I originally posted this under the title ' Security deposit/bond payable on arrival in EU?' in the Trip Paperwork forum but had no replies.

I'd appreciate any comments from those of you who have shipped non-EU registered bikes to Europe and especially from anyone who has used Wallenius Willheim to Bremerhaven.

My original posting...

The last time I shipped a motorcycle to Germany it was registered in the UK and so I haven't encountered the following before.

This time I am shipping my US registered bike with the intention of riding it back to the UK and importing it. I am a UK Citizen.

I have received a document from Wallenius Willheim (Shipping Co) in Bremerhaven entitled 'HOW TO PICK UP YOUR VEHICLE'.

It mentions having to deposit a 'Security Amount' at German customs of approx 30% of the vehicles value.

Does anybody have any experience of this?

Any info would be a help.

Cheers

Adam

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ShortWayRound - OTR RTW since 2006

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Not recently & not exactly, but about 20 years ago (back in the days when restrictive practices in the car trade in the UK made it cheaper to buy a car in Europe) I collected a brand new car from Bremerhaven.
Being Germany, I found the whole process very straight forward with assistance on the day of collection from the staff.
At the time I was living on the continent, so owning and driving the new car around there meant that I imported it into the UK more than 6 months later (which was one of the rules in those days) in a very straight forward manner.

I suspect that this information is of little use to your circumstances, if only because it was that long ago and the rules may be different, but I would say that the authorities at the port of Bremerhaven will be correct and accurate - there were 1000s of vehicles there when I passed by and they do this as their job, every day.

My guess is that the 30% you mention is a deposit to ensure that you pay EU taxation i.e. when you can show that import tax is paid then the deposit is likely reimburseable.

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Dave

I've gotten UR EM ,,
You are lucky ,, WW warned you in advance,, I turned up May of 2011,, they hit me with 4,500 + euro bond.. not they but the Deutche Zoll ..

Credit card is preferred , as you leave EEC ,,, you have the last country customs document your departure and you get the credit back. Takes a month. A 17,000 dollar Harley in US costs 32,000 in Europe ,, so I understand.

Bremen is the only port doing this at the moment ,, and had I known this ,, I would have gone to UK ,, South Hampton, where WW calls,, then cross the channel ,, nothing much to see in Bremerhaven any way,, Belgique ,, or Holland is more interesting.

When the ship arrives ,, WW will notify you ,, they will ask you to hire a forwarder ,, you pay 120 euro for documentation ,, then you go to WW office by the dock gates ,,pay again ,, stevedoring charges ,, 40 euro it was ,, for bringing your bike to their office,, better hire a taxi ,, will cost you 25 - 40 euro to get to the port... forwarders office ,, have the cab wait ,, then to the WW office.

Now ,, once you get the bike ,, and drive it out to the exit/entrance of the port ,, on the right is the Zoll an old building ,, you are to park ,, go in ,, pay the bond then leave,, However ,, at the middle of the road at the gate ,, two young kids ,,, Zoll workers in the uniform ,,the guards,, really don't pay much attention.

I didn't stop .. just drove out ,, waving at these two kids ,, and was in Hannover for the din din.
I am sure they tightened up their act by now.
I did send a nice EM to WW and the forwarder , that I was back in Korea, with my bike ,, safe and sound.

Forwarder's website http://www.hollco.de/
Bremerhaven office ,,, Frauleine Geiser Wever

Thanks for your posting Joe...much appreciated. Damn!!!! That SUCKS!!!

I have no need to go to Bremerhaven, its just where the WW ship docks in Germany. Maybe The Netherlands (Rotterdam?) would be better?

Either that or ship to the closest non-EU country (Turkey?) and ride back to the UK from there?

Anybody shipped from the US to a country bordering the EU? Morocco and Turkey spring to mind.

Cheers

Adam

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ShortWayRound - OTR RTW since 2006

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That says it all; you can't avoid import duty/tax, not legally anyway.
As per Joe's post, you might as well ship to Southampton.

Bit harsh on Bremerhaven Joe, but I know what you are saying; it was a damp, foggy "north sea" day when I was there!
Your note about the Zoll building and guys brings back memories.

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Dave

[QUOTE=Walkabout;372045]That says it all; you can't avoid import duty/tax, not legally anyway.
As per Joe's post, you might as well ship to Southampton.


If I ship to Southampton my bike will get stuck in customs until the whole duty/tax issue is resolved. I won't have time for that when I get back as I'll only be in the country for a few weeks. If I ride it back to the UK then I can defer the whole process until the autumn when I'll have the time.

I also have friends on the continent that I plan on visiting on my way home.

Sadly I know I can't avoid duty/tax, I'm just hoping to have some say over when.

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ShortWayRound - OTR RTW since 2006

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Then consider flying the bike into the EU, or to Turkey to name one option, simply because there should be so many more options for freight-handlng airports rather than freight seaports.

Doesn't get rid of the tax aspect, but some places may be less "organised" than Germany.

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Dave

I just shipped my bike to Bremerhaven and I am wondering if this deposit is 100% required??? Can someone who has done same confirm this?
Do I face the same issue if I ship to Southampton or Zeeberg?
Thanks