Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Vintage Royal Enfield => Topic started by: mash on September 06, 2010, 03:40:10 am

Title: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: mash on September 06, 2010, 03:40:10 am
Hi. Ok yes I know my sanity may be in question here but I'm curious.
Is it possible to import a 2003 registered U.K. Enfield into the U.S.?
The bike has a current MOT and tax disc for the U.K so it's legal here.
But in the U.S. we have these weird EPA rules and each state has different registering rules etc.
I read somewhere if it's over 25 years old it can be registered as an antique.

Thanks,
Michael   
Title: Re: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: REpozer on September 06, 2010, 05:41:15 am
I heard of a man that imported old MG sport cars into the U.S. under a simular statute.
Not sure of any particulars.
Title: Re: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: ace.cafe on September 06, 2010, 01:05:13 pm
If I understand the laws correctly, non-antique vehicles have to meet a much stricter set of requirements to bring them in, including EPA testing.
I believe it is cost prohibitive in a really big way.

An antique would be much easier and less costly.
Title: Re: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: SRL790 on September 06, 2010, 01:17:56 pm
I brought my Enfield over from UK in as "vintage motorcycle parts" (no duty), but it was in pieces at the time.  Other than having to get a law enforcement officer to verify the VIN number I had no problem getting a tag (in GA).

I believe that Ace is correct about non-antique vehicles.  If it is not EPA certified it is not worth the expense.

Andy
Title: Re: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: mash on September 07, 2010, 12:14:18 am
Thanks for the info. Since it's a 2003 model I don't think I can call it a vintage, Even if the design of it says otherwise. From what I've read in other places it's pretty much a lost cause. I have some requests for info out to a few government agencies to to see what they say.
If all else fails it's a good excuse to buy a new one, or an old one I now know how to fix :)
Thanks, Michael   
Title: Re: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: rivers on September 07, 2010, 01:29:24 am
As already mentioned an 03 won't be worth the grief or expense. Customs will quarantine the bike till you can prove it meets all US EPA and DOT specs either from te manufacturer which it won't or bring it up to current US specs. If you can't within a certain time limit they just crush it. Not sure what the cut off is? 25 years old or so and it's no problem but newer bikes are a royal pain/expense. Lots cheaper to just buy one here.
Title: Re: Importing U.K. Enfield to the U.S.?
Post by: Scrounger on September 10, 2010, 04:07:41 pm
Mash:

As a person who has done such things (and more than once ::)


Unless you are extremely fond of your bike, it would not make sense.

You CAN NOT import a non-federalized vehicle.  Period,.. but you can bring in all the parts you want at 2.5% duty for ferris alloys etc................ ::)

The cost of shipping and licenesing will far out weigh the cost of getting a nice used one here.

Makes sense to do it with Caterham 7, but not an Enfield.

Cheers!