Commando import

Why not phone DVLA and ask? They have invariably been helpful to me. I imported a 1952 Land Rover from NZ. They were perfectly happy to accept the LR club dating certificate for issuing an age related plate and correctly dated V5C.

4 years ago I got a age related plated for a BSA B44 using a BSAOC dating cert, I never mentioned it was a US import and other than a visit being required to verify stamps on frame and engine it was painless.

I imported a 1970 Commando Roadster from Canada, and i had it registered at a DVLA office last year. I took with me the NOC dating letter, and aninsurance cover note, that had the frame number on it.The DVLA office that was then in Brighton where very helpful and it did not take them long to complete it all.The DVLA do all the checks them selves, and if you have a dating letter you should be able to get a 1970 registration number. When they had offices around the country it was so much easier, but it should not be too hard to get the correct registration for your 1970 year Commando.

I forgot to mention in the above post that the bike will need an MOT, and this can be tested using the frame number. Your will also need a new registration application form that you should be able to get fromany PO. You book the MOTand you can legaly ride there with out a number plate. I did this once in the 1970's going through Brixton and i got pulled over as i did not have a number plate showing. I pulled out my DVLA letter as i asked them to give me one if i got pulled over. The policeman went to his mate in the car and showed him the letter, and then sent me on my way. I took my Commando Roadster in for its MOT today and i asked them how they registered their new bikes. Thye told me that they send all their documantatuion down to the DVLA in Swansea, and then they are sent back the registration.

Just a little addage, you can not get the registration form from the post office it has to come from the dvla, i checked my local and main post officesin the next town and they have withdrawn the v55/c ,you can order it on line which i tried but it did not come after 7 days so rang up the dvla who posted one out, i mentioned you get no confirmation when tying to order online and they are looking into it. Just mot`d the bike yesterday and posted all the info today to dvla so fingers crossed for the next couple of weeks for my registration.

Roughly 14 years ago I bought a re-imported 1970/71 Roadster (from the US, first registered in the UK (Cambridge) then exported soon after..) Mechanically it was in great shape so I only did a light cosmetic restoration, I didn't want it 'concours'as I was going touse it every day asa ride-to-work bike (which I did all year round for about 8 years, she onlyonce let me down and that was my fault..) -I got a dating letter from NOC which dated it to 1971 production (141***) even though it was dated 1970 on the red plate. I took it with the relevent paperwork tomy localDVLA Tax office for inspection and the chap there was quick and efficient but the snag came when he insisted on using both the original Norton frame number (141***) and the North CarolinaVIN number it had been allocated in the US (NC********etc..) I tried to point out that the NOC letter proved that the factory frame number on the red plate was the correct one to go by but he wasn't having any of it so the bike ended up with a registered frame number that had well over 20 digits ! - Strangely enough though he did note the date on the red plate and issued it with a 1970 registration number ! - I was a bit upset about the frame number issuebecause, to 'those in the know' the frame number now looked dodgy (at least on paper..)however this didn't matter in the end as I eventually soldher to a German chap who intended to restore it to 'S' Type spec andshe was 'Permanently Exported'.. That bike really was 'well travelled' !