Europe without a Carnet: Shipping a moto into Amsterdam
 

Hi,
I just shipped my bike from Bangkok to Amsterdam and my freight forwarder in Amsterdam is saying that in order for me to clear customs that I need a carnet, I need to permantatly import the bike into Netherlands, or the bike needs to leave Netherlands via the same entry port if I wish to use a temporary import permit.

I do not have a carnet and I prefer to not get one as I understood that I did not need one for any of the countries that I visit.

Do any of you have experience with shipping into Europe without a carnet?

Customs is saying that they need proof that the bike leaves Netherlands and can't get it without a carnet.

I'll also add that I've read 100x here that a carnet isn't required as well as seen it on several official websites:helpsmilie:

were is your bike from ? i shiped my (uk) bike to amsterdam from south america and they just wanted me to convince them that my bike would not be staying in holland . i told them were i would be going and showed them a photo of my pannier with all the stickers on and they were happy with that . all the borders are open in europe so even if you told them that you will ship back out the same port they would never know if you just ride out of holland . you should not be needing a carnet.

daveg,
You and all of the above are correct.
There is no requirement for a CdP Carnet to enter a personally-owned vehicle into the Netherlands or any other EU country.

Here is the official Netherlands Customs website own statement in English:

Cars, motorbikes and trailers

"Cars, motorbikes and trailers

If you travel to the Netherlands by car, motorbike or with a trailer with a valid number plate of the country where you live you do not have to report your arrival to Customs. In this case, you may take your car, motorbike and/or trailer/caravan across the border and use it in the Netherlands without having to pay taxes.
If you are not a Dutch resident

If you are not a Dutch resident then you may use your car, motorbike, caravan or trailer in the Netherlands for a maximum period of 3 months without having to pay tax."
-------------

I think if you send and cite the above official Netherlands Customs website statement to your Amsterdam freight forwarder and NL Customs, that should be enough to clarify your situation.

It's not uncommon for seaport/ freight Customs (and freight forwarders) to assume that anything entering through a seaport or airport is business/ commercial goods, rather than "personally owned" [vehicles]; and, Netherlands Customs website does reference use of a Carnet for import of business goods....unless you are personally present to document that this vehicle is your personally-owned vehicle.

In other words, there may also be some confusion because you are not personally present with the bike in Amsterdam during the Customs import/ clearance process, to show your personal passport ID and vehicle ownership papers, but are having a freight forwarder do the import clearance on your behalf.

Get back to your Amsterdam freight forwarder, show him the NL website language and offer to send the freight forwarder any additional documents to prove the bike is a personally-owned vehicle.

good luck!

I think I may have it worked out without having to pay anything other than handling fees. I"ll post details later, but the short version is my dutch friend (from the Dutchdangleberries.nl :: Home) made a bunch of phone calls and went back and forth with the main customs office, the airport customs office, and my forwarder.

Details to come once I see what happens here at 1pm!

Success
 

I got the bike! Total cost was 150 Euro.

I did a write up on the entire shipping process from start to finish:

Shipping from Bangkok to Amsterdam Part I – daveg travels

Shipping from Bangkok to Amsterdam Part II – daveg travels

Shipping from Bangkok to Amsterdam — Part III/III – daveg travels

:D
I'm now in Kleve, Germany.. heading back to amsterdam in a couple of days, then Belguim, the Nürburgring, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Switzerland, then south towards Spain until Santander when I take the ferry back to the UK and make my way east again towards the 'stans.

victory at the end.
 

Congratulations.
Victory of the patience...
Not only in Schippol but in most customs. They always think that all imported goods are for trade.

This is our photo while singing and opening the crate in front of the customs ware house against all warnings; to show them that its just a personal vehicle.
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Best Wishes
mehmet zeki avar

good work mate . was that 150 euro including a handling and unloading fee ? i paid 180 to get my bike off the ship ,out of the dock and clear customs about 10 months ago. the ocean freight was only 111 euro

It was all the money I paid on the receiving side-- Transportation from the airport to the fordwarder's warehouse and fees to clear customs.