Ship bike from Germany to US for more than 12 months

[ben54]

Hello together,
I'm trying to get some information about shipping my motorcycle from Germany to the US but keep it in the US for more than 12 months.
Currently, I'm a student in the US, and hopefully will be here for the next 2-4years...maybe even longer. I've read in different posts that I would be able to drive my motorcycle with my German license plate and registration, but only for 12months. Well, as a loophole, I was thinking that I could just simply drive into Mexico or Canada and re-enter the US again, of course, I'm not sure if that would actually work.
What other options could work for me if I want to keep the bike in the US?
What would these possible other options cost?

I'm thankful for any tips that I can get.
Thank you!!!
Ben

[Lovetheworld]

I can't really help you, but I read somewhere that people were shipping their car to Canada, and then enter US overland. They said it was much easier with the paperwork but don't know any details.

[Olaf J.]

Hey Ben,
you can travel with yr bike up to 1 year only, but if you want to ride with yr German plate in the US you need an excemption of the EPA-department anyway. You may ask them if there's any difference if you study more than 12 months.
Last not least if you need anybody assisting for Transport - let me know


best regards
Olaf

[ben54]

Originally Posted by Lovetheworld

I can't really help you, but I read somewhere that people were shipping their car to Canada, and then enter US overland. They said it was much easier with the paperwork but don't know any details.

Thanks for the response! I live literally on the Mexican border, Canada wouldn't be a great option for me....Canada to my hometown (El Paso) is roughly 3,000 miles :-D

[ben54]

Originally Posted by Olaf J.

Hey Ben,
you can travel with yr bike up to 1 year only, but if you want to ride with yr German plate in the US you need an excemption of the EPA-department anyway. You may ask them if there's any difference if you study more than 12 months.
Last not least if you need anybody assisting for Transport - let me know


best regards
Olaf

Thank you Olaf! I will check with the EPA department, otherwise I would have to import the bike and export it later, right?
Ben

[Olaf J.]

as far as I know it is impossible to arrange a final Import of a foreign bike into the US for a single private Person due to EPA/DOT-Standards.
Even yr bike is a brand new GS with ABS / Kat etc. you won't meet it! This is a political decision for a Long time and has nothing to do with the current government

[ben54]

So, after doing some research, I found out that if a vehicle is older than 21years, it might be able to get imported. I own a 1994 Africa Twin...so that might work. However, I have to do a little bit more research what would happen if I want to get it back to Germany after a few years. As soon as I know more I will post an update.

[Squire]

Given the value of the bike and cost of transportation, notwithstanding your affection for it, I’d leave the beauty in Germany and ride it every now and then when you fly back home, and get another bike for the duration of your studies while in Texas if you can, thinking an equivalent bike will probably cost you the same as transportation. One should not underestimate the cost in $ and time bureaucratic processes truly require. My 2 cents, good luck!

[VicMitch]

Ok, here is the way you can do it. You can ship to the US directly, get your 1 year that you can use the bike as a tourist. After one year, your bike will be 25 years old, which will allow it to be imported into the US. Assuming that you have a proper student visa, you should be able to import the bike and register it in the US by going to any US Customs office with the bike and papers. Since you will have gotten the EPA waiver, You may have to ride it out of the US to cancel the waiver and then ride it back in. At the land borders it is nor required.

Since you will be living close to Mexico, you could also ship to there and ride it across the border and you will not need any EPA waiver. Simply ride it with the German plates as long as you want or after 1 year import it as above.

[markharf]

Originally Posted by ben54

Thanks for the response! I live literally on the Mexican border, Canada wouldn't be a great option for me....Canada to my hometown (El Paso) is roughly 3,000 miles :-D

No. Major cities in Canada are about 3000 kilometers, not miles, from El Paso--approximately 1800 miles. That applies to Vancouver, Calgary, even Toronto. This probably won't change your plans, but it sure makes a difference on the road.

Note that if importing permanently, you need to provide documentation which proves the age of the bike, beginning with its manufacture date. See: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det.../218/related/1. Lots of vehicles are manufactured prior to their model year, so it's possible your bike is already 25 years old. However, you need to be able to prove it.

Last, shipping into Mexico is not necessarily straightforward, and horror stories abound. Personally, I'd ship by air to wherever is convenient, and if that turned out not to be Houston or LA I'd go for Vancouver, Canada. You've got to ask yourself how you want to spend your spare time: riding, studying, or wrestling with Mexican bureaucracy.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark