A Harley bought in America is often better specified, or simply cheaper, than the one at the local dealer. The worry is that a big American cruiser will be a nightmare to get on British plates. It is not. The work is predictable, the test happens on our own site, and the tax is the same as for any other American vehicle.
- Shipping from
- £1,250 from anywhere
- From the USA
- Around 2 to 4 weeks at sea
- Test for newer bikes
- Full MSVA
- Import tax
- 20% VAT and 10% duty
Which Harleys come over
All of them, more or less. We see the Touring range (Electra Glide, Road Glide, Street Glide, Road King), Softails such as the Fat Boy, Heritage Classic and Street Bob, older Dynas, Sportsters and the trikes, including the Tri Glide Ultra and Freewheeler. Custom and special editions come too.
The model matters less than two other facts: how old the bike is, and whether it was built for the American market or the European one. Those decide the test, the changes and part of the tax.
Getting it out of America
We can collect from anywhere in the USA and take the bike to the port. Our main US ports are New York, Savannah, Houston and Oakland. East Coast sailings take around 2 weeks and West Coast around 4, and it is worth allowing about 2 weeks before that for paperwork and loading.
Before it can leave, US Customs wants the title. For a titled vehicle that means the original Certificate of Title or a certified copy, presented well ahead of export. Our guide to US export rules covers the detail, including what happens when there is still a loan on it.
Crated or strapped
Bikes travel in shared containers alongside other customers' vehicles, which is why shipping starts from £1,250 from anywhere. That is a guide price for shipping only. It does not include import tax, testing, registration or any changes.
A heavy tourer is exactly the kind of bike that suffers from poor strapping, because straps across the frame compress the suspension for weeks. Good handlers strap at the wheels, and a crate built around the bike means nothing touches it at all. For a valuable Harley we recommend the crate. RoRo is not usually something we offer for bikes.
Your US or UK bike insurance will not cover it at sea, so add marine insurance for the crossing.
Import tax on a Harley
Tax is worked out on the price you paid plus the cost of getting the bike here, and VAT is charged on top of any duty. If the invoice is more than 3 months old, a valuation is used instead.
- Bought in the USA: 10% duty and 20% VAT
- Over 30 years old: 5% VAT and no duty, where the bike qualifies
- Moving to the UK: nothing to pay under Transfer of Residence, if you have lived abroad 12 months or more and owned the bike 6 months or more
So a £15,000 Harley shipped for £1,250 has a tax base of £16,250. Duty at 10% is £1,625, and VAT at 20% of £17,875 is £3,575. Our import tax calculator runs the same sums for your figures.
A European Harley still pays duty. The EU rate of 20% VAT with no duty only applies to bikes built in the EU or UK. A Harley built in America and bought in Germany or Spain pays the 10% duty as well. Check where your bike was built, not where it was sold.
US-spec or European-spec
This is the question that decides the test for a bike under 10 years old.
| Feature | Bought in the USA | Bought in the EU |
|---|---|---|
| Usual test | Full MSVA | Partial MSVA, with its CoC |
| Speedometer | Normally mph already | Usually km/h, so mph or dual needed |
| Headlight | Set up for driving on the right | Set up for driving on the right |
| Import duty | 10% | 10% if built outside the EU or UK |
A US-market bike has no European type approval, so a newer one takes the full MSVA test. American bikes are built for a country that uses miles, so the speedometer is rarely the issue. The headlight is, because it is set up to dip for traffic on the right. The rest of the bike is checked against the inspection manual: lighting, mirrors, tyres, brakes, noise and emissions.
A European-market Harley under 10 years old usually comes with a Certificate of Conformity. If it is set up for driving on the right, it takes the much shorter partial MSVA, which looks at the headlight and speedometer. Keep the original CoC safe, because the DVLA needs it with the pass certificate.
Trikes
GOV.UK lists motor tricycles among the vehicle types MSVA covers, so a newer Tri Glide or Freewheeler goes through the same scheme. Three-wheelers and trikes are part of the work we do on our MSVA lane.
Loud pipes
Exhaust noise is one of the sections of the MSVA manual. If the bike has been given an aftermarket system, tell us early. It is far easier to plan for than to find out on test day.
Older Harleys
A bike over 10 years old falls outside MSVA and usually takes an MOT. Once a bike was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and has not been substantially changed, GOV.UK says it no longer needs an MOT, although it must still be roadworthy.
The 5% VAT rate for older bikes comes with conditions from HMRC, including that the bike is in its original state. A heavily customised Shovelhead may not qualify the way a standard one would. Our guide to importing a classic motorbike covers dating, tax and the 40-year rule in more depth.
Paperwork to gather
Your Harley paperwork
0 of 7 done
Once the bike passes its test, we register it with the DVLA through our dealer-level account. Then you insure it, tax it and ride. If you are relocating with the bike, our guide to moving to the UK from the USA covers the wider move.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to ship a Harley-Davidson to the UK?
Motorbike shipping starts from £1,250 from anywhere, because bikes travel in shared containers. That is shipping only, and excludes import tax, testing, registration and any changes.
What import tax do I pay on a Harley from the USA?
10% duty and 20% VAT, worked out on the price plus shipping, with VAT charged on top of the duty. Bikes over 30 years old that qualify pay 5% VAT and no duty, and Transfer of Residence can bring it to nil.
Does a Harley from Europe avoid duty?
Not if it was built in America. The no-duty rate only applies to bikes built in the EU or UK. A US-built Harley bought in Europe pays 10% duty and 20% VAT.
Does an American Harley need an MSVA test?
If it is under 10 years old and has never been registered in the UK, yes, normally the full MSVA. Older bikes usually take an MOT, and bikes over 40 years old that have not been substantially changed do not need one.
Does a US Harley need a new speedometer?
Rarely, because American bikes normally read in mph already. The usual job is the headlight, which is set up for driving on the right.
Can you ship a Harley trike?
Yes. Trikes are covered by the MSVA scheme, and three-wheelers are part of the work we do on our own MSVA lane.
Found a Harley in the States? Send us the model, year and where it is on the quote form.
