Buying a Bike later but......
 

it has a private plate and it is not recognised by anything. I want to check out the history of the bike but I can't.

It's also not recognised by the insurers (I had this before on my WRX import), should I be worried?

No cash has changed hands. How can I check it out and is this normal for a private plate?

I've no experience of this but I wouldn't touch a vehicle of any sort that I couldn't check the history of, could be stolen, written off, anything really

Assuming the bike is UK registered and on a UK plate of some sort it will show up at the DVLA and the DVLA share info with insurance companies.

Is the plate included with the bike and if it is it should show up ion the DVLA database. If it isn't then the bike will be reassigned a (year) relevant registration.

If you do not know the reg or the DVLA and insurance companies do not recognise the reg then you cannot tax, or insure it.

Speak to the DVLA and also the seller to find out why the reg does not come up on any databases, if the excuse seems 'hookie' then walk away.

If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is a duck!

All sorted. The chap had given an incorrect reg number. It all checks out so far so it looks like I am off to south wales for the day to see it in the flesh. :cool:

I have this problem, sort of, with my car. It's a 2001 Passat and is now on it's 3rd plate. The first was a personal plate for the original owner who then swapped it fora 'W' reg. when he sold it. The next owner, who I bought if off, was a bit narked by this as it didn't reflect the age of the car, so got a "proper" age '51' plate. The DVLA don't have any problems as everything has been done by the book.

The problem is when I go to VW for parts, or Euro Car parts, or GSF, or ..... I give them the reg. and they say 'can't find it' so I have to give them the earlier reg. The funny thing is that all of them say they use the DVLA's database but, as the reg. was last changed about 7 years ago I find that rather hard to believe as the DVLA get it right. In your case ask what the reg. number was before. I'm assuming it did have a previous plate as, if the personal plate was on it from day 1, there would be no problems.

Dave

PS: posted then saw your reply ... please ignore ....

Happened to a mate's bike. Turns out it had been in Ireland for a few years and because there wasn't any activity it had "dropped off the DVLA database"

Which was weird because he'd registered and insured the thing!

5t.

VW don't check DVLA, they check their own systems, but you should be able to get them to update their system with your new reg as long as you give them the VIN as well.

Just never seem to get around to it. But VW say that they DO check the DVLA database ..... as do ECP and GSF ..... :wonder:

Dave