Countries with long term parking possibilities.
 

Hi people,

after covid19 I want to plan my next few years of an RTW motorcycle trip.
My way of travel is 6 months travel and then fly home, the Netherlands, for 4 months or and fly back to my motorcycle, to travel again.

1. Does anybody know what countries I can legally leave my motorcycle stored somewhere for 6 months or so? And pick it up again? I know of Uruguay, that allows for one year. Is there a list available with more countries, so I can plan my travels?

2. a question about flying home short term (<1 months) and leave motorcycle behind. In which countries is this an issue? Last time I missed a funeral while I was in southern Morocco and could not travel by airplane because I had to leave together with my motorcycle. And riding home was just too far to make it on time.

Thanks!

Hello:

In just about every country of the world - including Canada, the USA, and the EC if you are not an EC resident - it is not legal to leave a vehicle you brought in for tourist purposes in the country while you fly out.

Having said that, from a practical (rather than legal) point of view, the only important consideration is whether or not the vehicle got stamped into your passport when you entered the country. If that was done (as is the case in North African countries, or Turkey, for example), then you have no choice but to export the vehicle with you. It might be possible to make arrangements to leave the vehicle in bonded storage, but that is something that is rarely done and would be very expensive and complicated to organize.

If you are in a country where the vehicle didn't get stamped into your passport, or otherwise "recorded" as a tourist vehicle entering the country, then from a practical (not legal) point of view, you can leave it behind and go pick it up later. I have done this many times in many different countries.

You want to be discreet about the matter - best to organize storage at a motorcycle dealer or other motorcycle facility, somewhere that has a warehouse or shed they can store the vehicle in, with the licence plate on the back of the bike against the wall and out of sight. I like to store my bike at motorcycle dealers, because they have a financial incentive (the monthly fee I pay for storage) to look after the bike, and they also have the necessary facilities to keep the battery charged up.

Michael

I left my bike for 2-3 months legally in the following countries during my RTW trip:

1. Australia - Bike was imported on a Carnet and rumors said that I had to leave with the bike. But I contacted the right australian dept and they allowed me to leave my bike and fly out for 6-7 weeks. They needed my bikes details and Carnet number, adress where the bike was stored and name of the person in charge of the bike while I was away.


2. Uruguay - this country gives foreign plated vehicles a 12 month TIP. No problems whatsoever.

3. Mexico - this is a bit more tricky but a few of the mexican states doesnt require a TIP (amongst them Quintana Roo, and I belive one of the states bordering USA also has this regulation...?) So when exiting from Belize I just told the mexican customs staff that would store my bike in Quintana Roo for a couple of months. And they were happy with that. Had to ride down to the border again when I came back and arrange a TIP, but that wasnt any big deal and straight forward.

I also know many travellers stored their vehicles in Cambodia as this country doesnt hand out any TIP or similar document, so basically any foreign vehicle isnt registrated at all when in Cambodia. BUT - this seem to maybe have changed right before the Covid thing started. And it is also depending on which border one enter the country through...

https://ukgser.com/forums/showthread...ght=Gael+winds

https://ukgser.com/forums/showthread...s+in+the+Congo

https://www.tiger800rtw.com/

Also possible in the Stans

True, but there are often limits on how long a vehicle can remain in a country unless it has been officially imported (duties paid, etc.). For instance, you can leave your moto in Russia for up to a year on a "temporary registration" even if you leave, but no longer. Previously IIRC it was some shorter period, I think 3 months.

Also, IIRC, in Morocco you could leave a moto, but only if it was "bonded;" when I went there about ten years ago, there were a few providers who would bond and store your moto for a fee.

Lots of details to consider, and consequences can be severe if you get it wrong, so step carefully!

I don’t believe there are very many places where officially you can leave your bike for a long time. But there are some places where you might be able to get away with it. I’ve been told if you leave your bike in parts of Europe, you’re unlikely to get into trouble. I don’t have to definitive data though.

Btw I’ve been looking into this as well. My current plan is to ship a bike to Europe. There is someone who will store bikes in Ireland, France Bulgaria and Croatia. My plan is to start with Ireland and then slowly work east and eventually go to the stans. Or possibly I’ll ship the bike back after Bulgaria


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Ah, that (bonded storage) is a whole different matter.

I think that any country that permits operation of bonded storage facilities would permit storage of an object (any kind of object) in bonded storage for as long as you are willing to pay the storage fees.

But, using bonded storage is expensive and involves a lot of paperwork. With rare exceptions, it would probably be cheaper to ship the moto home by air.

Michael

Well if you going to regularly visit your favorite countries in decades to come then you should buy a local bike in those countries & register it with a local guy.

But (and i'm thinking this is you) just rent a bike when you need it in the country you are planning on visiting, storing "Your Bike" will always be problematic.

Mezo.

I would love to rent but it only makes sense if you visit for a couple of weeks. Very few places have rates that work for longer periods (which is how I travel).


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I literally have an email in my inbox from the vehicle registration authority here in Estonia, quoting the specific paragraph of law, and explaining that a non-EU-resident's motor vehicle may remain in Estonia for up to one year (before needing to be registered here, with duties paid).

Given that we share a land border with a non-EU state, and have a thriving culture of commercial motorcycle hotels for overwintering... You've got options.

We left our camper in Peru for several months - legally by arrangement with customs.
Twice left it in Argentina for over 6 months because we were given an 8 month TVIP, but that isn't guaranteed and is actually illegal.

As for Uruguay, a couple of years ago that arrangement fell in a big heap when customs confiscated and sealed scores of vehicles and owners were forced to return and spend weeks in hotels fighting a court case to get their vehicles back - so even after years of such cosy arrangements there is always a chance it will go wrong.
Aduana in David in Panama will arrange bonded storage for a daily fee for up to 6 months.

Canada has a specific procedure that allows a vehicle to be left for up to a year on payment of a refundable deposit.