Importing Motorcycles from USA to HK

Does anyone have any information on this? I will be moving from California USA. I have checked all of the FAQs and have not found a more appropriate spot to raise this question. I apologize if this is not the correct forum.

haha...no Choppers for me scoundrel...actually...it is a street bike and since it was recently purchased new i would take a HUGE hit if i were to sell it off anytime soon...i am going to lose a couple thousand US dollars so if importing is any cheaper i will consider that...the transport will be covered by work but not sure about registration...etc

Thanks for the info and links St Kilda! You got the make correct but not the model. I ride an '07 Suzuki GSXR 750...the most fun I have ever had on a bike!


I will definately keep an eye out for crazy motorists...was knocked off my bike just a couple of days ago here in San Diego when someone pulled out and clipped my rear tire!


I would love to make it the Great Ocean Road. If i am ever in Australia I will need to make the cruise.

You can link to the HK superbikes forum .. http://groups.msn.com/HKSuperBikeClub/general.msnw

The guys there have some experience importing bikes into HK and can help you out. They also organize weekly Sunday morning rides. Safe riding.

I really do love it St Kilda...it has to be the most balanced bike I have ever ridden. Rode a bunch of friends 1000s including the R1 and a couple of Gixxer 1000s and they were just a bit heavy to toss around.


Love the bit of extra power of the 600 without the heavy feel of the liter bikes. I will definately try to make it out to Aussie and see about renting a bike or something! If they do that there...


Thank you Gustavo! I will join to group and get the ball rolling...I appreciate the help. Do you happen to ride with these guys?

Carrollcp, I haven't been out on a Sunday ride with them, they start at 7am and it is a bit early for me, I'm out a bit later. ;-) I also recommend visiting the Zhuhai racetrack, there is a guy there Jimbo that runs a racing school and it is an absolute blast. PM me if you want any information.

Back to the point of importing your bike to HK. You will have to pay a 30%-35% tax on importing the bike plus the cost of road testing it and any potential modifications that may be needed to have it road registered. This can take some time and there are not many places willing to help with the process. It depends where you will loose more, on the resale depreciation or on the import tax and shipping costs.

mistyped!! Love the bit of extra power ***over*** the 600 without the heavy feel of the liter bikes.


Gustavo, 7am is definately too early for me as well. I usually get a 10-noon start on a weekend! I will take you up on that more info on Zhuhai...pm soon to follow...


St Kilda...thanks again for the info...giving me more and more reasons to visit you Aussies! I will definately look into riding both roads when I can arrange a trip...if you are around let's try and meet up!


D-Man...thank you for the information...sounds like you have experience with this. With my work arrangement I can assume they will pay for all import fees/shipping...etc since I will be forced to sell all of my other toys. Since the bike is new I would lose a few grand selling at this point so unless the road mods you are talking are insane I think I am better bringing her along... ;) Are HK emissions strict? California has very strict emissions so I would be surprised if there was much work to do. I can already change from Miles to Kilometers by pressing a few buttons!

Your assumption that your company will pay the import tax may be correct...but to be on the safe side you should check with your employer. Many of them don't pay for import taxes on things that are not considered a necessity for living and working in HK.

Here are some guidelines from the HK Superbikes forum (sorry, it's a bit long):


Guidelines for Importation and Registration of Motor Vehicle


These notes have been compiled based on personal experience of importing a motorcycle and information supplied by the various government departments through their websites and leaflets. It is accurate to the best of my knowledge as at July 2001.

There are three government departments involved in the importation and registration of motor vehicles to Hong Kong, the Customs and Excise Department, Environmental Protection Department and Transport Department.

DO IT AND SAVE A LOT OF MONEY!

Don’t be put off by the bureaucracy involved. If you do it step by step and fulfil the requirements, it’s not that difficult. It’s better than having to pay a dealer a heavy percentage or fee for doing it for you. Quotes for doing it for you seem to range from 15-20% of the bikes value or $10-15,000. Besides that saving, the other great incentive for doing it yourself is that you will save $3-4,000 on the EPD emission tests if you get an exemption. Exemptions are only available to individuals (and only once in five years).

