BUYING A
BIKE: Please ask your
Road Transport Dept & Customs IN YOUR COUNTRY to classify
the bike you wish to
buy. We cannot do this from our end. They will tell you the
regulations then send to us and we will make sure to comply. Please
do not ask us what the regulations are in your country as we ONLY ship
to you & it is up to you to pay your end. Every country has different requirement and regulations and we
are not responsible once we ship your bike. It is up to you to clear
customs in your country as we cannot do this. If in doubt then do not
buy. Some places like Nepal you can only import new bikes.
It is recommended
that you contact one of the resources below for the most up-to-date
regulations applying to your vehicle. For a copy of the free
"Introduction Handbook for Complying with Regulations of Imported
Vehicles" and for information on safety standards, contact:
|
U.S.
Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety
AdministrationOffice of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NSA-32 400
Seventh St. S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590, U.S.A. |
National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration Hotline: (800) 424-9393
Fax: (202) 366-1034 |
|
For the EPA's fact
sheet on emission control standards or for other inquiries
regarding the importation of a vehicle, contact: |
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Investigations / Imports Section
Manufacturers Operations Division (EN-340F) Washington, D.C.
20460, U.S.A. EPA Hotline: (202) 233-9660 Fax: (202) 233-9596 |
U.S. Department of Agriculture required
that all bikes are free from foreign soil. We clean before shipping. Any
modifications that must be made to a vehicle imported into the United
States is based on the price paid or the invoice price. Contact your
local customs office for the current duty rate.
Environmental (Emission) Standards
Vehicles sold in the United States are required to meet tailpipe and
evaporative emissions standards as set by the federal government’s
Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, in the case of one state,
California, there are additional, more stringent requirements set by the
state legislature. Federal government standards take precedent over
state standards. All states have the option of adopting, without
modification, California’s standards. No standards discriminate
against imported vehicles.
Motorcycles
with a displacement of more than 49 cubic centimeters originally
manufactured after December 31, 1977are subject to Federal emission
standards. You may obtain copies from
your nearest Customs office or by writing to U.S. Customs, P.O. Box 7407,
Washington, D.C. 20044; or from American embassies and consulates
abroad.
In Thailand we can issue an EM5 which is the highest emmission
control standard here. Although one needs a release letter from the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) stating
that the bike is emmissions legal, and a letter from the DOT
(department of Transportation) stating that it passes safety standards
we do comply with this as our bikes are all put thru an emmissions test
before shipment. There is no sticker on the bikes stating in
English that it meets EPA standards but we have the correct information
to have the bike released. in fact we have found by experience the
customs in USA require mainly if the bike is legal so all information we
give is valid as all bikes do have registrtaion & insurance
compliance.
EPA also has a detailed automotive fact manual about emission
requirements for motorcycle imports. Its called the Automotive
Imports Facts Manual,or call EPA’s Imports Hotline at
(202) 564-9240. fax: (202) 564-2057; write to U.S. Environmental
ProtectionAgency,Ariel Rios Building, Manufactures Operations Division
(6405-J), Investigation / Import Section, 1200Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460; or visit the Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports.
DOT’s vehicle hotline at1-800-424-9393; communicate
by fax at (202) 366-1024; or write to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NSA-32), 400 7thStreet, S. W. Washington, D.C.
20590.
PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS
The owner must make arrangements for shipping a vehicle. Have your
shipper or carrier notify you of the vehicle’s arrival date so that
you can make arrangements to process it through Customs. Shipments are
cleared at the first port of entry unless you arrange for a freight
forwarder abroad to have the vehicle sent in bond to a Customs port more
convenient to you. Law prohibits Customs officers from acting as agents
or making entries for an importer. However, you may employ a commercial
customs broker to handle your entry and look for Freight Clearance
agents in your yellow pages.
