i'm heading back to new zealand from the uk for a couple of years next year and want to take my bmw xchallenge with me due to the money i have spent on it and the stupid money charged for bikes in nz.. as far as i can see the options i have are the following:

do a temporary import for it which means i either need a carnet or to drop a deposit at customs when i arrive. this means that the bike stays on the british reg which i would need to keep current (near impossible with no way to get an mot!) it also seems that this arrangement is for a maximum of 12 months.. but not sure if this just means you lose your deposit after 6 months, and i also saw a little note somewhere that this could be extended

do a permanent import. this means the gst, duty and customs charges are due on it although it seems that as i'm a returning citizen i can get around this charge. presumably i would also then have to take it to a testing station and get it registered with a nz plate. not sure what this would then mean when we come back to europe (to either the uk or spain)...


anyone know if i've got that right and if there are any other avenues for this? also, would the nz customs inform the uk government of the import and would that mean my uk reg would be lapsed, or could i just declare it off the road in the uk and then waltz back in with it after 2 years and re-tax it?

cheers

chris

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"I think we've stumbled onto something substantial"

I am not sure if the NZ is the same as Aus, but I think once you can prove ownership for more than 12 months overseas, you waive any import duties, so that would be the best option imho

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www.travellingstrom.com

As far as i know if you are a citizen of NZ you won't be able to bring your bike in on a carnet and it will need to be imported and registered with NZ plates.

If you a returning permanently,keeping it for personal use and have owned the bike previously for more than 12 months G.S.T will be waived.

I'm unsure about the U.K registration being on hold but i do know that LTNZ will keep the registration papers for 6 years but maybe you can just get replacement ones for the UK plates.

Do it as a permanent import and if you promise not to sell the bike for 2 years they are able to waive the GST.
Best you talk to a NZ Customs Broker who is familiar with vehicle entry.
Keri Brickmann on +64 3 338 1761 or keri@stellarint.co.nz is who I have used for 7 years. She is good at what she does.
You can then register it with VTNZ after you have a Warrant of Fitness. Most of the VTNZ outlets have the ability to do the WoF and rego in the same building so it can be a 30 minute process on a good day.
Good luck.

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Kind regards
Dave Milligan

cheers guys looks like i will be best to do it as a permanent import

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"I think we've stumbled onto something substantial"