Can i buy a motorcycle in the USA as a tourist and drive it back in a Roadtrip?

11 comments

1. No problem with buying it in the US so long as you can afford it. You might have trouble registering it because you won’t have a local address. I would call the state DMV and ask what information they will need. You will likely need to get it registered and proof of insurance depending on the state.

   As far as taking it back home I have no idea what you would need to do.

2. You’d have trouble with registration and insurance, both of which would be 100% required to drive legally in any state. You would need a legal US address to do either, meaning official documents or bills paid in your name.

   There may be some sort of workaround, but this is a pretty unique question.

3. Maybe if i buy it and transport it in a U Haul It truck all the way to the Mexican frontier? Then repeat with a mexican trucking company? I mean, I just want to buy that bike but the only place they sell them is in the USA. I want to buy it legally and all

4. You can buy a vehicle no problem, you’ll need a resident to register it for street use. I haven’t done extensive research, this is anecdotal. I registered a vehicle for a friend from UK a few years ago.

   Don’t know if there are other ways but this was extremely easy if you know someone that trusts enough to do it.

5. Buying it isn’t the issue, it’s getting it back home where you’ll have the trouble – as you’ve discovered.

   Quick point of clarification, by “importation fee” are you referring to the duties/taxes your country would impose on you? Or the transport fees of shipping?

   If it’s the former, I’m sorry to say but you’re going to have to pay that no matter what (I’d assume) when you bring it back to your country, be that at the border when you cross or via shipping, otherwise you’d be committing fraud. In the US at least, you have to declare items purchased overseas when reentering the country and pay duties on them – id assume it’s the same with every country but a quick google search will tell you what your country’s laws are.

   If it’s the shipping aspect, if the company allows you to handle the shipping on your own without physically picking up the bike (which they probably will, but you’d have to work that out with them) you can get quotes from a number of international freight forwarders to move the bike and choose the cheapest option.

   Without being able to ride the bike as it’s unregistered you’d have to work out transporting it in a uhaul (or some other rented vehicle) to the Mexican border, then again when you drive across Mexico, and again and again until you reach your home country. You’d also have to factor in air fare, hotel stays, gas, food, etc. It might not be as cheap as you think, not to mention the journey will likely take over a week depending on where in the US you start from.

   Sauce: I work in international shipping/imports & exports (insert Seinfeld joke here).

6. I can’t imagine why you couldn’t. As long as you have insurance.

7. You usually have to have a local address with utility bill, insurance bill, etc, to get it registered, and a valid driver’s license. Depending on the state you intend to first visit what you would need to do. I am aware of people buying in the US, so just do uou fact finding. Maybe an expats webpage?

   Use the internet, check them out.

8. As long as you have a valid motorcycle license recognized in the US. Insurance and can get it registered to a valid address. Yes

9. That’s fine but do know the US is big, you can’t just simply drive from one big city to another. From New York to Chicago it’s a 12 hour drive. Foreigners always underestimate the time it takes to get from one place to another. Not trying to discourage you, just trying to warn you before you make any hasty decisions.

10. You need a separate motorcycle license

11. Technically, you’ll need a motorcycle endorsement on your license to be legal to drive it in the US. I believe every state requires one if driving over 50cc. If your country has an equivalent motorcycle type endorsement, it’ll count.
    As a side note, look into an International Driving Permit. It’s not a replacement for your license, but it supplements it and provides official translation if your license is foreign language. It’s issued by your own country (150 countries are part of the IDP program). Some businesses in America require an IDP if your license is foreign.