It’s helpful to have a friendly dealer or mechanic who is willing to receive the bike for you, unpack it, check it and prepare it for the road. Also, to take it to and from the test centre for you (on trade plates or using a truck). From personal experience, I would highly recommend Mr Wong Hon-chuen of Sea Island Cycle Company, 28 Kennedy Town Praya, Hong Kong, tel. 2855 7719. He is not after a commission and only charges for the labour / time involved. He has trade plates and access to a truck, if required. He also seems to have a good relationship with the test centre.


Step 1 : Compliance with the Exhaust and Noise Emissions Standard

Before you arrange for the importation of a vehicle, you must ensure that it had been tested and was issued with a full exhaust and noise emissions test report by an approved test laboratory. Such emissions test report has to be approved by the Environmental Protection Department, and an approving letter will be issued if the vehicle to be imported complies with the exhaust and noise emission standards stated in the legislation.

However, subject to the fulfilment of exemption criteria, certain categories of vehicles may be exempted from complying the exhaust emission standard, you can apply for the exemption and obtain a letter of exemption from the Environmental Protection Department.

There is an exemption category for:

(a) vehicles imported by personal importer (i.e. not commercial)

(b) brand new or less than 500 kms on clock, used less than six months and not more than 12 months since manufacture

(c) from a country where the standards match HK's, i.e. Europe or Japan (not Canada or USA)

(d) same person can only do once in five years.

To show the Environmental Protection Dept. that the bike complies with noise and emission standards, you will need documentary evidence from the manufacturer that that particular bike complies with European or Japanese standards on:

(a) noise level of exhaust silencers

(b) emission levels

i.e. in UK and Europe for compliance with both noise 97/24/EC Chap. 9 and emission standards 97/24/EC Chap. 5.

They will not accept a generalized letter relating to the make / model; the letter must mention your bike by engine and frame number.

The same letter or another letter from the manufacturer must state the exact date that your bike came off the production line in the factory.

To show EPD that you are the one who is importing the bike, you will need to have the bike registered in your name in another country first. HOWEVER, they will be flexible here and accept a personal invoice from the dealer in the other country who is selling you the bike. The invoice must be addressed to you personally.

EPD Motor Vehicle Emissions Group is located on the 33rd and 45th floors of Revenue Tower at 5 Gloucester Road Wanchai.

Enquiries on approved test laboratories, emission standards and exemption criteria can be made to Tel No.: (852) 2594 6383 (Exhaust emission); (852) 2594 6040 (Noise emission) or Fax No.: (852) 2827 8256.

Every motor vehicle, including motorcycle, must comply with the relevant exhaust and noise emission standards upon first registration. For enquiries, please call Tel No.: (852) 2594 6383 (Exhaust emission); (852) 2594 6040 (Noise emission).


Step 2 (a) : Importation

A shipping company (used by the dealer or agent from whom you are buying the bike) should provide you with a copy of the bill of lading (BoL) and information as to which shipping company / agent is going to receive your bike into Hong Kong. Depending on the deal, it will be delivered from the shipper’s warehouse (most likely at Kwai Chung container terminal) or you will be told when you can arrange for transport to collect it. Most of the big shipping companies have websites where you can track the progress of the ship coming to HK. It takes about 20 days for a container ship to reach HK from Europe. You may not see the bike until 2-3 days after the ship arrives.


Vehicles imported into Hong Kong are not subject to any Customs tax, but in general, an importer is required to lodge with the Customs and Excise Department an accurate and complete declaration. If the motor vehicle is imported by a private individual for his own use and not for sale,

registration as an importer is not required.


You should submit an Import Return (Form No.: CED336) enclosing with a Declaration Form (Form No.: CED336A) to the Customs and Excise Department. Enquiries about the declaration and payment of declaration charge can be made at Tel No.: (852) 2815 7711. Enquiries on the submission of CED336 and CED336A can be made at Tel No.: (852) 2231 4390.


Just phone them up and ask them to send you the forms. You can fill them in at your leisure and then take them to C&E’s office at North Point.


For individual importer, they can lodge import declarations at the Motor Vehicles Valuation Group of the Customs and Excise Department at 11/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Telephone : (852) 2231 4391. Facsimile : (852) 2598 4975.


