After several reports of UK motorcyclists being confronted with extra post-Brexit bureaucracy, or even turned back at the border, FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists), FIVA (the historic vehicle federation), and the UK's own NMC (National Motorcyclists Council) decided to take action.
In December 2021 they wrote a letter to the European Commissioner to ask for a solution. The reply from the Commissioner arrived in May 2022 and is crystal clear: ‘Means of transport entering the EU temporarily and leaving back to the United Kingdom after a few weeks can be placed under temporary admission and declared to customs by the sole act of crossing the frontier.’
In other words, if the stay is temporary (i.e. for a holiday or an exhibition) no customs formalities are needed at the moment of entry and exit. There's no need for a customs declaration to be lodged; no safety, security or temporary storage requirements; and no VAT to be paid. That all seems fairly clear cut, but wait…
The message clearly hadn't got through to all customs officers. Take the case of ex-Dakar rider Simon Pavey, who was refused entry to France in late March 2022, after being told that he needed an ATA carnet. Simon and son Llewellyn were on their way to the Olympia Rally in Greece, travelling with two bikes in the back of their camper van. French customs officials based at the English end of the Channel Tunnel refused to allow them out of the UK, telling them that they had to obtain a carnet to take the bikes into the EU, and imposing a €500 fine. One bike belonged to Simon, the other to KTM UK, but the officials did not even ask who owned them.
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