DOCUMENTATION
For Customs clearance you will need the shipper’s or carrier’s
original bill of lading, the bill of sale, foreign registration, and any
other documents covering the vehicle. You will also be required to
complete EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7, declaring the emissions and
safety provisions under which the vehicle is being imported. Vehicles
that meet all U.S. emission requirements will bear manufacturer’s
label on the engine compartment in English, attesting to that fact. For
vehicles that lack such a label, the Customs inspector at the port of
entry may require proof of eligibility to import under the EPA
exemptions or exclusions specified on form 3520-1.
Vehicles that do not meet all U.S. emission requirements, unless
eligible for exemption or exclusion must be imported through an
independent commercial importer (ICI). EPA will not allow the vehicles’
release to the vehicle owner until ICI work is complete. The ICI will
perform any EPA-required modifications and be responsible for assuring
that all EPA requirements are met.
You should also inquire about any driver’s license and tag
requirements.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/
FOR MORE INFO.
New Zealand & AUSTRALIA: Check MAF NZ & http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/ road transport. Get a deregistration Certificate or a Completion Inspection Cert (if vehicle has not been registered for road use - MX bikes) If it was manufactured after 1/10/2002 get a Statement of Compliance if you can't get one of the above. Get Proof of Ownership if you cant get forms - check with Entry Certifier (an approved engineer) that documents will allow bike to be registered and prove it is yours.

UK ENTRY RULES:
Port of entry - Customs: Original Bill of Lading, Commercial invoice,
Shippers invoice, VAT added at 17.5% and duty about 6% these based on
the total of the bike cost and shipping cost. There are also additional
charges for the offloading, storage, doc. processing and delivery to
your address. Need the log book at the stage the bike was released
& you can give the engine number and chassis number over the phone.
However now for registration on British roads you must
authenticate its year of manufacture which comes from the foreign
vehicle registration document. You supply VIN number as well. The bike will also have to pass its MOT
(criteria for all vehicles deemed to be safe to be driven on English
roads). Our company arranges all this paperwork to comply with UK
Customs laws. Tyres may not conform from Thailand as they must have EC
in a circle on them. Bikes must also be under 94 decibels on the exhaust
rating & you must have max revs & bhp readings for the bikes you
import. We have and can comply to UK laws no problem but do not supply
the mph speedo. Suggest ask your
road registration department for the rules.
TAIWAN ENTRY RULES:
Same as above but duty is 40% on the total of the bike cost and
shipping cost. Port of entry - Customs: Original Bill of Lading,
Commercial invoice, Shippers invoice,
CALIFORNIA
USA ENTRY RULES:
California state, they said it have to meet the US EPA standands,
plus the bike has to be 2 years or older to come into the U.S. Must have
picture of the EPA label on the bike and then send it to find out if it
meets the EPA standard. FORGET CALIFORNIA AS THAI BIKES DO NOT HAVE THIS
STICKER- ---- totally crazy???We have no problems sending bikes to New York
but California laws are over the top. Race
bikes: appear to be exempt and if you import with no lights etc then
we have been told its free of duty but check on your customs first.[ RACING
BIKES LAW TO USA ]
NZ ENTRY RULES: Make sure you have receipt and you have owned it over 1 year otherwise you will have to pay GST. Vespa
unregistered in Thailand but vintage 62 model GL. MAF charged $140
and the shipping line $200 port charges. You must also pay customs
GST which is anywhere around $NZ400. To
register it you need a full AA inspection ($NZ179) and then pay registration.
You can register and sell it as a Moped which saves this cost??? CLEAN THE BIKE TO AVOID HAVING TO PAY STEAM CLEANING IN NZ $200-$300.
AUSTRALIA ENTRY RULES: basically same as NZ but make sure the bike is spotless and check and steam cleaner the whole bike including under guards, pegs and battery box as they look everywhere.
SOUTH
AFRICA ENTRY RULES: Can and is a problem but we now know what we must comply with.
Bill of lading does must have final destination address if up
country. The registration/ de-registration documents should also
be translated in English which we do and please make sure the bike is
registered in Thailand. The customs can be slow in sorting out the
bikes.
CANADA ENTRY RULES:
We have been told bikes must be
1990 or earlier to import? Can and is a problem but we now know what we must comply with.
Bill of lading does must have final destination address if up
country. The regis