Information Wanted on Bringing a Laverda from the UK into the US

O

Oregonian

New member
Location
Central Oregon, USA
Any advice on the costs, hassles and issues with purchasing a UK based Laverda and bringing it to the US (Oregon) would be greatly appreciated. I'm not being lazy, I just don't want to reinvent the wheel and figured it might be best to hear from those who have done it. I read the post by Bottler dated 2014, but was hoping to find information more recent and specific to a UK to US import. Thanks, Jeff
 
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I know there is a lot of used motorcycle traffic coming from the USA to the UK but not the reverse. Grant Duguid who used to be on this forum has done it. I think you can perhaps now find him on facebook.
 
I've done it twice - once with a bike directly from the UK and once with a bike that went by road from Italy to the UK and then onwards to California by the same shipper I used before. It is pretty straightforward. I think the easiest is to use a reputable carrier - I used Shippio and was happy both times, and a reputable experienced shipper / forwarder - I used Schumacher Logistics and again was happy both times. I've used Schumacher multiple times as well for cars. Both bikes were crated and air shipped. Not much cost difference v sea freight and obviously much quicker. Relatively modest duties and customs on arrival into the US. The rules re age of the bike for legal importation may have changed so you would need to check that but a bike over 25 years I think is fine. Check your own State requirements for registering with your DMV once it is legally in the US. If you pm me I am happy to help further and let you have Shippio and Schumacher contacts and even dig out my old paperwork of costs etc. One bike I brought in maybe 4 years ago and the other 2 or 3. Regards ALEX
 
Hi Jeff .
I bought my project form Germany and had it crated in the UK and shipped via Miami to the Cayman Islands so some of what I went through may be of help . Google these folks for an option , I used them and was happy with the service.
Motomovers UK. collected the bike from Germany and delivered it to the craters in UK , 450 GBP. paid with paypal, Acorn packaging .. beautiful robust crate , very safe. 600 GBP. paid bank draft. JP ram shipping ,, handled collection of bike from craters and delivery to Cayman . approx 800 gbp paid bank draft .. I had to supply them with copy paperwork of the bike details and transaction. I think the vendor has to do some paperwork for vehicle licensing to show that is being exported permanently also . Mine was described as non running for parts so that may have made it a bit easier. I had the original French registration papers and a German bill of sale . On arrival I had to pay the local shipping agent to handle the clearing etc,

You will need to supply the shipper with a declaration on an appropriate business letterhead saying that the fluids ( gas) has been removed from the bike in accordance with shipping regs , otherwise you will be subject to a hazardous goods inspection $$$ and then hugely increased shipping fees.
You can talk to Mike Koptite the owner of Motomovers , he helped me obtain this declaration. Not sure what restrictions you have on importing foreign motorcycles , here we have none , just 37% duty and that is calculated including the cost of packing and shipping yikes $$$
I do recall reading somewhere that there are no import restrictions on any vehicle over 44 yrs , you will have to do your own research on that one .
It all worked out a bit expensive overall , but then I had no option . Hopefully by the time I have finished with it the finished cost will equivalent to having bought one in similar condition and importing completed. plus I get to learn all about it along the way.
hope that helps,
feel free to pm me if you need more..
regards
Paul
 
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