Thank you for using or considering using the club’s vintage motorcycle spares service. To ensure your parts reach you without unnecessary delays, we want to provide a quick update on how our international shipping works now that the UK is outside the European Union.
Our Delivery Policy
The club ships all parts to European members via Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU). This means our checkout prices only cover the cost of the spare parts and the physical postage. Any import taxes or handling fees required by your country’s customs authority are not collected by us and must be paid by you.
What to Expect When Your Parcel Arrives:
Before your local postal carrier (such as La Poste, DHL, or Deutsche Post) delivers your box, they will contact you via email, SMS, or a physical card through your door to collect the following fees:
1. Local Import VAT: You will be charged your country’s standard VAT rate on the combined total value of the parts and the shipping cost.
2. EU Flat Customs Duty (Orders €150 or less): The EU charges a flat customs fee of €3 per unique type of part code in the box.
3. Standard Tariffs (Orders over €150): Larger orders may attract standard international customs duties if the parts were originally manufactured outside the UK or EU (e.g., vintage parts from Japan or the US).
4. Courier Clearance Fees: Your local mail service or courier will charge an administrative handling fee (usually between €5 and €15) for processing the package through customs.
Shipping to outside the EU
Many of the same issues exist namely:-
Tax and Duty Implications
Import Duty Charges
1. Local customs offices calculate fees based on the item value and shipping costs.
2. Vintage parts sometimes qualify for lower tariff rates under classic vehicle exemptions.
3. Recipients must pay these charges before the courier delivers the package.
Local Sales Taxes (VAT / GST)
1. Most countries apply their local tax rate to the total import value.
2.The UK applies 20% VAT, while Australia applies 10% GST on cross-border goods.
3. Many regions waive these taxes entirely if the package value falls below a specific low-value threshold.
Courier Handling Fees
1. Shipping companies charge a processing fee for clearing items through customs.
2. Postal services and private couriers (like DHL or FedEx) routinely bill the recipient for this service.
3. These fixed admin fees can sometimes cost more than the actual tax on small, inexpensive parts.
What You Need to Do:
Please keep a close eye on your tracking information and spam folder. Once customs calculates the fees, you generally have around 3 weeks to pay online before the courier automatically returns the package to the club.
We love keeping these classic bikes on the road, but we want to make sure you are fully aware of these local fees before we package up your order! If you have any questions or want to check an order status, please reply directly to this email.