EPA Exemption - Temp Air or Sea Import to USA
 

Hello ☀️

Sorry to be that person but I’m going round in circles looking for instructions on how to get an EPA exemption for my motorcycle before shipping it to Los Angeles.

I’ve clearly not been looking in the right places on this forum (and online) because all I’ve found so far is people discussing EPA regulation and no ‘how-to’ so I would very much appreciate it if someone can point me to the online form or an email address!

Thank you

Hi Pepper,

A quick search of the site turned up this useful thread on EPA Vehicle Exemption - old but I'm pretty sure is still fully valid. Which may be why nothing much newer :)
You might want to spend a few minutes on a more detailed look at search.

The process in the thread that Grant mentioned was still working in late 2017........ We got EPA exemption in advance of flying 2 bikes into the US from Colombia.

Nobody ever asked to see the exemption letter, so we never knew whether it was truly necessary or not.

Thanks both, I couldn't see the wood for the trees!

For future reference, this is the process:

1. Email Imports@epa.gov and say you would like to request EPA exemption.
2. They will answer with instructions in an attachment.
3. You email back with the information request.
4. They send you the EPA exemption document.

Timings for us in November 2022:
The answer with instructions came back immediately, we received the final documents 15 days after our first request.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FYI, here were the instructions we received:


To obtain a Nonresident Temporary Importation Approval Letter from EPA; please provide the following information in a letter that is signed by the requestor/importer:
1. Your full name, current foreign address, phone number, Fax number, and email address (if applicable)
2. Your U.S. address, phone number, Fax number, and email address (if applicable)
3. Vehicle year, make, model and Vehicle Identification Number
4. A statement explaining the reason for your visit to the United States. (Work/school/vacation).
5. The date of the importation
6. Location of the vehicle and the Nonresident at the time of request.
7. The duration of the importation.
8. Proof of ownership (Registration or title documents from country of origin).
As part of your request for this exemption, you are consenting to EPA to collect and store your Personally Identifiable Information. As part of your request please include the following sentence;
I consent to EPA collecting and storing my name, mailing address, email address, phone
number and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)


Other FYI, the conditions for EPA Exemption:

1. Vehicle may not be sold or otherwise transferred to another party in the U.S.;
2. Exemption is voided if the vehicle is either used for commercial purposes, or used principally by any person other than the owner (or spouse of the owner); and
3. Vehicle must be exported after one year, or upon the nonresident departing the U.S., whichever comes first. Taking a vehicle into Canada or Mexico does not constitute exportation unless the vehicle was from Mexico or Canada.

EPA
 

Were you asked about any modifications to the bike, I have a carbon (non standard) exhaust (it does have a spare arrestor)?

Just posting because I keep seeing this question come up online.

The EPA document is required when you are importing a motorcycle to the US by air or by sea. Freight-forwarding agents should notify you in advance to put a request in and shipping paperwork won't be complete without it.

I understand that technically, it is also required if you are importing by land (riding from Mexico/Canada into the US), but in my experience and that of many travellers, staff at land borders do not ask for the paperwork. I would even go as far as to say that many don't even put a request in for it before crossing into the US.

Hope that helps!