japan without a carnet?
 

As I can no longer get a Carnet for my Enfield, can I get a temporary import permit for Japan?
I have one here in Australia and can get one for N.Z.
How can I find out whether I can get my bike into Japan without one?
Thanks, Jacqui

[This message has been edited by jacqui furneaux (edited 22 August 2003).]

Sorry,
The only temporary import system for Japan is with a Carnet. Others have ridden illegally, but the problem is getting costoms to release the bike for "transport to another port" or somew other reason. You stand the risk of being hit with big fines in you are caught riding. Also, you will have problems exporting again, I think.

[This message has been edited by Chris in Tokyo (edited 08 September 2003).]

I shipped BKK to Osaka without a valid carnet. I was given temporary import papers, and paid a small fee that was a % of the bike's value. Osaka customs are very quick and helpful. They didn't even bother to look at the bike at the dock.

Dave

Dave,
Could you give me more information on your getting a bike into Japan without a carnet. In all my contacts with various customs officials, they all say they require a valid and authorized Carnet. I suspect you need a carnet to actually (legally) drive in Japan, but legality seldom stands in the way of a determined traveler!

I have been going over domestic and international road convetions, and to tell the truth none of them make any sense at all. Of course I am not a lawyer...

Hey, I have a (silly) question here - what if the bike was originally Made in Japan? Couldn't you tell them that it had citizenship there by birth? That it was just returning home?

Japan does not give citizenship automatically to those born here as the USA does. Your parents must also be Japanese. I don't know how this applies to bikes...
(Sorry, ask a silly question and get a completely irrelevant answer)

Chris,

Don't really understand exactly how my bike was permitted entry into Japan. I don't read or speak Japanese. All I know is that after I paid import duty (which on a stated US$500 bike value, was not much) I was allowed to collect my bike from the dock. Some of the paperwork was retained by customs when I caught the ferry to Vladivostok. I didn't have to pay anything to export the bike.

I don't know if I was riding lawfully or not.

Cheers
Dave

Thankyou so much, Dave. You have given me hope! My bike is an Enfield bullet and I can no longer get a carnet for it thanks to the enforcement of a rule from the Indian Government. So unless I can re-register it somewhere else, I have to do without! By the way, I am currently in Cooktown, not a million miles away from you! Going back to Cairns soon. Thanks again, Jacqui

Jacqui,

Is your Enfield in Australia?

Dave

Yes, It's here with me now in Cooktown. Did you take your bike to Japan recently? Originally posted by Dave McSkimming:
Jacqui,

Is your Enfield in Australia?

Dave[/QUOTE]

I was in Japan during June last year, and I might have just struck it lucky with the Osaka customs.

I don't know if you have made any enquiries on this, but it may not be too difficult to get a Carnet from an Australian motoring organisation. They are cheaper here than most other countries.

First try ringing The AA in Canberra to see if they will issue a carnet on a bike with foreign rego. They probably won't, so then you would have to register your bike here.

A friend of mine travelling without a carnet imported a UK registered Transalp into Perth recently without too much hassle and expense. Duty is ~25% of bike's stated value. There would also be some admin. and registration fees. I think rego is cheapest in Sth Aust. You need to check with a Transport Department to make sure that Indian Enfields are registerable in Oz - should be OK. Your bike would also have to be in reasonable condition if you were required to pass any pre-registration inspections.

Then sign up with an Automobile Association and get your carnet. Don't hold me to this but I reckon you could do all this for around AU$1000.

Cheers
Dave

I am British, my Enfield Bullet was made, bought and registered in India and I am in Australia !