Time frame for Canadian plate in Europe

[willemdamen]

Wondering if anyone is familiar with how long a Canadian registered bike is allowed to stay in Europe. I presume the time frame is the same for all EU countries. Could I cross into Turkey and get the same time allotment if I double back after a day?

[mark manley]

In theory it is six months but in practice it can be a lot longer if you don't stay in one place too long, make sure it is insured and don't get any tickets that might start a paper trail.

[wheatwhacker]

I have had USA registered bikes stored here for over 3 years.
No issues.

[Tony LEE]

Assuming you are staying with the bike, make sure you are familiar with the ins and outs of the Shengen Visa requirements. The whole area is computerised and they DO object to any overstays. Even a few days will get you a stern talking-to. Three months in any six month period.

Obviously ways around it by going into the UK for up to six months, or to Morocco (three months), Turkey (three months) and some of the Balkan countries (often 90 days) so you can stay in greater Europe just about indefinitely. At least the cold weather may not be such a limitation for you as it is for us and anyway there is plenty of snowbirder country to spend the winter in.

I have had USA registered bikes stored here for over 3 years.
No issues.

Not really relevant because if there is going to be trouble, it will only happen when you take the vehicle out of the zone. Inside there are no borders and few roadside checks apart from along the southern borders, so you and the vehicle can probably stay within the Schengen visa-free zone forever and when you go to leave, the worst that could happen is a fairly large fine and or prohibition on returning for several years.
(pretty much the same as in the USA isn't it)

Could I cross into Turkey and get the same time allotment if I double back after a day?

No, it is three months in any six months in the Schengen zone (which is the same as applies in Turkey)

Search on-line for a map that illustrates the difference between the European Union, Schengen Zone and Euro-zone. They are quite different and any country in the EU but outside of the Schengen zone usually allows 90 days free visa at the border and many do allow new period of 90 days when youy go out and come back in.

Always you need passport, proof of ownership of the vehicle AND either proof of insurance within the EU, or else can be purchased at the border - eg Turkey, Morocco, Kosovo, if they are not included in your european green card insurance (which often they can be added to the standard country cover either free or for a nominal amount).

Worth noting that some countries have special provisions with some Schengen zone countries - eg Australia has special deal with Germany and some Scandinavian country that allows us to spend three months in Germany (resettable by crossing the border for one day) and then three months in the rest of the schengen zone) Canada may have similar deals.

[motoreiter]

Originally Posted by Tony LEE

Not really relevant because if there is going to be trouble, it will only happen when you take the vehicle out of the zone. Inside there are no borders and few roadside checks apart from along the southern borders, so you and the vehicle can probably stay within the Schengen visa-free zone forever and when you go to leave, the worst that could happen is a fairly large fine and or prohibition on returning for several years.
(pretty much the same as in the USA isn't it)

But how do they know when you brought the bike in? It is not indicated in my passport and as far as I recall they don't take moto information when you cross the border. In fact last year I rode from Russia to Norway to Sweden to Lithuania to Latvia to Estonia and was only asked for bike documents when I left and entered Russia.

[Tony LEE]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_r...adian_citizens is a useful resource for Canadian citizens and if it is anything like the one for Australian Citizens then it is pretty up-to-date


From Germany to Turkey and back through the Balkans, we were asked for vehicle papers at several borders, so I imagine those would have been entered on the computer. In at least two countries, the stamp in my passport had a "V" within the stamp or written under it. A couple of times when we fronted the customs window, it was obvious they already had entered the license number and had all the details on the screen when we pulled up - evidenced by them telling us where we had entered the country and then waving us through. ALL border crossings have cameras and it would be very likely that numberplate recognition is tioed into a big database somewhere. Afterall if they can get you for not having paid tolls in most european countries using cameras, they can also tell where your vehicle has been.



As always, your experience may vary and shit hits the fan when you least expect it, but advice needs to be on the basis of what the law is rather than what someone has managed to get away with..

[motoreiter]

Originally Posted by Tony LEE

As always, your experience may vary and shit hits the fan when you least expect it, but advice needs to be on the basis of what the law is rather than what someone has managed to get away with..

Not really...the six month restriction is a theoretical restriction, but I've never heard of anyone having problems because of it, and there is also no reason to get worked up over problems that might not exist. I think advice should be practical rather than theoretical.

I can tell you for a fact that no one checked my bike documents when I came into the EU, and I seriously doubt that they scan and enter all plates based on cameras at the border--if nothing else, they'd have a massive problem dealing with all of the different formats of license plates from all the countries of the world.

A few years ago, after having my bike in the EU for a couple of years, I left Spain with my bike and went to Morocco. No problem whatsoever.

Sure, there is some risk if you keep you bike in the EU for more than 6 months; how much risk? I don't know, but it is certainly a risk that I am willing to take. If someone else has first-hand experience with this, either with problems or without, it would be good to know.

[Tony LEE]

"Not really...the six month restriction is a theoretical restriction, but I've never heard of anyone having problems because of it, and there is also no reason to get worked up over problems that might not exist. I think advice should be practical rather than theoretical."

Things change!
As an example, there are plenty of stories about people leaving their vehicles in the US for well over the "theoretical" maximum without running into problems. Then tales came out that some were getting hassled, and recently there was a report that the "theoretical" limit being applied that also took into account time spent in Mexico and Canada and the US being added and that had to be less than the theoretical limit. Then story that one traveller was caught out and ordered out of the country and wanted to drive south to below Mexico to comply but they ordered him to drive to the closest sea-port and ship it out from there. An expensive experience.

Maybe all tall tales, but maybe not either. Worst case scenario is that "theoretical" rules WILL apply and for the hapless traveller without good financial backup, the fact that "practical" for someone else turns out not to apply to him is not going to help him much.

My experience with deliberate and accidental overstays in Schengen is that, especially because of the refugee situation, the rules as written are being applied and little latitude is given.

As is always going to be the case, it all often hangs on whether the officer on the other side of the desk had a good sleep the night before and whether you are feeling lucky.

BTW, any story that begins with "A few years ago," is likely to now be more ancient history than contemporary fact and certainly not a basis for making travel plans.

[motoreiter]

Sure, it is good to get up-to-date first-hand information. But I have to say that despite being a regular visitor to a couple of motorcycle travel fora, including this one, I have NEVER heard of anyone having a problem with the six month vehicle limitation. If anyone has had an actual problem, it would be good if they would speak up.

Just to be clear, personal stay limitations are very different and I definitely would not plan on overstaying those.