Need info on getting a bike through customs

Message

66DucatiMark3 · Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:17 am

Hello, I could really use some help... I'd like to buy a 2003 Suzy SV650S in Montreal, Canada. It should be a fun ride out there and trailer it back to WI, but I’m unsure of customs x-ing. Can anyone give information on purchasing a bike “here” (eBay), and going through customs with it? Do I declare anything?? Are there taxes? Does anyone know what the process is for all this and title transfer? The auction is ending soon (26hrs)and I can't let it slip away!
Thanks very much!
Chris

Gadjet · #2 Unread post by **Gadjet** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:30 pm

You might want to check with your nearest US Customs Office.

You can start here: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/

66DucatiMark3 · Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:36 pm

Thanks for the reply. I was looking at that website previously, but now I think I found what I needed. So thanks for getting me back on track! Looks like I can bring the bike into the states for free, or 2.4% of the sale price. This should be interesting...

mswarrior · #4 Unread post by **mswarrior** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:54 pm

There also may be a three day waiting period once you've reached cuctoms. This happened to a friend who bought in the US and brought it back to Canada. Three days in a hotel he waited for customs to clear the transaction and apply thier fees.

66DucatiMark3 · Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:19 am

The seller just wrote back to me, saying he would deliver to me personally from Montreal to Milwaukee, WI (53208), for 350$. It would be a 2 100 mile round trip for me, with and estimated 150-180$ in gas, plus the toll, and toll$, of going through Chicago, customs, back through customs, and Chicago again.
Anyone think it would be less of a headache to let him deliver, than go through all this to have saved around 100 dollars? The adventure of a road trip doesn’t seem worth all these uncertainties with customs…
I would think it might be easier for him to go through the border with the bike, too. ??????

I’ve only gone through customs at airports, and my knowledge of the Canadian border exists only from TV shows

.

Thanks for all your post- they’ve helped quite a bit! (I’m leaning towards him delivering now…)
Chris

mswarrior · #6 Unread post by **mswarrior** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:55 am

Canada has a border!

66DucatiMark3 · Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:58 am

Hahaha- hey, I've just never been through it, that's all!

FishStix · #8 Unread post by **FishStix** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:28 pm

Tear it down. Ship it in pieces. Re-assemble at home.

No duty on bike parts.

djwintz · #9 Unread post by **djwintz** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:23 am

Get him to ride it over the border and meet him, go to the nearest insurance place transfer it into your name and ride it home. Just anothere thought .
Don