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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
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  #1  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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European Customs Control
I'm American. My friend is British. I have an F650GS sitting at my friend's house in England and I want to ride it around Eastern Europe (*) in about 6 months for my precious three weeks of yearly vacation.

Question #1) Can I get it registered and legal in my name even though I don't live in England and won't arrive at Heathrow until maybe 24 hours before I depart on my bike trip?

Question #2) If "NO" for #1, then how far can I get on the bike if it's registered in his name but he's NOT on the trip with me? All of EU? All of GB? Does it make a difference if I cross the channel by ferry or by train?

I've been reading on the forums and wikipedia for about an hour and I'm still not 100% sure! But I think the answer is "All of EU, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican". Is that right? I'm sure any European on here can answer this in about 5 seconds. Any guidance is appreciated!


*Actually I wanted to ride it around Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya, but that route is indefinitely postponed due to ongoing events...
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  #2  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Get your friend to register it in your name a couple of months before you arrive, they can send you the document to sign beforehand, I would never suggest they forge your signature.
I am not sure but it might not need to be in your name, a letter giving persmission for you to use it should be sufficient and you will probably never be asked for it.
By Eastern Europe do you mean Central Europe, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary etc? These are all in the EU, I am not sure if as an American you will need visas but there are no border controls so don't know who would check your passport when you get there. You should be able to visit all the places you list without getting your passport out of your pocket, you will only need it to re-enter the UK, train or ferry no difference.
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  #3  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Insurance?
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  #4  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Thanks! So just to be sure I don't have to demonstrate residency or citizenship or proof of license or anything like that to register a bike? And I don't even have to be there in person to submit the documents?

Ideally, I'd like to make it out of the EU, like to Turkey, Bosnia, Tunisia, Macedonia, etc. That's why I want it in my name...to avoid any holdups at those borders. But I was thinking in case it had to be in my friend's name I could still visit a bunch of Eastern European countries I've never been to and not have to deal with customs at the borders!
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  #5  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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OnlyMark--Are you asking if I've secured a "Green Card" auto insurance policy? The answer is "not yet"...I know it's required and available but I've yet to research much into getting it. Do I need to get it before registering the bike?
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  #6  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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does the bike have any plates on it now? if so, why not keep them on it?
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  #7  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Motoreiter--No, no plates currently on it. It was purchased last September from another HU member and has been sitting idle since then.
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  #8  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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A quick internet search tells me that the Green Card is only REQUIRED in:
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

And the Green Card is simply RECOMMENDED in:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

It also looks like any policy I get in the UK will automatically have "Green Card" status.

I still need to get insurance somehow...recommendations?
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  #9  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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If the bike was purchased from a fellow Hubber in the UK it was presumably registered in the UK at that time. If that's the case, did you have it SORNed? (was a Statutory Off Road Notice (?) in place?) after transferring ownership? (the seller has to declare transfer as well as the buyer to avoid further liability). If its a UK registered bike, we simply keep the same plates with the bike throughout it's lifetime and transfer them with ownership. As long as the bike is MOT'd (our roadworthiness test) and the current road tax is paid, it should be quite easy to get it back on the road. I don't know what the rules are for a non-resident registering a bike here, but your friend could call the local DVLA office for you and ask. If not, I'm sure one of us based here in the UK could do so for you, although it would probably only illicit a theoretical answer.

I would be happy to make the call if you wish.
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Old 11 Apr 2011
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Deenewcastle--Actually the bike was imported from...I think UAE?...and the import duties were paid, the bike was converted to UK spec instrument cluster, and now it needs to be MOT'd and some other paperwork. So no, there are no plates on it. From my online research, it looks like I'll need to do the following:

MOT & Registration anticipated expenses:
MOT (£29.65) MOT test fees : Directgov - Motoring
Registration (£55.00)
Vehicle first registration fee : Directgov - Motoring
Road tax (£70.00)
The cost of vehicle tax for cars, motorcycles, light goods vehicles and trade licences : Directgov - Motoring
BMW UK specification certification (25-50£?) (see below)
(2-wheel MSVA, if necessary £85.00)

For registration, a UK specification certification is necessary. Contact:
BMW homologation dept
BMW (UK) limited
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8TA
Fax: 01344 480 173
Include:
1) Full chassis # (17 digits)
2) Daytime contact #

If anybody would like to call the DVLA for me and make sure this is all correct, I'd really appreciate it!
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  #11  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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On a UK-reg bike you don't need a GC within the EU and it doesn't need to be in your name. Insurance is compulsory.

If you only have 3 weeks then I suggest that going further than Turkey will make for a rushed trip. Perhaps sticking with the extended EU is my suggestion.
__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10
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  #12  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donpablohahn View Post
...............I still need to get insurance somehow...recommendations?
I'll send you a personal message with my own insurance experience and recommendations. I have bought, registered and insured bikes on 2 occasions in the UK.
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  #13  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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I'm not actually on about a Green card, that is an extension of ordinary insurance for the UK. I'm actually more thinking of that at some time you'll need to ride it in the UK, at least to leave the country, and you'll need to insure it for that.
Quite how much for a non resident short term that'll be I've no idea. But I bet it's not cheap.
You'll at least need an address in the UK, especially if you are registering it and insuring it in your own name.
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  #14  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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You can not register the vehicle in your name if you do not live in the EU (a permanent or temporary). To drive a someone else's vehicle is usually sufficient written certified authorization from the owner.
For the EU, you do not need a green card, but check for other countries.
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  #15  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Francs--But foreigners still register bikes in their name somehow, right? What do they do--put a friend's address as their place of residence?
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