HD import advice needed

Dear List - Just imported my 97 sportster from the states.

Need to get registered asap. Whats the deal? Has anyone
on the lst been thru this process? I;ve sent off for a bunch of forms,
but they're taking their sweeta** time about sending 'em back.

Also, I need a good insurance agent - London based. Anyone got
any recommendations?

cheers......

Chris

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Assume you now have the vehicle in your possession & all VAT & import duty paid?
1st thing to do is to insure it. Don't know of any London based insurers, but I use Carole Nash for both of my bikes. You can insure it for up to a month on the VIN/Chassis No. Once you have it insured, and you have a cover note/certificate from the insurers, you then have to get the bike through the Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Test. (Basically an enhanced MOT test). See here for a list of Motorcycle SVA Testing stations:
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) contacts : Directgov - Directories

If & when the bike passes it will then be issued with a certificate using the VIN/Chassis no. again.
Once you have your insurance cert. & your SVA cert, you can now register the vehicle.
You must fill in form V55/5, and take it to your nearest DVLA Vehicle Registration Office., along with the registration fee, the ins. cert, the SVA cert, any paperwork you have showing that VAT & import duty have been paid, any paperwork showing ownership of the vehicle.(Your importer will have copies if you don't.) Without any of the above, your vehicle will not get registered. See here for a list of Vehicle Registration offices:

Local Vehicle Registration Office (VRO) contact details

Once your vehicle has been registered & issued with a registration no., you can then contact the insurers and get a proper cert. of insurance showing the new number, and you must also get a duplicate SVA cert. with the new no. You must keep the documentation that the DVLA Registration office give you, in order to be able to get a number plate made up.

Providing you have all of the paperwork, the whole process from arrival of bike in UK to registration no. being issued should take no more than 10-14 days max.
Good luck
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