Choosing whether to base a modern Harley-Davidson in the UK or in the European Union is no longer just about where you want to ride. After Brexit and several rounds of transatlantic tariffs, the same bike can land thousands of dollars or pounds apart in total cost depending on which side of the Channel you pick.
This guide gives you a practical decision framework for importing 2024–2026 Harley-Davidson models from the USA to the UK or EU. It covers tariffs and taxes, vehicle approval routes (MSVA, IVA, and national schemes), and how each choice shapes DVLA registration, EU registration, and long‑term flexibility. For the full technical detail on UK MSVA and GB conversion IVA, read this together with the main guide UK Harley-Davidson Import Guide: MSVA, IVA & DVLA Registration.
The starting point is understanding how differently the UK and EU now treat U.S.-made Harleys at the border.
Harley-Davidson’s own investor communications and trade coverage highlight that, under the EU’s retaliatory regime, Harley motorcycles exported from the U.S. can face total EU duty of up to about 56% on the customs value. That figure reflects:
The standard 6% EU motorcycle duty.
An additional retaliatory duty that, in some decisions, brought the combined rate up into the mid‑50% range for U.S.-origin Harleys.
West Coast Shipping’s analysis in the article on the Harley-Davidson EU tariff paradox explains how these layered duties inflated landed costs and encouraged gray‑market workarounds. The key takeaway is that EU border charges on fresh U.S.-spec Harley imports are very high and remain subject to ongoing trade discussions.
By contrast, the UK now runs its own tariff schedule as a separate customs territory. Guidance on classifying vehicles and parts and registering an imported vehicle shows the standard pattern for modern motorcycles as:
Import duty of approximately 6% for most motorcycles under HS code 8711.
20% UK VAT, typically charged on the duty‑paid value (CIF + duty).
There is no Harley‑specific retaliatory layer on top of that standard 6% rate. In other words, the UK treats a new U.S.-spec Harley roughly the same as any other large motorcycle from outside the UK.
For a new or nearly new U.S.-spec Harley, the UK almost always wins on border taxes.
For an EU‑spec Harley already in Europe, the picture changes, because EU duty has already been paid and you are mostly dealing with movement between two developed markets rather than a fresh import.
Tariffs decide the tax bill, but vehicle approval decides whether the Harley can be legally registered and ridden. Post‑Brexit, the UK and EU approval pathways are no longer interchangeable.
The UK’s guidance on getting vehicle approval when importing makes clear that you need some form of approval before the DVLA will issue a V5C. For modern Harleys, two routes dominate:
MSVA (Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval) – run by DVSA and used for U.S.-spec or non‑type‑approved bikes, custom builds, and heavily modified machines. The official motorcycle single vehicle approval page and the “apply for MSVA” guidance set out how to book and pay for the test.
GB conversion IVA – administered by the Vehicle Certification Agency for EU‑approved bikes with a valid Certificate of Conformity, where you reuse EU type approval but prove UK‑specific items like headlamps, speedometer units, and fog light position are correct. The VCA explains this route in detail on its vehicle importing information page.
The main UK Harley-Davidson MSVA/IVA guide breaks down exactly which Harleys qualify for each path, but the core logic is:
Buy a U.S.-spec Harley → plan for MSVA.
Buy an EU‑spec Harley → plan for GB conversion IVA.
Inside the EU, national authorities handle approval and registration under the EU framework, using local agencies such as TÜV in Germany or technical services in France. Passing UK MSVA does not automatically give you EU type approval, and an EU Certificate of Conformity does not automatically satisfy post‑Brexit UK requirements; you still need GB conversion IVA or an equivalent UK route.
This means you should plan approval once in your chosen destination, rather than assuming you can import to whichever port is cheapest and then re‑register freely elsewhere.
To understand how tariffs and approvals combine in practice, consider a 2025 Harley-Davidson touring model purchased in the USA for $28,000 and shipped from New York in a shared container.
West Coast Shipping’s international motorcycle shipping rates tool and car examples show lanes like New York to Fos‑sur‑Mer from around $1,150 in 25–29 days and New York to Bremerhaven from around $1,050 in 30–33 days for standard cars in shared containers. Motorcycle slots are generally cheaper per unit but travel on the same services and schedules.
For simplicity, assume a CIF value of $31,500 for the Harley (purchase price plus shipping and port handling).
Using the common UK pattern for modern motorcycles:
Import duty 6% on $31,500 ≈ $1,890.
VAT 20% on $31,500 + $1,890 ≈ 20% of $33,390 ≈ $6,678.
Border taxes total about $8,568. Add MSVA or GB conversion IVA fees, workshop time for any required modifications, DVLA’s £55 registration charge and UK road tax, and most riders end up with a total landed‑and‑registered cost somewhere in the low‑to‑mid $40,000s equivalent, depending on exchange rates and how much work the bike needs.
On the EU side, Harley-Davidson’s own statements and analysis in the EU tariff paradox article describe total duties on some U.S.-built bikes that can reach about 56% of the customs value. Using that as a working assumption:
Duty 56% on $31,500 ≈ $17,640.
