Visa and Carnet for Eastern Europe and Turkey
 

I am an Australian heading to Germany in March to buy a bike as I have a good friend and an address there to use. I also have dual nationality and carry both an Australian and Irish EU passport. I have checked with the Germans and buying and owning the bike is OK as long as I enter on my EU passport.

Now I have driven around western Europe but not Eastern Europe can people advise on taking a German bike through

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, I will return through Latvia and the Baltic countries.

Question Do I need a Carnet for the bike in any of these countries?
Question Do I need visas for any of these countries? I understand that I will need one for Russia.

Any help appreciated

:welcome: to the HUBB!

No you won't need a carnet for these countries. In the EU you only need the bike reg papers. In Belarus and Russia (They're in a customs union along with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) you get one temporary import paper for both countries. As you will have seen on the news, parts of Ukraine are a war zone at the moment: Best plan your route accordingly.

On an Irish (EU) passport you won't need a visa for the EU countries on your itinerary. For Turkey you can buy one at the border for 10 euros. For the others, best check the appropriate Irish/ Australian government/ embassy websites.

In order to register a bike in Germany you have to be registered ("Angemeldet") there. Best look into how easy that is to do. Maybe consider the services of Motofeirme | Ride your bike, in Europe! in the ROI for buying a bike? Martin is a good guy and many Aussies (and other members of the ex-Empire :cool4: ) have used his services.

FWIW, the search function (top right on every page) is v good.

German paper work
 

Thanks for the advise Chris, I have been searching the Hub for advise on what is needed for "Angemeldet" the term is totally new to me, does anyone have experience of what that entails. I have a good mate who is providing me a flat and a workshop near Munich to base myself. I went to the German embassy and they advised me to just enter Europe on my Irish passport and I would be OK to buy a bike? but officialdom is not always correct, there is a lot to know.

I felt that by looking at bike adds there was just a lot more equipment on the market in Germany that suited my needs and price. Is it easier to buy a bike in UK? lots of aussies seem to buy cars there?

Mark

Angemeldet is the German for registered. To live and do anything in Germany you need to be registered at an address. Can your German friend register you at his address, so that you can register a German vehicle in your name at a German address?

The UK is much easier. I could (and would, but I'll be moving abroad soon, so this would be a pita for you) register a vehicle in your name at my address.

I imagine the rules in the ROI are as easy as the UK. Martin at Motofeirme has bought/registered/insured a lot of bikes for foreigners. What sort of bike are you looking for?

Best country to buy a bike and legally own
 

Chris, I am not that fussy about the bike as long as it has hard luggage and is an upright seated tourer. ie KLE, KLR, Suzuki Freewind, Tenere, Honda Transalp or Africa twin, BMW 650 with a proper top mounted fuel tank.

I have relatives in UK and a pile of them in Ireland for addresses and storage. Just been on the phone to Germany and my mate is off to his local government office to check the rules, though he thinks I will need a Tax number a bank account and a address to comply with the German rules.

I will post his response, but maybe UK is a better option for an aussie, more investigation required.

Mark

Indeed the Germans and their rules. Hors d'oeuvres must be followed (See point number 14 at Fawlty Towers: 20 of Basil's best rants - Telegraph)

Of the bikes you mention I can talk knowledgeably about the Transalp and Africa Twin (I own 2 of the former and 1 of the later). The Trannie is severely underrated by Brits (because they IMHO have no bl00dy idea and just believe the BMW marketing hype), so prices are very low for what is a brilliant and reliable bike.

Best places to look for buying a UK bike include:

Honda Trail Bike Forums

www.adventurebikerider.com

The classified ads on Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More | eBay

Here on the hubb less so (mainly just klr650s in South America)

A mate in Hull, East Yorkshire currently has a very tidy example that he'll tour Europe on in April. He often changes his bikes, so it may be available after that.

Despite going abroad, I can't sell mine as they're both old rats that have been thoroughly abused. One lives in Bulgaria and one here in West Yorkshire. It did a little trip round Central Asia/Mongolia/Siberia recently. It got a wash inside and out once too :D : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6maYFQEnokk

Hi man im German and hope i can help you. True to register a bike in Germany you have to be "gemeldet" at a adress. For this some times you need a letter from the owner of the house proofing that you permanently live there. Then you need to get a so called "Doppelkarte" or new "EVB Nummer" from the Insurance companie (very easy just one phone call). Then you have to go to the "Zulassungsstelle" were you have to show your passport & adress. You also have to give a Bank Accound so they can withdraw the tax every year. This also works with a Bank Accound of a friend, if you have a power of authority for this.
The bike also has to have "TÜV" (road worthy test every 2 jears).

Then you will get your number plate and can start to ride inside of EU.
The insurance company will send you the contract details wich you have to fill out, sign (with bank details, details of your bike etc) and send back.
Other countrys might have different rules. For Russia you might need another insurance.

Enjoy your trip and PN me if you have any questions :)

Just a quick note on visas with your Irish passport:

Turkish visa can be bought online now. 180 days validity. I don't think it is available at the border anymore.

Russia and Belarus are the only other countries you need visas for out of those that you listed.

Buying and registering a bike in Ireland is quite straightforward if you choose that route. I think Motofeirme have a couple of bikes for sale at the moment.

You will find it a lot easier and cheaper, to buy and insure the bike in Ireland, especially as you hold an Irish passport.
To make it even easier, get yourself an EU license. They will swop an Aussie one in Ireland.
Germany requires a lot of proof of residence.
Take a look on DoneDeal.ie - Ireland's biggest classifieds site for used bikes.

WW