Importing a bike to USA from Canada - Horizons Unlimited

**Kpick** · #1 27 Sep 2003

Hello all,
I’m looking at purchasing a Canadian registered bike and will have to
Register it in California. Has anyone done this and what were the herders.
Thanks in advance!
Kevin

**ekaphoto** · #2 27 Sep 2003

Federal wise I don't think there are any problems, can you say NAFTA. The state of California is another matter. It is complicated with all sorts of rules. If the bike has less then a certin amout of miles it is considered new. You will have to pay sales tax to the state of California, irregardless if you paid it someplace else or not. The fees go on and on. Call DMV and ask them first. I would also call US Customs first just to be sure of no problems there. Good luck.

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John

**rocket ron** · #3 27 Sep 2003

A friend of mine went to a registration store in California and was able to register his bike in Vermont. This avoided all the Ca. Bs.

**John Ferris** · #4 27 Sep 2003

You should do a search on this site.
I think that there are BIG problems with importing a bike to USA from Canada.

**Mike Stone** · #5 27 Sep 2003

There's no problem importing a bike to the U.S. from Canada. It is becoming an increasingly popular thing to do, partly because there are models available in Canada that are not available in the U.S., and partly because many bikes are now priced lower in Canada. Motorcycle Consumer News has done a couple of articles on the subject in the past year (http://www.mcnews.com)

VT has a mail-in out of state registration program that many people use, more info at http://www.wdsrc.com/streetlegal.shtml

If you are registering an expensive new bike, there is another state that has an even better program than VT, but I don't want to publicize it online because some other states have vindictive public servants who don't believe in free-market competition.

**kmet** · #6 4 Dec 2003

I have imported 2 bikes from canada to the US. one new Guzzi qouta, used a broker didnt really need them though. went solo on a KLR650 ( for sale by the way, too many bikes in the garage).

What customs wants to see are DOT/EPA stickers, documentation. the Quota was new and I used a border broker ( $100 i think) . the customs inspector for the KLR just want to see the EPA/DOT stickers, most late model MC in canada comply. My KLR did not have this but that another story.
in theory it would be possible to get the above info from the Mfr, right....they do not care and prefer no cross shipping.

Since the US dollar has tanked deals in canada are far and few between , I have heard of Canadians buying MC in the US. ( hey I could be wrong ) .

after you get your bike in the US you need to follow your states laws re license, washington state no longer inspects out of state vehicles ( we jus' po' folk )

Keep in mind if the bike you import to the US is over 700cc you will have to pay 2% duty unless its a harley. this is a leftover tax from the Ronnie Reagan-Harley-lovefest-alliance. Great because harley makes crap, I have to pay more for my bikes. I guess this lets harley afford to have Elton john play at the love fest 100' birthday......
your results may vary