Germany Port Deposit Dilemma
 

Hi everyone,
My bike is already on the ship and is heading to Bremerhaven, Germany. I have heard from WWL and this forum that you need to leave a 30% (value of bike) deposit at the German port even if you are importing the bike temporarily. Does anyone have experience with this?
Is there anyway to go around this?
If not, then what payment methods do they accept?

My other option is to give another $200 to WWL so they drop off the bike at the Southampton. Anyone knows if they also require a deposit or not?
Any info is appreciated.
Thanks

Where is your bike coming from (...and it is registered where?)

Sorry, I don´t have personal experience of this, as I live in the EU, and my bike has only ever returned home from elsewhere, so then it´s different... but any alleged deposit you´d need to leave at the port, to me that part does sound a bit strange. No carnet needed for bikes in the EU, and I believe you should be able to import most foreign bikes temporarily (as long as they fulfill the road requirements here).

Try this, Seouljoe has "been there and done it".
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-customs-56885

Thanks for the info. The bike is registered in Canada.
I have read SeoulJo's posting but it is unclear to me whether he paid the deposit or not!
I have sent him an email and will post the result here for others as well.
My only worry is that 30% of my bike value would be close to $9000 :( and I do not have cash laying around in that amount

I can only report that I paid no deposit when I shipped into Germany by air. That was 2008, I think. When I shipped back to the States, no one asked me anything about a deposit, and that was more or less 2010.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Deutche Zoll Deposit
 

I've found out about the deposit only after I've arrived..
They gave me all sorts pf price,,4500, 3300, 1700 euros finally 3300 euros and I negotiated it down to 2500 euro .. My bike is old ,, price of Harley going down.

You can pay with credit card ,,
In my case ,, I just drove off the port ,,, kids that were watching the gate ,,just waved me off ,, wasn't watching ,,customs were expecting me though.

Of all the EU port ,, only the Bremerhaven is doing this.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...red-bike-63296

Check this out:
Holidays in Germany

Otherwise, call´em.
Customs' Information and Knowledge Management

(Bear in mind that this Monday 9. April is a public holiday, though). I called the customs guys in Bremerhaven, guessing they would work (Eastersunday...), but the are not. Called Frankfurt airport customs then, they said there´s no customs duties on temporary vehicle imports.

Can´t vouch for your personal situation, though.

Cheers
Chris