Importing my bike

[Stuart and Thea 95]

My interview and medical and eventual POE is fast approaching. Stuck with also having to sell my house, I've let slide the decision on whether or not to import my bike.

I own a 2007 Vespa LXV150cc and really would prefer to bring it with me, but I have several questions.

(I'm afraid looking online and even speaking to the local dealer were of no use, so I'm asking my favourite experts: YOU!)

#1 Can I just bring it with me and decide later on to import it if I so choose? (I know you can bring it for personal use up to a year, but if you don't import it immediately, do you lose the chance to later?) This would be my best option as I don't know the costs involved in moving it.

#2 I can't find any places listing my vehicle, I know it meets guidelines, but I don't know how to go about proving it. The dealer where I purchased it has closed down, and when I called the other local dealer, he had no idea how to help me. I haven't been able to reach anyone from Vespa Canada, and I've read you need to contact the manufacturer, so really? Italy?? What exactly is the form/letter I need from them anyway?

#3 How do I determine a value for my vehicle? I've looked at the Kelly bluebook, and it only lists the little e-bikes, and my bike is actually classed as a motorcycle. It's purchase price was 9000$, but no way do I want to use that... Do I just make something up??

#4 What exactly will they require from me at the border if I import it now, and if I import it later?

#5 What other questions am I not asking, like, do I also need to worry about importing the helmets? They meet DOT standards, but they are also manufactured in Italy, (MOMO)

[Inky 1,110]

They asked me how much i bought my car for. Thats what they wrote the value as.

If you drive it on the road and it needs to be registered and plated then you must import it or you cannot drive it. You have to show your import papers at registration or they wont register the vehicle.

They require your VIN number (if scooters have that?) and compliance letter. Im pretty sure they want the paper of ownership but they never asked for mine!

[Colleens 40]

If you do not plan on driving it right away you can bring it with you an import it later. That will give you some extra time to worry about all the paper work when you are not so rushed. You will need to get the compliance letter and import it before you will be able to register it.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

If you do not plan on driving it right away you can bring it with you an import it later. That will give you some extra time to worry about all the paper work when you are not so rushed. You will need to get the compliance letter and import it before you will be able to register it.

That's great news! I won't be driving it in the winter months in any case, so that gives me a few more months to save up for it, and figure it all out. What with the wedding plans and needing money for the AOS and maybe covering a few months of mortgage till my house sells, every little bit helps. My biggest fear was having it confiscated at the border and no money to ship it home...

The compliance letter is the thing the guy at the dealer had no idea what to do about it. I have no idea where to go for that... I have an email into the company, and hopefully they can send me something, but as to being on letterhead, I'm hoping an email will do.

[Colleens 40]

That's great news! I won't be driving it in the winter months in any case, so that gives me a few more months to save up for it, and figure it all out. What with the wedding plans and needing money for the AOS and maybe covering a few months of mortgage till my house sells, every little bit helps. My biggest fear was having it confiscated at the border and no money to ship it home...

The compliance letter is the thing the guy at the dealer had no idea what to do about it. I have no idea where to go for that... I have an email into the company, and hopefully they can send me something, but as to being on letterhead, I'm hoping an email will do.

When I was waiting for my K1 appt I was laid off from my job. So I decided to sell my house and pack up and go down to the US to visit with my fiance while I was waiting for my interview. I drove down so that I would have a vehicle for the time (I was pretty sure it was going to be about 3 months). When I finally got my interview, I flew back to Canada and then flew back to the US. Since my car was already in the US, I just went to a CBP office and did the import. It only took a few minutes and had no issues.

Good luck on getting that compliance letter. I have a friend in Canada that has a vespa...I will ask her where she got it. Maybe that dealer can point you in the correct direction.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Girl - have you seen the big-azz gas guzzling SUV's the soccer mommies drive here? You're going to get killed

[Flames9_RN 358]

Are those scooters even have to be licenses/registered in the USA?

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Are those scooters even have to be licenses/registered in the USA?

Hopefully, it can go 120km/h when I don't have a passenger on it, so that's a little fast to not need a license...

Edited October 3, 2011 by Stuart and Thea