USA Bike clearance thru Italy Customs
 

Hello,

Need some recommendations. I have my USA registered bike being shipped from Thailand to Italy Genoa. I am looking for customs clearance agent to have bike cleared thru customs so that I could continue my journey thru Europe to UK. Any recommended clearing agent name will be very appreciated.

Regards

Not a common destination! But I think you'd have no great issue doing it yourself. Europe is generally pretty straightforward, and customs etc. folks are pretty tolerant of people doing it themselves. Agents can be expensive too!

Based on my experience temporarily importing motorcycles into Europe from Canada, I don't think you need to go to the trouble of using a customs broker. This assumes you are temporarily importing it for tourist purposes, and that the USA plate will remain on the motorcycle, and you will export the motorcycle once you have finished your touring.

If the above is the case, then all you really need to do is make sure you have a "green card" insurance slip to show to customs to prove that the moto is insured in Italy. Customs will just regard it as any other temporary tourist vehicle import - which means it is not anything unusual (think of tourists coming to Italy from Tunisia or Morocco with their vehicles). Show them the documents that prove that you own it, show them proof of insurance, and they will let you in. That has been my experience temporarily importing my Canadian moto into England, Germany, France, & Switzerland at different times in the past 25 years.

On the other hand, if your intent is to permanently import the moto into Europe, I suggest that before you ship it you make 110% certain that the moto meets all of the European safety and emission regulations, otherwise, you will not be permitted to import it. If the motorcycle was manufactured for the American market, it is very unlikely that you will be allowed to import it into Europe because it will not have the markings on it indicating that it meets European safety & emission standards. It doesn't matter if the moto is physically identical in every respect to one sold in Europe, if it does not have the necessary compliance markings on it (they are typically found on the frame somewhere, usually around the triple-tree) you won't be allowed to import it.

Also, be aware that storage costs at air freight warehouses are very expensive, in the area of €100 per day for something the size of a motorcycle. Storage charges are based on the cubic dimensions of the object. In the past, I've usually travelled as a passenger on the same flight that the moto is on, and been able to get the moto out of customs and onto the road about 3 hours after the flight has landed. But, the warehouse will still charge one day of storage.

Michael

PS: You will need an oval white country code sticker with 'USA' on it attached to the rear of the moto where it can be viewed at the same angle as viewing the licence plate. You can probably get one made up at a sign shop in Thailand before you leave.

Thanks for the detailed information and quick response. I have been hearing that ATA Carnet is required to clear the bike. Seems that it’s not true based on your years of experience. Heard that from freight forwarding companies in Thailand so that’s why seeked help in this forum.