Overseas Bikes

[AllanK]

Hi All,
Just a couple of questions.
We all read about the opportunity to ship our bikes overseas and ride them round NZ, America, Europe etc and I guess that overseas owners can do the same with their bikes.
The question is, if I am over seas and on returning home decide not to incur the expense of bringing my bike home, can I sell it to a resident?
More importantly, if just say...just an example..not really thinking of it of course...Say someone came from the US and shipped their newly acquired bike (bought in the US) for a riding holiday in Australia and prior to their return to the US decided they did not want to keep the bike or incur the expense in bringing the bike back to the US, could he sell the bike to me ....I mean to someone?
AND could that someone then register the bike in Australia?
Any ideas from this side.

Thanks
Allan K

 

[kiwi dave]

The simple answer is no, otherwise everybody would be doing it and avoiding import tax and duties, etc.

Often a vehicle can be exported to another country under a "carne", which allows temporary importation without paying any duty. But of course there are safeguards in place, and if the vehicle does not leave that country within a certain stated period, then penalties apply.

My understanding is Australia is one of the hardest countries to privately import a motorcycle. They've got you on all counts.

 

[Penis Rotor]

Also ANY machine manufactured after I think 1985 or so cannot be registered in Oz unless it was either a model never sold here, a 'Limited Edition' model with paperwork to prove its extraordinary nature or the importer has lived with it overseas for at least six months to prove a 'Personal attatchent' to the machine. The laws are wattertight and bulletproof. there is NO way around them. Yes, its stupid and it sucks, but it's what we have.

Pete

 

[Series4]

Having just been through the exercise of importing a bike to Australia it's not worth it unless the bike was manufactured prior to 1 January 1989 (same model run-ons are not allowed), an Australian resident lived with it and used it overseas for twelve months and can provide passport evidence or you're emigrating permanently to Australia. Bikes built after that date can still be imported but only if they're on the approved list, only if they've been bought and imported by registered workshops and they then have to be tested and certified as complying with design rules. It costs thousands, not hundreds of dollars. Even if you can somehow get the bike into the country it won't be able to be registered locally. The EU is similar. NZ on the other hand I think is unrestricted just as it is for cars so the market is flooded with grey imports from Japan.

Best way to take your bike around the world is under carnet because you keep your domestic registration and insurance is much easier. Shipping is so cheap now and so many firms are doing it it's a relatively small expense component of a long holiday.

Peter

 

[Holt]

In Sweden it's possible to import and register a used vehicle from the US, if you're a private person. There are som limitations concerning numbers (not more than 1 vehicle a year, making it difficult to make a business out of it) and paperwork.
But that's (a part of) Europe, of course. :silly:

 

[AllanK]

Thanks Fellows........BUGGER