From Canada to Europe (customs nightmare in Spain - help).
 

Hi guys! I'm just finished my long trip from Ushuaia (ARG) to Anchorage (AK - USA). I'd like to send my motorcycle back (Yamaha Teneré 700 '22 ,license plates: Andorra (Europe)) by air-freighting from Canada to Europe.
Which country do you recommend sending it - prefer less custom paper issues
Andorra don't have any international airports, so when motorcycle arrives at destination I'd like to ride it back to Andorra (actually I live there).
I'd try to avoid Spain (sometimes don't accept CPD, or ATA, or force you to pay 22% taxes) cause my motorcycle don't have European plates (I think the same situation as switzerlands could have) and they have a terrible customs service.

TL;DR:
I had a terrible experience in Spain. Almost nobody wants to work importing/exporting motorcycles (Madrid and Barcelona airports) Few agents are offering that service but don't have idea of working with vehicles without a spanish/european license plate and reject it by default. Once I sent it from Senegal to Madrid and spanish customs asked me for the ATA Carnet or pay around 22% taxes of total price as a new motorcycle. Lucky I had the CPD (Carnet de Passage) and after a few days dealing with a 20 different custom agents they let me take it out, obviously stamping in and out the CPD in Spanish borders. In another occasion (Spain to Argentina) customs in Spain asked to stamp CPD in Andorra before crossing the spanish boarding (obviously, andorran custom reject it).

For that reason I'd like to send it anywhere in Europe which don't have that customs nightmare and obviously have experience
with foreign customers/motorcycles (if I have to reacquire a new CPD, I'll do it).

Thanks a lot!!

Chris.

Given how many Andorran plated vehicles spend most of their time this side of the border I'm surprised they're that picky ... do you have any friends from home who have brought vehicles into France?

I suspect a carnet might be necessary either way

Barcelona and Madrid (international airports) customs consider motorcycles as goods, not vehicles. Therefore, they require as minimum ATA carnet or payment of 22% taxes over the price of the vehicle or the CPD. However, the CPD is difficult to be accepted by authorities. Due to this reason, I would like to send my motorcycle from Calgary (Canada) to a less-customs-problematic country in Europe which accepts CPD without any problems. Thanks ;)

P.S: my country only emits CPD. ATA carnet only for racing teams/events.

Frankfurt, Munich, London, Amsterdam, all do motorcycles all the time, should be no hassle. Fly out of Vancouver, Calgary or Toronto, which ever works for you. Check the Westjet thread shipping Canada to Europe, some good deals possible.

Best of luck, and let us know how it goes.

I shipped (flew with Air Canada) from Calgary to Frankfurt atuumn 2019 - norwegian plated bike. No issues whatsoever…