Customs

Our experience is that, because of the scooter's age, there are no problems importing anywhere in the West. We have the most experience with the countries below; otherwise give your Customs department a quick call for more details.

Australia

We've been told that you need to apply for an import permit before the shipment arrives. Otherwise no problems. You can go here to download an application. Apparently, though two-wheeled vehicles are never mentioned (all other categories pretty much are) you are included in that legislation.

Please update us with your experience.

Canada

There are no problems importing, though we've been told in Canada to make sure you get a “Form 1” from Customs to use when registering.

Please update us with your experience.

UK

There are no problems importing, and on historic vehicles there is no duty and 5% VAT. Declare it as an historic vehicle, otherwise the rates are higher. You need a VAT receipt from Customs to later register it at DVLC. A receipt from the shipper is not accepted by DVLC. We have also been told that “the shipping company only issue you with a C88 which says how much duty you have paid, this has to be sent to HMR&C to obtain the C&E 386 which is what you need to register it in the UK.” Give Customs a call and ask what forms you need in order to clear the scooter yourself and save any charges there.

Please update us with your experience.

USA

There are no problems in the USA as there is an exemption for scooters over 25 years old. DOT and EPA rules do not apply.

Once the scooter lands in LA, the agent there affiliated with the shipping line will contact you about payment for shipping. You can then probably have Customs clearance done in LA by them, or choose to do it in your own city by yourself or by a Customs broker for $50-100. Choose your own city and consider doing it yourself. Most customers have done it themselves and paid nothing. Read this report a customer sent back:

Here's the deal. You don't need an agent. The only reason the shippers recommend an agent is to clear a great deal of imported goods, but for a scooter its simple. Take the paperwork scootRS e-mails (title, commercial invoice) and the Arrival Notice document from the shipper to customs. Call ahead and speak with transportation customs to grease the skids and also find out exactly where to go. In Boston, I spoke with a guy that works in Customs and has a Vespa which made it that much easier. Once I went to customs I first sat with a woman that works in transportation customs. I let her know the bike was only 175cc and from 1965. Both low cc and age matterred. She noticed Vietnam on the documentation but I nicely emphasised that the goods were Italian. It's very important to get them to accept and write Country of Origin Italy on your documents. I then took the documents to the Customs desk. He gave me another piece of paper to pay processing charges, $9, at a teller desk. I went back to him with the receipt and I was cleared.

I took the paperwork straight down to Boston Freight, payed forklift charges of $62 and they forklifted both scooters into the back of an enclosed rental truck and away we drove with the new scooters.

Surprisingly, the entire process from going to Customs to uncrating the scooter at home took about two hours. It was much easier that I had expected.

We continually receive reports back that US Customs has charged duty of...wait for it...$9. Ouch. That Kenny G CD will have to wait a bit.