Insurance for prolonged periods abroad?

A friend of mine is currently in France and will only be back in the UK for a month or so in the next 6 months or so. He's looking to buy a bike here over/just after xmas and ride that out there, rather than a French bike, which he'd have to convert when he comes back (permanently) at the end of this period.

Ideally, he'd like to be able to go across into Germany/back into the UK for long weekends now and then.

His French isn't quite up to the standard neccessary to get a French insurance quote and as the bike would be registered in the UK/he's not French etc., they might be funny about insuring it anyway. Does anyone know of any insurance companies that would allow his to insure it for a year in the UK, but just include prolonged periods abroad for this sort of use?

Anything other issues he should consider other than the "normal" touring things like carrying a spare bulb, stickers on headlights, etc.?

Any advice much appreciated.

I drove my Spitfire in Holland with Norwich Union. Full green card as long as it was back in the UK every three months. 4 trips a year home then for the weekend...

This was a few years ago though (2000)...

Stu

this isnt an insurance thing but if he buys a new bike he needs to be aware of the customs/vat rules on intra ec movements on new vehicles.

not such a major problem with second hand bikes but new will be an issue especially if the French require him to register the vehicle for the time hes there.

if he needs more info the Customs notice is 728 or he can email/pm me... It can be an issue as the VAT rate here is 17.5 Im not sure what Frances is but if its lower he will pay less tax and can pay it in France...

now Ive virtually revealed what I do for a living Im going to go hide in a corner...

[embee]

I go abroad quite frequently, and have worked in EC countries for periods of several weeks at a time, so have looked at insurance a bit.

As far as I'm aware, legally a vehicle must be insured in the country in which it is registered. You need to negotiate the terms on an individual basis with your insurers if you're going to be out of the UK for long periods, but it can be done.

About buying abroad, I bought a new UK spec car in Belgium, and brought it into the UK as a personal import. LYNW will know the chapter and verse , but basically it's a pretty straightforward issue (there are booklets available detailing the requirements).
Basically you personally have to buy it and import it (i.e. not using an agent), and you need specific bits of documentation like Vehicle Type Approval document, all receipts, ferry tickets, etc. I made a mistake in that while it was a brand new car, the receipt from the dealer didn't state "new", so I had to present the car at the Vehicle Licensing Office for inspection (10mins in the car park, nice chap!). The VAT is then payable in the country in which the vehicle is first registered (here it is 17.5%, in Belgium at the time it was 23% I think).

There are effectively few or no restrictions on moving any vehicle you own and is already registered from one EC country to another, though various conformity issues apply (lights/speedo etc) for registration in the new country. If VAT (or equivalent) has been paid once in an EC country, basically it doesn't have to be paid again (there may be technical conditions applying to this principle, too complex for me to understand!)

Hope this isn't too inaccurate (Lynw )

Until you come to holland where it becomes a complete nightmare...

YOu have to pay a heavy tax (33% of new car value) although the proportion of that you pay reduces with each year of the vehicles life.

Then you get all the luxury taxes (although I don't suppose these matter on a bike)

Leather seats are an extra tax
As is ABS
As are air bags
As is airo
As is ecc

It's a nightmare...

Stu

Originally Posted by MavUK

Until you come to holland where it becomes a complete nightmare...

YOu have to pay a heavy tax (33% of new car value) although the proportion of that you pay reduces with each year of the vehicles life.

Then you get all the luxury taxes (although I don't suppose these matter on a bike)

Leather seats are an extra tax
As is ABS
As are air bags
As is airo
As is ecc

It's a nightmare...

Stu

Suddenly ole Blighty doesnt seem so bad

I think that 33% is similar to the IR tax on use of company cars here...

that doesnt include the VAT you pay on the purchase which I believe in the Netherlands is 19%.

Just an issue, Frances standard rate is 19.6% so you may want to pay the VAT here even allowing for exchange rate fluctuations and the fact you have 2 months in which to remove the bike from the uk...

possibly consider Luxembourgs rate is 15%, Germany 16% as alternatives to the country of registration though residency rules may apply in those countries as well as France

If you do opt for new then you need to complete a VAT411 form - you keep copy, your dealer keeps copy, customs get a copy. 2 months down the line if the bike is still in uk, you become liable for the VAT and the bike could be subject to forfeiture....

You can licence a new bike here and ride it for up to 2 months, even if you are removing to France and its not already registered here... it gets allocated a special reg so its identifiable as tax free - you get one by taking your copy of the 411 to the local vehicle registration office (which are all listed in the back of notice 728 if anyone ever wants to know where they are).

If you keep the bike here for the 2 months the advice is to insure it for the full amount including VAT so if its nicked your insurance covers your liability to pay the tax - cos you cant remove it to France you gotta pay the VAT even if its not in your possession

Thought Id break it into 2 parts...

technically embee is right in that if youve paid VAT on a bike then you dont pay it again. But with tax there are always complications... hahaha.. keeps me in a job anyway

If you bring a vehicle in to the UK for registration purposes you will probably get to complete a VAT414 form... and Customs get a copy to determine if tax is due...

You dont pay VAT if
a. its no longer deemed a new means of transport (ie more than 6 months since first registration or liability to be registered for road use and more than 6000 kms under its own power ... doncha luv the lawyers who write this stuff!!!)
b. Youve PAID VAT on its purchase in the member state you bought it in - ie you bought it new and you have a tax invoice showing the tax on it OR you get it 2nd hand from a dealer under the margin scheme.

2nd hand bike - make sure you ask dealer to state clearly on his invoice hes doing it on the margin scheme if only for when the bike gets to France they dont decide your pulling a fast one and making a new bike 2nd hand...
That also covers you with customs when you bring it back after the 6 months and complete the 414...

There are further complications re nato forces/civilian staff/diplomats and Ill do that by pm if anyone really needs to know