temporary importation in USA and Canada

[pietro.spera]

My plan is shipping the bike from Italy to Vancouver in July; than to ride south for some 20 days to San Diego; than go back to Italy leaving the bike in a storage in San Diego until november or december; to fly back to San Diego for winter vacation (some other 20 days); riding south to Mexico and back to Los Angeles; shipping back the bike and myself to Italy.

So my questions is: is possible, according to the law about temporary importation, to leave the bike in a storage in San Diego for 4-5 months? (I'm italian and my bike is registered n Italy)

Thanx for any info.
Pietro

[Fitz]

I have been looking into this myself. I have an Italian registered bike and i'm currently working in Bergamo but looks likely I will be transferring to Houston. I'm not sure exactly when yet but hoping to leave before the end of June. Please let me know any information you find regarding shipping companies/prices. I found the following, hope it helps.

"If the car will be in the U.S. for not more that one year, you are exempt from the emission control and safety standards. Just bring your registration documentation.

If more than one year, the car must be in compliance with the U.S. requirements. Send for our information pack.

Cars are duty-free for immigrants and visitors. Returning U.S. residents pay a duty of 2.5%.

[Grant Johnson]

Leaving a bike in Canada/USA for UNDER a year is no problem, there is no doucmentation or passport stamps for them to know you have done it that I know of.

LEAVING after over a year with it by air or sea COULD be sticky, although doubtful. Driving out is easy, no border controls for exits, only entry both ways. So if you were over a year, just go to the other country and ship from there. Shipping Canada to Europe is generally cheaper than USA / Europe. See Motorcycle Express ads on this site for more. They are excellent for all aspects of trans-Atlantic shipping etc.

Of course you won't TELL anyone you're leaving it AT ALL will you?

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[PanEuropean]

Pietro:

I really can't see any possible problem with what you plan to do. As Grant pointed out, leaving it in Canada or America for up to one year is a non-event, that's fine with everyone (US or Canadian government). It's also important to note that neither government has any interest in controlling the motorcycle when it is shipped out of the country - meaning, there is no customs paperwork to do when you leave.

Plus, if you exit USA into Canada or Mexico, then when you return, you have "set the clock back" to zero, so far as your stay in the country is concerned.

I do know that the Canadians and Americans have a computerized system that records the licence plate of every vehicle crossing the Canada - US border in either direction - they do this for tax (VAT) purposes, not for vehicle control - so if you enter one country, your vehicle plate number is noted and the one year timer starts from that date. Leave the country and re-enter again and the timer starts again from zero.

PanEuropean

[merlin]

so guys,
if you did have to leave a bike in canada over "winter" and then return the following year to air frieght it out ,
what problems might you have?
would the shippers/airlines want to know your incoming airways bill nuumber? hence know the bike had over stayed ?
thanks

[Grant Johnson]

Merlin, as has been stated, just keep it under a year and no problems.

Canada may have a long winter, but it's not that long! You CAN ride in Vancouver all year round if you want, I did for years. Riding south anytime is possible, with occasional delays for snow in the passes south in the US. Rding from Vancouver to Seattle for a "restart" of the count is possible almost any day of the year.

NO questions will be asked re waybill. No one cares!

Remember, you can always just ride out of the country if you're over a year. There is NO check leaving either country. You don't stop or even slow down at the border post leaving, only entering.


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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[pierresas]

Originally posted by Fitz:
Cars are duty-free for immigrants and visitors. Returning U.S. residents pay a duty of 2.5%.

You can avoid the duty if you happen to have a Carnet de Passage.

My girlfriend and I both have the US citizenship but we started our RTW trip from France, where my family leaves. Half-way into the trip, when we arrived into the US (port of Miami) with our bikes registered in France, we had the choice between paying the import duty or having our Carnets de Passage stamped. We were lucky that our Carnets (required when we crossed Africa) were still valid.

Pierre (& Merritt too)
http://www.photobiker.com