My 5-year station in France will end soon and I would like to know how difficult it would be to import my 2003 M620S i.e. to the US. Anyone has some first hand experience with this?
Cheers, Pedro
Shipping alone will cost you about 1k. Also the taxes title and registration will probably be about 1.5 k.
Honestly, you're better off selling there and buying in the states once you get here.
You also need to check with someone who recently did similar in your home state. Each state is different. California would be close to impossible if the bike is a European version.
+1 on the deal with california. i brought a 1990 bike from a dealer in chicago. was probably
a canadian bike but had current registration.
it got hung up here (san diego) at DMV who sent me over to CHP. they couldn't verify the VIN
with either US or Italian ducati (records were lost in the great Ducati NA fire) and the only
reason it was ever registered is 'cause the CHP cop was a Duc owner who took pity on me.
DMV is the closest thing to god (or satan) that you'll encounter here on earth.
first off, importing a bike is a federal issue, not a state issue. the state will not title it unless you have an origination document, which you have to get from US Customs.
you need to go the the NHTSA website and look up to see if your bike is "nonconforming eligible", which is shorthand for "can be converted to US Spec: (i.e. someone else imported it previously and NHTSA/EPA has said "this model can be converted")
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/ (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/)
you then have to look on the EPA website to see if the bike is conforming. the problem is that you will have to pay an RI (registered importer) to convert the bike, which can run at least 1000-3000 plus parts. recent euro-spec bikes are almost identical to US spec bikes, but you will have to add side reflectors, a charcoal canister etc. basically you have to make it IDENTICAL to a US model of the same year.
the fact that the 620 was imported works in your favor but it will still not be cheap.
custom exhaust? no go have ot use the stock exhaust setup. also, if you've made any fuel system or noise abatement changes -- have to be reverted.
ask me how i know.
Pre-2006 motorcycles are easier to import as they are all non-catalyzed exhausts. I've imported a couple of bikes and with older Ducatis (90s thru early 2000s) you basically have the reflectors, gas tank/charcoal canister/headlight (if UK spec) to worry about. That's IT. However, that can cost you about $2000 or more just to get certified by an RI.
If you plan to do it, then find someone who has the old parts and buy them off ebay or here. Your RI will use them on your bike (or buy them themselves and then charge you a markup). You can even do the work yourself, the RI will inspect and signoff -- and charge you $1000s for that privilege. The parts don't have to stay on, they just have to be on during the inspection -- you want the VIN sticker (RI will assign a new VIN to the bike based on the current frame # -- numero telaio)
If you can get a letter of conformance from Ducati, then you are golden and don't need an RI. Call up DNA and tell them you want to do this. I don't know how good they are, I have dealt with them on one import and they were TOTAL ASSHOLES about it -- and refused to do it. They could have written a letter of compliance for the bike (one that was imported to the US and identical to the Euro spec) but refused. I ended up writing to Bologna and got a letter from them (thanks Sandro) but I think DNA got pissy about it and I've heard Bologna will not write a letter anymore.
Good luck.
Wao! ducatizzzz, that was a very comprehensive response! Many thanks, you have saved me much researching time and I would venture to say, lots of money.
From a practical point of view, importing a 2003 M620S i.e., makes no sense. But my bike is one of the dark metallic grey with fluo red wheels which as far as I know, were only produced in 2003. Further, it is the bike in which I learned to ride and it has huge sentimental value. It is true, that at current market value, I can sell it here for 4000 euro and go buy a bike worth $7000 in the USA (if you take into account the cost of the RI), but this might not be an entirely rational decision I am about to make.
Cheers, Pedro
Five year station in France? Military? If so, they may be able to help.
sound like you are in the military.
in which case don't they ship your stuff for you? or at least have a good discount?
there was a US airbase near where i used to live and they all brought their cars from the US with them.
I only have experience exporting a car from the UK to the US for a Friend. It was n Audi RS4 which was used in a gumball then a tuning companys demo car.
as for importing and liscencing stuff you'll need to export it from france. whtever the french DMV is called will issue you an export certificate.
you'll need this to register it in the US.
As long as it is a model that was available in the US ie it has DOT type approval there shouldnt be an issue.
Even then there are ways around it the rs4 is registered as an S4
Thanks for the further advice. I am with the US Dept. of Commerce and you are correct, they will pay for the move of my goods to the US.
Getting the Fed to ship your stuff is only part of the problem.
You need the foreign export cert to get the bike out of the country, but a state DMV will NOT accept that as a basis to register the bike.
Any foreign-titled bike, EVEN IF it is identical to a US model, MUST HAVE a NHTSA/EPA sticker on it before it can be titled. Guess who gives you that title? US Customs.
You cannot ship your bike directly to the US without going thru customs to get the import cert. The import certification is what your DMV wants.
I've imported TWO bikes in the last 10 years, I know what I'm talking about. DoC may help you with the importation requirements (i.e. getting it certified as compliant by NHTSA/EPA)
Don't bring the bike over without doing your homework, or you will be left with a title-less bike and will have committed a felony.
Look on this list: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/web_RI_list01122006.html (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/web_RI_list01122006.html)
Find one that does bikes and call them.
Fat Freddy's Cat has the info down. If it was an extremely rare or valuable bike, it would be worth it. A Monster 620 wouldn't. IMO, if you can 4K Euro out of your bike, sell it and buy another here, you'll make money.
If you really, really, really want to do it. I have a really good RI I could hook you up with. But he'll tell you the exact same thing as the Cat.
Quote from: abby normal on June 10, 2009, 07:16:10 AM
DMV is the closest thing to god (or satan) that you'll encounter here in earth California.
fixed it...