Step 2 (b) : First Registration Tax


All motor vehicles for use on the roads of Hong Kong are subject to a First Registration Tax. The tax is administered by the Transport Department (but the actual calculation is done on the recommendation of Customs & Excise) on the basis of the published retail price. For vehicles without a published retail price, the tax will be assessed on the purchase price plus insurance and freight fees and any brokerage or agency fee related to the purchase and importation of the parts of the motor vehicle as declared by the importer with reference to the market value of the motor vehicle concerned.


It takes Customs & Excise about 5 days to confirm how much importation tax you will have to pay. The rate is 40% of the purchase price, including any shipping and insurance costs.


If you are importing from a dealer in Europe, remember that your invoice should show a price, which is much lower than the price people are paying in those countries. You will not be paying Value Added Tax (VAT) so deduct 17.5%, you can also explain a further reduction in the price because the dealer in Europe is not allowing for warranty work and the initial set up of the bike, because you will be having that done in Hong Kong. Do you get the message? Your invoiced price should be low, like what the bike factory charges the dealer, plus a little profit!!!! Add shipping and that’s all you should be paying 40% on. Of course, I’m not advocating you cheat. Couldn’t do that! :)


Following the submission of your Import Return, you will receive a "Notification of Motor Vehicle Provisional Taxable Value" of your vehicle from the Customs and Excise Department. The Notification should be produced on first registration of your vehicle in the Transport Department.

In the case where the price of your vehicle is expressed in foreign currency, in calculating the taxable value, the opening indicative counter exchange selling rate published by the Hong Kong Association of Banks on the date of importation of your vehicle will be taken as the exchange rate of the foreign currency.

C&E will not give you the above notification until they see the appointment letter to show that you have booked a Vehicle Examination. Depending on the staff you are dealing with they may even wait until your motorcycle has passed the examination.


Step 3 : Vehicle Examination

A pre-registration examination is required of:


1. Vehicles imported by individual for self-use or sale.


2. Vehicles imported for self use or sale by any firm / organization which is not the authorized agent / distributor.


3. All used vehicles.

For motorcycles, you should personally go to Sheung Kwai Chung Vehicle Examination Centre, Wo Yi Hop Road, Sheung Kwai Chung, Kwai Chung, New Territories (located next to Lei Muk Shue Police Station) Tel. No. (852) 2424 5215 Fax No. (852) 2418 2977, to book an appointment and pay the fee for inspection of your motorcycle. You will need to produce either the original certificate or original letter of exemption, issued by EPD, to prove that your motorcycle complies with the vehicle emissions standard. (Cars go to To Kwa Wan NOT motorcycles!)

If your vehicle can pass the vehicle examination, you will receive a Certificate of Roadworthiness from the Examination Centre.

Obviously you cannot drive the motorcycle to be tested without registration, unless you have the use of a friendly dealer’s trade plates (the T 12345 plate with red writing on white background that are used for testing and demonstration of new vehicle). Usually, people arrange for a truck to take their motorcycle to and from the test centre.

Advice: Do not book your test until your motorcycle has arrived in Hong Kong and been delivered and unpacked. Sometimes ships are delayed. You also never know what work may be required to get it ready for test.

Step 4 : Vehicle Registration and Licensing

When applying for first registration of your vehicle, you should submit a completed application form (Form No.: TD22) to the Hong Kong Licensing Office of Transport Department at 3/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong. (Tel No.: (852) 2804 2637 or Fax No.: 2804 2599) together with the supporting documents as prescribed in the application form, e.g. the Certificate of Insurance. Application forms are available there. Upon the verification of your submitted documents, you are required to pay first registration tax and the registration fee for the registration of your vehicle, and pay vehicle licence fee and levy for Traffic Accident Victim Assistance Fund for licensing of the vehicle. Registration is not transferable.

Gustav,,,, yes i do have a little experience. I imported 2 harleys from the US but that was quite a few years back. The regulations have changed since but the emissions should not be too much of a problem if your bike has not been modified. There is a company called Titanic Motors that might be able to take care of all the details for your (for a small fee).

wow...this is a great write up and should help a ton! I will let you guys know how everything works out...thanks again for all of the help!

D-Man.. i might need a same service as well soon. Can you plz give me the details of that shop you mentioned? The Titanic Motors..? Thanks!