Temporary vehicle import to EU
 

Anyone have first hand experience of shipping a non-EU registered bike into the UK under a temporary import approval without a carnet

In my case the bike is Australian registered and I don't have a carnet and it should arrive in the UK in the next couple of days

My shipping agent has just informed me the temporary import approval issued by UK customs is only good for countries within the EU and a carnet will be required to enter any other country

My understanding is a carnet can only be issued from the country the bike is registered in and must be issued before the bike leaves the country

About 10 years ago, I shipped my Canadian plated ST 1100 from New York to Southampton, England via the Queen Elizabeth II ferry (I also travelled along with the bike).

When I rode off in England, the customs person filled out a form of some kind and advised me that I had to eventually export the bike from the UK. I'm afraid I can't remember the exact details, but it was a pretty quick and simple process.

About a week later, I left the UK for the continent, rode around for a couple of months, and shipped the bike back to Canada by air from France. I never did do anything related to the form given to me by the UK Customs people when I shipped the bike out of France, because no-one asked me about it.

I have since shipped the same bike in and out of continental Europe a few times, and in each case, there was no paperwork of any kind required.

This leads me to believe that the UK has their own scheme for tracking temporary tourism imports of vehicles. For sure, I can say that they do not require a carnet for temporary import of a vehicle for tourism purposes. It is possible that if the UK Customs person has doubts about whether the vehicle is being legitimately imported for temporary tourism, they might require further paperwork or some kind of bond, but I think that as long as the Customs inspector is satisfied that the temporary import is for genuine, legitimate tourism, all they do is fill out a form recording the arrival of the vehicle.

This UK Government website provides more information about this exact topic: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicle...porary-imports

Michael

Thanks Michael
The U.K. Customs form I am required to complete is to notify the agency of the temporary importation of a non-EU registered motor vehicle from outside of the EU to the UK - supporting information states the vehicle must be exported from the EU (not just UK) within 6 months

I am using a shipping agent who has done import/export of non-EU motorcycles in/out of the UK many times

There is no suggestion that a carnet is required to bring the bike into any EU country but I have been advised by the shipping agent that I will require a carnet for any non-EU countries such as Switzerland and Norway

Your experience indicates this information (ie. Carnet required) is incorrect and furthermore there are no customs requirements for the temporary importation of a foreign (non-EU) vehicle into EU and non-EU countries within Europe??

You will not require a carnet for Norway or Switzerland or any other country this side of Iran or Egypt, even Turkey issues a TIP these days, not needed for Central Asia either if you are thinking of going that way.

Concur Marks reply. I just ride my Australian registered bike into Turkey 2 days ago and all they wanted was to see the rego paperwork and make sure I had insurance. Note heading north through EU countries to Concur and based on experience over last few years expect no problems.

Whilst you may in theory your supposed to remove your bike from the EU within 6 months mine was stored in the UK between 2011-2015 and used for annual trips around Europe without anyone raising any questions (not even when I had to report it stolen at one stage). So whilst the rule might exist fortunately it doesn't seem to be policed.

Sent from my SM-P350 using Tapatalk

Find a new shipping agent, because the one who told you that doesn't know jack-shit.

I've entered Switzerland with my Canadian-plated motorcycle just about every year since 2001. The Swiss don't bat an eye, in fact, most of the time I don't even stop at the border, I just get waved through when I slow down at the inspection station.

Last year I was in Norway, again, no inspection, no border crossing formalities of any kind, it was like crossing a municipal boundary at home, a total non-event.

Uh, yes, that scenario does sound familiar... I must confess that there have been a few years when I have 'forgot' to pick up my motorcycle after dropping it off at the European dealership for service in the late fall, only to remember that I really should go pick it up and pay the bill around April of the next year once the weather started to warm up again. :) As a matter of fact, your post just reminded me that I haven't seen that motorcycle since last October - dammit, I must have forgotten it in Europe once again!

