exporting US bike to France

[travelHK]

My wife's bike (2008 DR650) with US registration should be arriving in January in France and I was wondering if any of you had any experience tagging a US bike in France. They do not sale the DR since 10 years I think so I am not sure this is going to be easy..
Any tips welcome

[dooby]

Hi Hendi,

It's not clear do you plan to move and live in France, or just sending the bike there and plan to do some riding in Europe?

If second thing is the case, you need third party liability insurance coverage or known as green card. We can issue that for your wife's bike up to 90 days of coverage for EU.

Good luck with the shipping and safe travels ;-)

Dooby

[travelHK]

Hi ,
Thanks for the response , I will be moving back to France for few years and I am French if that help...

[wheatwhacker]

As long as you have french residency I dont see an issue other than the usual inspection's.

[travelHK]

I was not sure it will be OK since they do not sale it new anymore in France and I couldn't get any answers from local dealers in France

[wheatwhacker]

Originally Posted by HendiKaf

I was not sure it will be OK since they do not sale it new anymore in France and I couldn't get any answers from local dealers in France

I really don't think that should be an issue.
Bikes are not sold in different countries for a variety of reasons.

[travelHK]

thanks I will buy a second DR for myself too

[Two wheels good]

I haven't been through an importation routine to France myself but from what I've read it can be bureaucratic - compared to UK or IRL- but not difficult.

A Certificate of Compliance will probably be required. This is often required within EU - not to mention a US to EU importation. AFAIK they are available from the vehicle manufacturer. I've seen prices of ~£160 GBP mentioned in the UK. It's worth asking a Suzuki main dealer to see if they've even heard of it.
You're probably entitled to 6months in France on the US plates.

BTW If it all becomes too much hassle let me know. I fancy a DR650.

[travelHK]

I will if I have any problem .

[sushi2831]

Hello


I did this many years ago in Switzerland.
Import of a foreign vehicle was almost impossible.
But I was eligible to declare it as "houshold effects".
(http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=fr)
No tax, just eye roadworthy inspection.
I am sure France has a similar rule.
Google in that direction.


sushi

[oldbmw]

Before you start any paperwork importing it into France, visit a bike insurance company. Find the model nearest to what you have and write that down (EXACTLY) use this to describe the bike in ALL your documentation. If the exact mode you have was never imported into France it will be very difficult to "matriculate". Having a model number that is on the government list will make life a lot easier.

ATM I am trying to import a Triumph thunderbird and have been at it most of the year. Triumph are no use at all just interested in getting 1,000's from me to rebuild it to the French model.

Never had a problem before with other bikes or cars.

[Pongo]

I have some years experience in the legal aspects of bike importation into France, and regret that you will probably not be able to register it here.

The issue is the fact that the bike will have a North American frame number, and France will not accept it. The central computer system will not recognize it, and will reject it. If the bike is over 30 years old, it can be imported as a collectors bike, but you go through a different registration process with the FFVE ( Federation Francaise de Vehicules d'Epoque).

I have recent experience in helping with a Ducati ST2 which came in from Canada on a North American frame number. The bike was fine, all the manufs stickers on the bike were in French, the bike was inspected by Ducati in France and paperwork issued, because a Cert of European Conformity was not available, but the prefecture rejected the application because of the frame number. North American specifications for manufacture are different to European. 2 years of negotiation with both France and Italy on the bike specs came to nothing.

The solution was found by the owner buying a second hand French frame which had a Carte Grise ( French reg document or ''title'', and rebuilding the bike into the new frame.

It's a nightmare trying to register anything here which is out of the ordinary and doesn't conform to EU regulations or specifications.

[wheatwhacker]

Possibly unrelated but here I go anyway.
I bought a farm tractor in France last week.
To re register in Ireland I needed.

A. Original french title.
B. Proof of residence.
C.PPS number (Social security number)
D. Passport or driving license.
E. Receipt of purchase in France.
D 200 euro.

After a brief inspection on VIN number and a general look around, I wandered off with my new plates. Simple.
When I casually asked about a motorcycle, the guy said I needed all the same doc's I used for the tractor. Origin of vehicle was a non issue.

[travelHK]

Thanks guy worst case scenario I will buy a frame in France....

[Two wheels good]

These should be of interest.
Import within EU

Import to La Belle France

Not very encouraging though