Permanently importing bike from South America to Europe
 

Hi there!

Let's say we buy 2 secondhand Honda XR 400 bikes in Santiago and drive them all the way back to the Netherlands.

What do we have to do (paperwise) to keep the bikes in the Netherlands (permanent import)? As far as I know it's not really possible or VERY difficult to do it legally/insured?

Thanks!

Hello Carry:

It will be almost impossible (certainly economically impractical) to register a vehicle (motorcycle, car, truck, does not matter what kind) manufactured for sale outside of the EC in an EC country.

The problem is not one of residency or import taxes or anything like that, the problem is that the vehicle won't be labelled as meeting the European emissions control requirements and lighting and other safety requirements. For that reason it will not pass the obligatory safety inspection that is required before a vehicle can be registered.

This problem is universal, for example, it's almost impossible to buy a new car in Europe, then ship it to Canada, or the USA, or any other fully developed country and register it there.

Michael

It is possible into the UK with single vehicle approval but unless there is something similar in the Netherlands it is difficult to say.

Ireland
 

how about registering one in Ireland. Are the procedures different

In Croatia for example expats that come back to permanently reside in Croatia, and they bring their vehicles from abroad like USA/Canada (manufactured in US for example) the vehicle must go through process called homologation. It is procedure that usually comprise of changing your lights, light signalization, emission check and possible other stuff depending on the year, type, make of the vehicle. It's a complication but it's doable, but having in mind the time and cost you have to check it for yourself in your home country how much would be the total regarding the time and money.

Cheers
Dooby