Bring bikes abroad as Canadian Citizens or EU citizens?
 

My wife and I are shipping our bikes to Europe. We are both Canadian citizens, but also hold dual citizenship. I have a UK passport and she has a Croatian one. With both of these countries in the EU, would it be more beneficial bringing the motorcycles over with our Canadian passports or European ones?

"in general..." you're less likely to run into import/ export, or border transit,
or traffic stop, questions if your vehicle registration matches your passport

On the contrary, you might run into problems getting insurance for a motorcycle that is plated outside of the EC if you present yourself as a citizen of the EC. Remember, it is insurance for visitors, not citizens.

Similarly, I think it is more likely that customs officials would think twice about an EC citizen importing a foreign plated moto than they would about a citizen of the same country as the bike is plated in.

The Canadian passport is pretty well received abroad, and I have never had any problems importing my Canadan plated moto into Europe using my Canadian passport... hence, I suggest you use the Canadian, rather than the EC passport.

Michael

"On the contrary" (?) My response assumed that the bikes are Canadian registered, and it would in general be easier to use Canadian passports with
Canadian registered vehicles.

Sorry CourtFisher, I didn't read your first response carefully enough. :redface:

Let me amend my original reply (the third post down) by replacing the three words "On the contrary, ..." with "I agree with CourtFisher, ..."

Michael