I used to run conferences around the world and Carnets are a total pain in the arse, being in the EU was a joy as they were not required. Sadly this is no longer the case and I’m just glad I’m no longer having to arrange this. Another unexpected benefit of Brexit!!!
The petition mentioned by the OP is to "cover" when the bike is transported by a 3rd party. Not sure why some are explaining here that they took their bike without any issues. (so did I twice this year, but is irrelevant) Basically, the bike becomes "goods" and as such there are 3 options. Pay VAT, pay some sort of deposit (this can be claimed back when the bike is returned to UK) or have an ATA Carnet. Common market was much more than some thought....
Saw that in an MCN article. From what I read, there is a different Carnet for that, but not accepted by all EU nations it said.
Yes, you need volumes.TDO are shipping thousands of bikes during one year and plenty of office staff to deal with Carnets. Take us for example we used to go at least 3 times a year to race hard enduro in Europe...one mate used to drive his own (large van) with 6 bikes and gear in the back, the rest of us enjoyed some whilst flying. This way it was roughly £1300 per 6 chaps (plane thickets, fuel, Eurotunnel, highway tolls) This year we had to go with 3 vans..(2 riders in each van, with own bikes in the back) it did cost us around £2400.
Wow....a downside to Brexit? Who'd a thought it? Still waiting for the Brexit dividend and a signpost to the sunlit uplands. Gotta feeling I'll be waiting for a long, long time.
I recently re-imported my own Yamaha (still UK registered) from Italy using a 'Shiply' van service. I can provide the details if anyone interested. I did speak with Eurotrans first who said they could no longer offer the service. The import cost was £65 (plus his carriage charge of course) which comprised £40 for him to do the paperwork for me, and a £25 VAT charge. No idea how they worked out the £25 VAT but it was so low I didn't quibble. The bike is 40+ years old so that may have helped. Of course that was one-way so perhaps double it for both ways? He had 3 UK bikes he was bringing back so he clearly knew what he was doing. One of the bikes was relatively new. Worked very smoothly, bike back in UK in 3 days.
I'm not suggesting that £65 is better than zero (what it used to be), but it was one hell of a lot less than I'd been led to expect from several bike transport companies. I didn't vote for Brexit, but the British public did. We now need to live with it.
Ever heard of "voting"? Ever heard of "being sold a pup"? Ever heard of "they're laughing at you"? Ever heard of "doing something about it"? Well....are you just gonna lie there......and ask for more?
The answer is still yes. The fact that you don’t like it doesn’t matter. Can’t you take it to a brexit thread somewhere in speakers comer so we don’t have to hear the moaning? OP asking something very specific: either sign the petition, add to the facts as some have or move along.
And don't get me wrong...not being confrontational but just asking a few questions that should have been asked a long time ago.
Why should I "move along"? The fact remains that now you're paying £65 for something that used to be free. And why? Because a few - a very few - uber-rich individuals didn't want to pay their fair share. And people fell for it. Shame.