VAT 20% on $31,500 + $17,640 ≈ 20% of $49,140 ≈ $9,828.
Border taxes total roughly $27,468, nearly $19,000 more than the UK case before you even factor in national approval and registration fees.
Approval and registration in both regions add more:
UK: MSVA or GB conversion IVA, then DVLA registration as described on registering an imported vehicle.
EU: National type approval or single‑vehicle process, then registration with the national authority.
Those processes are usually measured in hundreds, not tens of thousands, so the duty gap remains the decisive factor for a fresh U.S.-spec Harley.
With tariffs and approvals in mind, here is a practical framework for deciding between UK and EU for a 2024–2026 Harley.
The UK is usually the better destination if:
You live mainly in the UK or Ireland and expect to ride there for several years.
You are importing a U.S.-spec Harley directly from the USA.
You want to minimize landed cost and are not focused on EU resale.
Recommended approach:
Ship directly from the USA to UK ports using West Coast Shipping’s routes described on the United Kingdom shipping page.
Use MSVA for U.S.-spec bikes or GB conversion IVA for EU‑spec bikes, following the step‑by‑step in the UK Harley-Davidson import guide.
Register with DVLA and treat the bike as UK‑based; if you later move it to the EU, expect another round of duty and national approval.
Despite higher duties, the EU may still be the better home if:
You are relocating to or already residing in countries like France, Germany, Spain, or Italy.
You value EU‑wide mobility and resale above upfront savings.
You plan to buy a Harley that is already in the EU, where previous owners have already absorbed the tariff hit.
In that case, common strategies are:
Buy a used EU‑spec Harley from a European dealer, with EU duty already baked into the price.
Register and ride it in the EU market of your choice.
Only move it to the UK later if you relocate, using GB conversion IVA to adapt lighting and speedometer for UK rules.
This keeps you within the EU approval ecosystem and avoids double duty on later moves within the bloc.
If your life is genuinely bi‑regional—perhaps you spend part of the year in the UK and part in France or Spain—you have two main options:
Import the Harley into the UK, paying lower duty and VAT.
Use MSVA or GB conversion IVA and obtain UK registration.
Accept that future EU registration may be treated as a fresh import with its own duty and approval.
Obtain an EU‑spec Harley (or import and approve it in the EU).
Enjoy EU‑wide travel under EU registration.
If you later move to the UK, take advantage of GB conversion IVA to reuse EU type approval and then register with DVLA—a pathway outlined in the GB conversion IVA section of the UK Harley-Davidson import guide.
Option 2 tends to cost more upfront (because of EU‑level pricing) but may save headaches if you expect to bounce between EU countries for years before settling in the UK.
Regardless of destination, you should plan for lighting, instruments, and documents to match local rules.
In the UK, the process described on registering an imported vehicle looks like this:
Customs and NOVA – declare the bike to HMRC, pay duty and VAT, get NOVA confirmation.
Vehicle approval – MSVA for non‑type‑approved Harleys, or GB conversion IVA for EU‑approved Harleys with a Certificate of Conformity.
DVLA registration – submit the V55 form, approval certificate, proof of identity and ownership, and pay the £55 first‑registration fee plus UK road tax.
MSVA typically requires more mechanical and electrical work (headlamps for left‑hand traffic, MPH speedometer, exhaust and noise compliance), while GB conversion IVA focuses on specific UK features because the underlying EU type approval is already in place. The UK Harley-Davidson Import Guide: MSVA, IVA & DVLA Registration explains what each route expects from your Harley.
In EU countries, you will follow that state’s process for:
Customs clearance and duty/VAT.
Technical inspection and approval (for example, via TÜV in Germany).
Registration with the national authority and issuance of plates.
Because EU type approval is harmonized, once your Harley is fully registered in one member state, moving it to another is usually simpler and does not repeat the full approval process—another reason riders who plan to stay in the EU long term often choose an EU‑based bike from day one.
Given the big differences in tariffs and approvals, it makes sense to model both destinations before you commit. The international motorcycle shipping rates calculator lets you:
Enter your pickup location in the USA and compare quotes to UK ports and EU ports on the same screen.
See example transit times like New York–Fos‑sur‑Mer in about 25–29 days and New York–Bremerhaven in about 30–33 days, then overlay your own duty/VAT and approval assumptions.
Experiment with different shipment sizes and timelines to see how consolidating multiple bikes changes the per‑unit cost.
Once you have realistic shipping numbers, revisit the UK Harley-Davidson import guide to make sure your chosen destination aligns with MSVA/IVA requirements, DVLA or EU registration, and your long‑term riding plans.
If you are ready to decide whether your 2024–2026 Harley belongs in the UK or the EU, start with firm transport numbers. Use the calculator on the international motorcycle shipping rates page to compare UK and EU routes side by side, then combine those results with this decision framework and the main UK Harley-Davidson Import Guide: MSVA, IVA & DVLA Registration to pick the path that delivers the best mix of cost, compliance, and long‑term freedom to ride.