Hi we are 2 retired Canadians looking to travel to Europe for 4 months this Spring. June- Oct. and looking for renting vs. buying info. We are looking for a BMW GS 1200. Wondering if anyone could give us tips on this. Dealers etc. probably start the trip in Frankfurt. We are considering also buying a bike in Canada and shipping over then trying to sell it.
Thanks!!

Not to answer your question, but to ask one. You know that you can only stay a total of 90 days in Germany, after which time you must leave the Schengen area (e.g. go to England)?
(90 days in a 180 day period)

I looked into this a few years back. At that time it was difficult for a non-resident to register any motor vehicle in the EU. There are companies that will rent bikes, but that gets expensive. It seemed the best solution was to ship one over, which costs less than I would have expected. However, my plans changed and it never happened. Good luck!

"<i>Hi we are 2 retired Canadians looking to travel to Europe for 4 months this Spring. </i>"

What do you mean by 'Europe' -- since you only tagged the thread for Germany, my guess is Germany and maybe nearby countries. If so, 4 months isn't possible w/o a special long stay visa.

Also in most countries (maybe all -- I don't that know for sure) buying/registering/insuring a vehicle requires a permanent address.

>Also in most countries (maybe all -- I don't that know for sure) buying/registering/insuring a vehicle requires a permanent address.

It definitely does in Germany! Hence buying is not an option.

If you have your own shipped over you have to deal with the shipping/customs issues - and I'm not sure how/where you would get insurance. I know US companies don;t insure in europe and would imagine Canadian are the same. And a local company wouldn;t want to insure a vehicle owned by a foreigner about whose driving record they know nothing - and who has no permanent address.

If it is the case that buying is impossible, how is it that some car dealers seem to have some sort of early delivery where you can take the car from the dealer or factory and use it in Europe, then ship it home? I have absolutely no understanding of this but have read numerous posts about this sort of scheme for cars (Mercedes-Benz? BMW?). Why would this not be possible for bikes? This would certainly get around the problem of having to have an address for registration. Maybe someone who has done this early delivery can comment here?

Lavandula

lavandula,

Those cars get special plates (oval in Germany, red in France) indicating that it is a tax exempt vehicule for export. Leased car from Peugeot or Renault (actually buy/sell) have the same plates tax exempt red plates--so much for passing as a local. I guess the OP could buy a motorcycle in Germany, ride it for ninety days, and then take it back to Canada.

Those plans (like Volvo's) are arranged through a retail car dealer in the States. The vehicle is being exported and the buyers take possession of the car and drive it around -- but then it is shipped to their Stateside dealer from whom the buyer eventually picks up the car.

Thanks for clarifying this, Michael and janisj!

Lavandula

If I were you I'd <b>disregard most responses</b> you got here, particularly

"It definitely does in Germany! Hence buying is not an option."

- because they are simply <b>wrong</b>.

Germany provides special number plates for vehicles that will be exported. They are called "Ausfuhrkennzeichen" ("Export license plate") under which a vehicle may be registered for a certain time after which it needs to be - the name says it all - exported.

You need a Passport, proof of insurance, complete vehicle documentation (in Germany you get the so called "Brief" (document indicating ownership) and the so-called "Schein" (a document indicating technical specifications as well as ownership). There should not be an obstacle to that as the dealer or BMW would provide them. You also need the licence plates (which you can acquire from the local registration authority for around EUR 35) and proof of a current MOT (would also not be a problem as the dealer or BMW will provide that on a new bike).

The comment about the European delivery programmes for cars bought stateside was good (the answers that outlined why this worked for cars, but did not address why this supposedly doesn't work for bikes weren't). Inquire whether BMW has a European delivery programme for its bikes under which they could help you with the administrative red-tape.

Should you wish to do that yourself and deal with this from Frankfurt, the contact details of the local DMV can be found here. They would be able to help, esp. if you can manage the language barrier.
http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detai...d=2943&_ffmpar[_id_inhalt]=102252

Aside from that there are several service providers who, against a charge, apparently will arrange for the registration. Google "Ausfuhrkennzeichen" or "Exportkennzeichen" to find a number of them.

Good luck and have fun!

To clarify: The way to go about this is buy the bike in Canada, but have it delivered in Germany and then export it.

Alternatively, should you could ship your bike to Germany and have it registered on Canadian plates. Make sure to have proper insurance in this case.

Sipping a bike to yourself overseas COULD result in hefty import tax, even on a used vehicle.

Hi I Just posted 2 new topics about buying a motorcycle in Europe and ferry travel between Italy and Greece with your moto.

WE really appreciate all the advice!!

Hi well this 90 day thing just threw a wrench into our travel plans...need to regroup and replan so thanks for all the suggestions.

Ah, don't lose hope!

For your enjoyment, a link to a story written by a young man who rode a small motorcycle from China to Normandy. The bike turned out to be stolen, and he used a fake Chinese drivers license! Bureaucrats were born to be thwarted.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=618066

If it's possible to buy & register in Germany then the bike can be exported back to Canada. All BMW models are admissible, see
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/SafeV...Section8_0.htm

But do watch for 90 day Schengen visa rule

There is a company in Ireland buying a and storing bikes for foreigners.
Don't now the name of them, i'll do some research

Okay, found it. google "motofeirme"

You do realize this post is two and a half years old?