How can I export a Honda CT125 motorcycle from Thailand to the UK?

Jun 27, 2024
5 months ago
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Has anyone ever tried to export a motorcycle from Thailand and import it into the UK? The Honda CT125 is not available in the UK and a family member is asking if I can help out.

For clarity, specialist importers are offering the bike in the UK at 2.5x the price here in Thailand.

If you don’t know, and/or have nothing valuable to contribute please refrain from commenting.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This post discusses the process and considerations for exporting a Honda CT125 motorcycle from Thailand to the UK. Contributors share their experiences and outline key steps, such as obtaining shipping quotes, understanding import duties and taxes, and navigating UK registration requirements. Notably, if the motorcycle has been owned for six months in Thailand, import taxes may not apply. However, there are costs associated with shipping, insurance, and potential registration procedures that require compliance with UK standards.
Mark *******
Jesus, just buy a bike in the UK
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ma**
read it again, slowly.
Paul *********
There are people in the UK that can help with Nova forms to reregister here.
OK ***************
My advise and the cheapest way is to disassembled the whole bike and send separately. Engine is 1 shipping and the other parts another shipping. I did this before but not UK.
Charlie ********
*************************************************
Thehoodyguy *************
Pretty straight forward get a quote for shipping and then you have to register it with the min of tran they will issue a reg plate for it but will be on a Q plate not much in import duty to be fair but registration costs a couple of hundred pounds plus will require it to go to an min of trans mot station for the Q plate to be issued
Charlie ********
@Thehoodyguy ************
not wanting to start an argument or a long thread here but my understanding is a Q plate is only issued now if there is doubt about the history of a vehicle. If you have documents to prove its age and legitimacy then the likely outcome is when registered you are issued with an “age related plate” ie one that equates to year of manufacture. Granted I’ve never imported a vehicle but I have looked into it and have owned several Japanese imports which were all on “age related plates”. Maybe your experience is different.
Thehoodyguy *************
@Charlie *******
no argument here my friend it’s possible they now issue such a plate as an alternative to the Q plate it’s a few years since I imported

My experience was as I stated however we know things change and age related plates makes them easier to sell on once you have had the use you required but the import process remains

Pretty much the same . Have a great day
Andy **********
Like importing a car. Costs getting to the docks and boxed up (FOB); unless you are sharing a container, that will be expensive. Shipping costs. Shipping insurance at 7% of FOB+Shipping. Duty based on all that, VAT based on that plus duty. Then in the UK, you need to pay to get it out of the docks, £100-200. For Bikes, the duty is 8% or 6%, depending if its above or below 250cc. As the bike is under 10 years old, you need a SVA, and for that you need a model report to show how that imported bike meets UK standards by being the same as the UK spec. This will narrow the price difference a bit. At the end, you will still have a grey import bike that will need to be declared as such for insurance purposes, and costing twice as much to insure, and half the value.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Andy *********
Tried to tell him that already - only in different words. There is a reason this questions occasionally comes up - but people end up quickly forgetting about their smart vehicle import / export ideas in 99% of cases.
Andy ********
Yes its possible. contact Chiang Mai movers. If you own it yourself here for 6 months theres no tax to pay when you import it (for yourself) just duty.
Phil ********
Have a chat with
@Rocco's ***************
and tell him I put you on to him.

Im sure he'll be able to do this for you.
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Many thanks
@Ph**
, proper helpful advice!
Frank-Steven ***********
Next to the shipping costs, you would have to pay import duties + import taxes on it. Which would already make it a good bit pricier than in Thailnd. But your bigger (and also expensive) problem comes when trying to register the bike back home, then. It would need to get a pricy evaluation. At least those things applied when the UK was still part of the EU. No idea if things changed since then. Doubt it, cause most things changed from bad to worse.
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank-Steven **********
thanks for sharing your thoughts….. Truly valuable.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Simon *********
Sure thing. Just me general thoughts on it from hearsay - and why people usually refrain from importing

/ exporting bikes between Thailand and their home countries. But to be honest, I don’t know the details with regards to the UK. So maybe worth digging deeper.
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank-Steven **********
I fear the irony of my response may have been lost in translation.
Greg ***********
@Simon *********
Specifications and approval procedures may be different for Asian motorcycles than for English motorcycles. There may be problems with type approval
Frank-Steven ***********
@Simon *********
Possible. Good luck with your endeavor, then.
Terry **********
SD motorcycle UK bud
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Te***
, yeah they're only 80kTHB here in Thailand brand new.
Terry **********
@Simon *********
yes but the time you finished transporting and registration etc.
Simon **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Te***
the importer must be making a decent profit or they wouldn’t be doing it.
Terry **********
Jim ***********
Know someone took container back Scotland with an Aerox 155 inside.
Paul ********
@Jim **********
legit or on the Josh hush?
Jim ***********
@Paul *******
don't know. Can ask him. He is car mechanic in Dundee and was years ago but still has it. 155 cannot get in UK not sure if he's ringed it or legal. Will let you know
Paul ********
@Jim **********
yes to register it would be hard I expect as he would need to sort the import tax on it
Jim ***********
@Paul *******
yes agree. And lives in Scotland not much call for off road as lives in city. Spoke about it but never asked him if was hidden in container or legal in Scotland.
Paul *********
Not personally, but must be doable as loads of Vespas here in UK from Thailand and Vietnam. Not sure on the costs though.
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