When men get old, the memory is the second thing to fail.

Michael

HA! :biggrin: :thumbup1:

Now that's the way to temporarily store your bike overseas during the less favourable riding season(s). I've done it myself, at least half-a-dozen time .. all around the world.

A nice bottle of 'duty-free' to the garage owner/mechanic always sweetens the deal on the return trip too. No problem of course, especially as you probably flew-in to collect your bike just the day before.

Q: @ Michael, have you ever had to a pay pre-agreed storage fee to the garage owner in addition to the servicing costs? I have, on 2-3 occasions, the cost of which varied between $8 - $20 per month. BUT on those occasions I kept the duty-free 'gift' all to myself!

Yes, in fact, I always expect to pay for storage. The typical rate is about $1 a day. The service facility sometimes waives the storage costs when I pick it up in the spring if the service carried out over the winter has been significant. For example, if the winter service involved 2 new tires, new brakes, lots of stuff like that and the bill is up in the 4 figure range, the garage will often waive storage fees because they appreciate being able to do the work at their leisure over the winter.

But, when that happens, I always consider it to be a pleasant surprise, I don't have any expectations that the storage fee will be waived.

Michael

registration renewal?
 

If you had foreign plates during the time 2011-2015, how did you get a plate renewal each year in order to continue riding in Europe on foreign plates? And what about continued insurance? I am sending my bike to Europe in May from UAE.

Indeed. Overwinter storage is a standard and common service in the parts of Europe that (used to) have a real winter.

My shop charges 30€ a month (on the low end), but if you commit to at least 4 months' storage, then the labour on the end-of-season service is free. Just pay for the oil and filters. Since the storage contract stipulates a warm, dry, secure location with a trickle charger for each bike, it's a bargain.

In practice, the police in Europe have pretty much zero interest in your relationship with your own country regarding road taxes and license renewal. :)

If you have proof of ownership, insurance, a motorcycle license, and a valid visa/entry stamp, it will be enough.

In fact, when I got stopped in Norway for speeding (on an EU-plated bike), they never asked to see any paperwork for the bike at all - only my license.

6mo temporary permit ( UK )
 

I shipped my K75 to UK May 2019 by Schumacher They arranged for the 6mo temporary import document; its all quire queer though; the 6-mo is only calculated as time on the road, not storage, so as I use the bike 1-2mon/year, the permit is a multi-year permit ..... and no one seems to monitor the thing anyways. In and out of the UK no one asked rode all over EU ... again no one asked only one time ( France maybe .. can't remember) was asked for the Ownership papers.

ahhh the TT has been cancelled .... rain delay last year caused us to miss the race dang it all MotoGP Austin cancelled too.
BrianMurphy
Fredericksburg TX

Insurance ( Green Card style )
 

I bought a F650GS in UK a month ago in preparation for an annual trip through EU BUT the only insurance I have found has a 345GBP for a 30-day policy;

I have read that next year (after Brexit is finalized) EU Green Card Insurance will be accessible but not this year for UK registered bikes.

would Anybody have any suggestions ???

BrianMurphy
Fredericksburg TX

Police and paperwork
 

same thing with me ... K75 with Texas plates; I was stopped for speeding near Tour FR ;
the motorcycle policeman only wanted to see my license ... and 90EU :)

6mo temporary permit ( UK )
 

I shipped my K75 to UK May 2019 by Schumacher They arranged for the 6mo temporary import document; its all quire queer though; the 6-mo is only calculated as time on the road, not storage, so as I use the bike 1-2mon/year, the permit is a multi-year permit ..... and no one seems to monitor the thing anyways. In and out of the UK no one asked rode all over EU ... again no one asked only one time ( France maybe .. can't remember) was asked for the Ownership papers.

ahhh the TT has been cancelled .... rain delay last year caused us to miss the race dang it all MotoGP Austin cancelled too.
BrianMurphy
Fredericksburg TX