearing horror storys bout simple changes takin months on v5c's , so if there overloaded any excuse to throw it back at ya or pass to another department they will take to avoid the work,
if you havent a piece of german paper stating date of manufactre/first reg ,you'll need a dating certificate from one off the clubs , from £7-15 an a couple of weeks , then a british mot £30, insurance an a years tax 17-38 , +£55 for new british reg number , an then finally the new v5c ,proof of i.d an £20 to get reg plate made . wow,i'm knackered just typing it ,but have done a few from outside EEC an thats even more grief sometimes . H

[snoopyonn]

Thanks a lot for the replies guys! We've actually been through pretty much that whole process (getting British MOT + insurance etc.) and we have submitted the German version of the V5c but they keep sending it back saying they don't have the right documents - I guess because they don't understand the German or something?! Very annoying... Maybe we are best off going through one of the clubs if that helps it to happen. Are there any you recommend? I guess someone will need to see it right? We're based in London btw.

Thanks Again!

[henri]

if the german v5c aint got date of manufacture in english ,thats prob ya problem ,take photo's an pencil rubbings ,of chassis n engine numbers , an of scoot from 4 sides ,panels off , an send with the fee to a dating club , veteran vespa club £10 plus 15 membership ,same deal with vespa club uk, or britishlambretta archive £7 , google the names n dating certificates an the clubs pages explain better . send date-cert ,mot,an reg/tax fee to dvla an voila a reg number should be yours , then happy safe riding , H

[Dox]

Have you got Nova number for the scooter?

[henri]

if its from inside EEC its not needing a nova ,just go to hmrc an declare a personal import from within eec , no vat or import dutys then, H