Documents required to import a car from abroad for YAMAHA in Japan

Before you can start your Yamaha motorbike on French soil, you must first complete a number of administrative formalities, particularly concerning the motorbike registration document. These formalities will differ depending on whether you bought your motorbike in a European Union country or outside. In particular, you'll need to apply for registration before you can ride your 2-wheeler in France. Let's look at this together for your Yamaha import.

Import a motorbike from an EU country for your YAMAHA motorbike import Japan

The first thing to know about importing a motorbike from an EU country is that it allows you to engage in a fairly simplified procedure. However, the process will be different if the motorbike is new or used.

Repatriating a new motorbike from an EU country

A Yamaha motorbike is considered new in France if it has less than 6,000 km on the odometer or if the model has not been out for more than 6 months.

If you buy your motorbike from a private individual, the seller will have to provide you with a tax receipt which will allow you to claim an intra-Community refund, as you are paying VAT.

Also, if the motorbike was purchased from a dealer, you will only pay the sale price. VAT must be paid in France to the Treasury within 15 days of repatriation of the Yamaha motorbike. The tax receipt obtained when the VAT is paid will then be useful when applying for registration. When the vehicle is repatriated, the other documents required to apply for a motorbike registration document will have to be issued by the dealer concerning your YAMAHA motorbike import from Japan.

Repatriating a used YAMAHA motorbike from an EU country

In the case of a second-hand motorbike, the procedure is even simpler. In fact, all you have to do is pay for the motorbike including VAT, and then request form no. 1993 VT REC, which certifies that VAT was paid on the first purchase.

Importing a motorbike purchased outside the EU

A motorbike purchased outside the EU must be approved by the Direction régionale de l'environnement, de l'aménagement et du logement (DREAL, formerly DRIRE) before it can be driven in France with your Japanese motorbike import.

Then, for your YAMAHA motorbike import from Japan, you will have to pay VAT to customs. To do this, you will need to provide the following documents:

YAMAHA motorbike import invoice

A EUR 1 movement certificate if the motorbike was purchased in a country that has signed an agreement with the European Community. An external Community transit declaration A registration certificate Customs will provide you with the documents you need to register your Yamaha motorbike in France.

How do I register a motorbike bought in Japan?

Once your motorbike has been returned to France, you must register it on the ANTS website, since the prefectures no longer handle this procedure. Registration must be carried out within one month of acquiring the motorbike.

Note that if the documents required to register the motorbike are not yet complete, you can also apply for a provisional registration certificate for a renewable period of 2 months. This will allow you to drive your motorbike until you are in compliance.

For the case of the motorbike purchased in an EU country

To register a motorbike purchased abroad in an EU member state, you must send digital copies of the following documents:

• Cerfa form n°13750 corresponding to the YAMAHA registration application
• The original registration certificate or any other document proving the ownership of the vehicle
• The certificate of conformity issued by the DREAL or the manufacturer YAMAHA
• The tax receipt issued by the Treasury for the used motorbike
• Proof of address less than 6 months old
• The purchase invoice
• An identity document
• A technical inspection report less than 6 months old

Use the services of a car broker like Motorimport for your YAMAHA motorbike import from Japan

Provide a digital copy of the following documents for your Yamaha motorbike import Japan:

• Proof of address less than 6 months old (electricity bill, rent receipt, etc.);
• the original registration certificate or an official document of ownership of the vehicle;
• application form for a vehicle registration certificate (Cerfa n° 13750) ;
• the old registration certificate;
• the certificate of conformity (issued by the DREAL or on the manufacturer's papers);
• a cheque for the amount of the tax corresponding to the number of hairs on the motorbike;
• for a motorbike purchased outside the EU: the 846 A customs clearance certificate, an external Community transit declaration;
• for a used motorbike: the tax receipt issued by the Treasury.
• Once the application is complete, you will receive a file number, a registration certificate and a provisional registration certificate (CPI) so that you can drive legally until you receive your permanent vehicle registration document.

Importing a motorbike is an administrative and legal process, but a complex and restrictive one. Not only does the vehicle registration document have to be brought into line with French standards, but the vehicle also has to be modified to comply with the Highway Code. For example, French legislation does not allow two-wheelers to exceed 106 bhp for your Japanese motorbike import.

Motorbike import: is the vehicle considered new or used?

Before buying a motorbike abroad from your Japanese motorbike importer, take the time to find out about the rules applied by customs. These differ depending on whether the motorbike you are buying is new or used. Importing a new motorbike or a second-hand motorbike involves different procedures and, above all, different costs.

According to customs conditions, a motorbike is considered used in two cases: when it is more than six months old on the day of its importation into France or when it has travelled more than 6,000 km. If, on the other hand, you have purchased a vehicle that is less than six months old, or has not travelled more than 6,000 km, customs will consider it to be new and will apply the appropriate rules including the payment of VAT at a rate of usually 20%.

Steps to register a motorbike imported into France

A priori, no vehicle can legally circulate in France if it is not registered there. In other words, as long as your imported motorbike does not have a French number plate and is not insured, you cannot drive it in France.

Next. From the moment your motorbike arrives in France, you will have exactly one month to register it. You will therefore be able to ride with a foreign registration card until then. But after this time, you will not be able to ride and you will be liable to a fine of €135.

You can update your vehicle registration document at your local prefecture or sub-prefecture. In some cases, your presence is not even required. You can start the process either online, by sending the documents by post, or by appointing an approved company. It is now possible to hire a professional to take care of everything for you. So find out all you need to know in advance, so you don't waste any time importing your motorbike into Japan.

The different costs to be expected for the import of a motorbike

Importing a motorbike to France has a cost. That's why, before you make this important decision, you need to be prepared for the various additional costs you will have to pay until your motorbike arrives at its destination.

In particular, you'll need to plan for your motorbike import into Japan:

Maintenance costs and fuel for your Yamaha motorbike, if you choose to transport it yourself. Transport and delivery costs, if you entrust the repatriation to a specialist company. In both cases, expenses will depend mainly on the distance and mode of transport chosen. In addition, you will also need to allow for :

Customs duties for motorbikes purchased outside the European Union. The amount to be paid is 6 % of the value if the vehicle exceeds 250 cc, and 8 % if it does not exceed 250 cc. VAT if the motorbike was purchased "new". The amount to be paid is 20 % of its value.