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  #1  
Old 29 Jun 2012
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Keeping bike in Europe for many years
I have read many times of people shipping a bike to Europe and keeping it there for many years. Storing when they are not using it and returning to ride when they can. How is this possible?

Are they doing it with a foreign registered bike that is somehow allowed to remain for many years in Europe without local registration?

Are they registering a foreign origin bike in the local country?

Are they buying a local bike and registering it there?

Specifically I would like to ship my bike from USA to Europe (home base in Germany) and leave it there at the end of the summer to come back and ride next year.

Forgive me, as I am sure this has been addressed before. My poor internet connection has sustained all the searching it can. Links to previous threads covering this appreciated as well.
Last edited by bokad; 30 Jun 2012 at 18:07.
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Old 29 Jun 2012
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Originally Posted by bokad View Post
Are they doing it with a foreign registered bike that is somehow allowed to remain for many years in Europe without local registration?
If I had to categorise my situation then this is the closest. We've been in Europe since end of 2009 on an australian registered motorcycle. When I say registered I use that in the loose sense of the word .

I go on the principle of don't ask, don't tell. But you shouldn't take me as a good example, read any kind of example.

If you keep your bike paper work up to date and get the 3rd party insurance or Greencard as it is know here in europe. Then you won't have any troubles so long as you are not a resident in Europe.

NB it is strictly prohibited in most countries to drive a foreign registered motorvehicle if you are a resident in that country. I know this applies as a fact for Germany, Switzerland and Austria and certainly other countries as well.

Enjoy the ride, Europe is a blast!!
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  #3  
Old 30 Jun 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bokad View Post
I have read many times of people shipping a bike to Europe and keeping it there for many years. Storing when they are not using it and returning to ride when they can. How is this possible?

[See replies below]

Are they doing it with a foreign registered bike that is somehow allowed to remain for many years in Europe without local registration?

Are they registering they registering a foreign origin bike in the local country?

Are they buying a local bike and registering it there?

Specifically I would like to ship my bike from USA to Europe (home base in Germany) and leave it there at the end of the summer to come back and ride next year.

Forgive me, as I am sure this has been addressed before. My poor internet connection has sustained all the searching it can. Links to previous threads covering this appreciated as well.
[replies]
Because, after a US (or any non-EU) registered bike is cleared by inbound Customs as a "temporary" personal vehicle import, there is no followup enforcement system/ mechanism that tracks whether that bike has exceeded the legally allowed 6-12 months stay for a "temporary" import.

Yes to foreign registered bike

No to permanent registration. It is (much more) difficult for a non-citizen to buy & register a local EU bike without a legal residence or work/ study visa

Not usually a problem in Germany. See in particular, Hello, although there are many ways to do that. Just be sure, as TurboCharger says, "...keep your bike paper work up to date and get the 3rd party insurance or Greencard"...
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Old 30 Jun 2012
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Thanks for the helpful responses so far.

So in practical terms when you bring in a foreign bike there is a 6-12 month limit that the bike can technically stay but there aren't any real issues with keeping it there longer?
As in if you get pulled over by the police or whatever they don't check it or make a big deal of it?
Any problem with re-exporting the bike to home (USA, etc...) after the machine has well over stayed it's legal limit?

You guys mentioned keeping the paperwork up to date...
What exactly does "paperwork" entail? Registration, insurance, and... ?
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  #5  
Old 1 Jul 2012
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SoOrange NJ USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bokad View Post
Thanks for the helpful responses so far.

So in practical terms when you bring in a foreign bike there is a 6-12 month limit that the bike can technically stay but there aren't any real issues with keeping it there longer?
As in if you get pulled over by the police or whatever they don't check it or make a big deal of it?
Any problem with re-exporting the bike to home (USA, etc...) after the machine has well over stayed it's legal limit?

You guys mentioned keeping the paperwork up to date...
What exactly does "paperwork" entail? Registration, insurance, and... ?
Correct....no real issues as long as your US (passport, DL) registration is current, and you have current min required "Green Card" vehicle insurance

"Pulled over by the police"...EU/ national/ local police have no interest in
the Customs import status of the vehicle, nor do they have access to any
official database that would tell them vehicle import status, even if they were interested.
You don't volunteer, but if asked, you are a tourist (your passport should reflect that), operating your personally owned (imported) vehicle on a "temporary" import with the eventual intent to re-export the vehicle at the end of this temporary tourist visit--even if the vehicle has in fact been stored in EU for a period of time exceeding the legally allowed maximum for temporary vehicle imports.

"Paperwork" means your personal paperwork (passport, visa if necessary),
currently valid US/ State drivers license w/ motorcycle endorsement (in some
jurisdictions, helpful to also have AAA International Driving Permit); vehicle
paperwork means current valid US/ State registration, current valid min required (Euro) "Green Card" vehicle insurance
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