Motorcycles

Can I take Motorcycles across a border? Yes in many places, with conditions. Of the 20 country-rules we've indexed for Motorcycles, 0 are allowed (often with limits), 20 are restricted (permit, declaration, or quantity cap), and 0 are prohibited outright. Customs rules depend on the destination, the purpose (travelling, posting, importing personally, or importing commercially), and the quantity.

Motorcycles are two-wheeled motor vehicles used for personal transportation, sport riding, touring, and off-road recreation. Major motorcycle-exporting countries include Japan (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki), Europe (BMW, Ducati, KTM, Triumph), and the US (Harley-Davidson). Motorcycles face many of the same import regulatory challenges as used cars but with some important differences in duty rates and compliance pathways. Import duties on motorcycles vary widely: Brazil applies duties of up to 35% on motorcycle imports; India charges 100% basic customs duty on imported motorcycles, making international motorcycle imports prohibitively expensive outside the personal-use exemption for returning Indians. Japan exports large volumes of used motorcycles — particularly Honda Super Cubs and sport bikes — to markets in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America where they fill important transportation roles at accessible price points. Compliance with destination-country safety and emissions standards is required for commercial motorcycle imports. In the EU, motorcycles must meet Euro 5 emissions standards for new registrations since January 2020 (with some exemptions for smaller displacement machines until 2021), and new EU type approval is required for commercial import. Australia's ADR framework for motorcycles requires compliance with specific safety standards and lighting regulations, though the process is somewhat more accessible for enthusiast vehicles than for cars through the SEVS (Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme). Right-hand traffic configuration for controls is essentially universal for motorcycles unlike cars, where left-hand drive is the norm in Europe and North America — motorcycle controls are symmetric — but lighting configurations may differ. Personal importation of a single motorcycle as a returning resident's personal effects is generally possible with reduced duty in most countries.

Common mistakes with Motorcycles

• Assuming the rules at the origin apply at the destination — they don't. The destination customs authority is the binding rule.
• Travelling and posting are treated differently: an item you can carry may be prohibited by post (and vice versa).
• Personal vs commercial intent: above a quantity threshold, customs may treat your shipment as commercial regardless of intent.
• Undervaluing on the customs declaration to avoid duty — treated as fraud in most jurisdictions.
• Vague item descriptions on CN22/CN23 — biggest single cause of postal customs holds.
• Missing required certificates (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, prescription, product compliance).

Always verify against the destination's customs authority before acting. Not legal advice.

HS codes

• 8711.20 — Motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, exceeding 50 cc but not exceeding 250 cc
• 8711.30 — Motorcycles exceeding 250 cc but not exceeding 500 cc

Regulatory trend

https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/updates/R053r3e.pdf — UNECE WP.29 harmonised standards stable; tariff changes bilateral only

General notes

Also documented for posting & importing