How To Register A Motorcycle With No Paperwork
The process to register a motorcycle with no paperwork in the UK with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is a procedure that can be done online.
There are a variety of reasons why a motorcycle may not have previously been registered with the DVLA. The motorcycle could be brand new, imported from another country, or it could be a very old or classic motorcycle. Additionally, if a motorcycle has been significantly modified its information, such as its VIN number, engine number, and other relevant information may need to be updated and amended as it may be out of date or does not match the existing information on the DVLA database.
1. Find The Engine & Frame Numbers
The first step in registering a motorcycle with no paperwork is to find the engine and frame numbers; these numbers are unique to each frame and engine produced and are normally stored in the DVLA database.
Motorcycles must be registered with the DVLA before they can be driven on UK roads, especially if their engine and frame numbers have been changed or they have been brought into the country and are not currently listed in the DVLA's database.
The frame number will normally be stamped on the bottom bracket of the frame, or alternatively, will be on a sticker on the frame if the frame is made of carbon fibre.
The engine number will normally be stamped directly on the engine itself, but can be found in the original manual, if you have access to it.
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2. Fill out the correct forms
To get a motorcycle registered on UK roads, there is a document that needs to be completed.
The registration number, tax class, manufacturer, make, model, engine, and frame numbers are all requested on this form alongside other information. By gathering all of this data in one location, the DVLA is able to keep track of the motorcycle and tax it in the future.
The required form is called either a V55/4 or a V55/5 and the correct form depends on the motorcycle's current status as either new or used.
A V55/4 form is used to submit an application for the first vehicle tax and registration of a brand-new motorcycle that has never been registered in the UK. It can be found here.
A V55/5 form is used to submit an application for the first vehicle tax and registration of a used motorcycle that has been registered in the UK in the past but may have undergone modifications or is being imported into the UK for the first time. It can be found here.
The government requires extra documents to be supplied with the form once it has been filled out and is ready to be sent. A photocopy of the driver's photocard licence must be sent with the motorcycle registration application as identification.
If this is not feasible, copies of identity-verifying documents---such as a passport, birth certificate, marriage licence, or paper driver's license---or photographs of such documents---must be sent in their place.
A recent utility bill, a bank statement from the last three months, a medical card, or a council tax bill from the preceding year are all acceptable proofs of address.
Furthermore, you may be required to send documents such as payment for vehicle tax, an MOT certificate, a certificate of newness, plus supporting documents if the vehicle has been imported, rebuilt, reconstructed, or is simply old.
Before approving the application and issuing a V5C Vehicle Log Book, the DVLA could ask to inspect and examine the motorcycle. A V5C logbook includes all the pertinent details, including the vehicle's manufacturer, colour, engine size, and registration date, as well as the names of the registered keeper and owner. [1]
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Problems with not having a V5C or licence plates
Without a V5C Vehicle Log Book, a rider cannot pay tax on their motorcycle to make it road legal since the DVLA lacks the necessary information to authorise vehicle tax. Therefore, it is incredibly important to register a motorcycle with the DVLA.
Additionally, a rider cannot purchase licence plates from a supplier who is lawfully registered to manufacture them if they do not have a V5C logbook. This is due to the fact that the provider will want documentation proving that a rider is authorised to use the registration plate number being requested, and this documentation frequently resides in a V5C or in documents that can only be accessed with a V5C, such as SORN or tax reminders. [2]
Riders who choose to ride without registration plates are breaking the law and risk a £100 fine and three points on their licence.
Additionally, a rider looking to sell a motorcycle without a V5C will likely have difficulties, as they cannot legally prove that they are the registered keeper and owner of the vehicle.
Riders looking to purchase a motorcycle from someone without a V5C must be extra vigilant, as these motorcycles could have been stolen.
This also applies to vehicle licence plates. Often thieves will clone a licence plate on a stolen motorcycle with a motorcycle of the same type. A way to check that a motorcycle has not been stolen is to use online databases to check the VIN number against the registration number on the licence plate of the motorcycle.
Sources
[1] https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/new-registrations
[2] https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/new-registrations
