Shipping a motorcycle from Thailand to Germany

Returning my motorcycle from Thailand

In this article, I would like to share with you my experience of returning my motorcycle from Thailand to Germany – to Rotterdam to be precise. I am aware that my case might be special in some respects and that many before me were able to return their vehicles without any problems. But as my example shows, the process can sometimes be anything but smooth.

Legal background: Returned goods regulation

The preferential treatment of returned goods is regulated in Article 203 of the Union Customs Code (UCC). It allows the duty-free re-importation of goods that were previously exported from the customs territory of the EU – provided certain conditions are met.

One of the key requirements: The repatriation must take place within three years (Art. 203 Para. 1 UCC). An extension of the deadline is only possible in cases of force majeure.

My story

I traveled from Germany to Thailand on my motorcycle – exclusively by land, without shipping or air transport. I left the EU for Turkey on June 4, 2024 and arrived in Thailand on October 18, 2024. During the entire trip, I did not use a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) and did not officially deregister the motorcycle at German customs.

After a six-month stay in Thailand, I decided to end my trip there and send the motorcycle back to Europe. The Thai logistics company I hired offered to ship it to Rotterdam or Hamburg. As Rotterdam is closer to my home, I had the motorcycle shipped to Rotterdam on March 26, 2025 for €2,019 – including my luggage.

I had indicated in advance that I wanted to collect the bike myself in Rotterdam to save myself the additional transportation costs within Europe. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan.

Arrival in Europe – and the first hurdle

When my crate (motorcycle + luggage) arrived in Rotterdam at the beginning of May, the logistics company there informed me that my motorcycle could not be imported duty-free. Numerous phone calls with the logistics company, Dutch customs and German customs followed. German customs in particular were very helpful, but no solution could be found to import the motorcycle into the Netherlands duty-free as return goods.

The Dutch authorities insisted on an official export certificate for my vehicle. Neither the German purchase contract, the registration certificates, proof of insurance nor the TIP (Temporary Import Permit) from Laos to Thailand were accepted.

Possible solutions – and my decision

In the end, I was offered four options by the Thai and Dutch logistics companies:

  • Customs import in the Netherlands and pay the fees
  • Return shipment to Thailand
  • Onward transportation to Hamburg by ship and delivery to my place of residence
  • Transportation with T1 document to the German border and customs clearance there

I don’t know what you would have done, I opted for option 4.

A T1 document is not enough

In order for the motorcycle to be cleared through German customs, an import declaration to get a ATA number must be made in advance. Important: The customs office noted on the T1 document must correspond to the customs office where the import clearance is to take place. This does not necessarily have to be at the border – for example, Cologne can also be selected as the customs office.

Not every foreign logistic company have access to the ATLAS system where you can apply for a import declaration. Unfortunately private individuals in Germany (as of 21.07.2025) have as well no possibility to apply for this document by themself. So a German customs agency or logistics company must be commissioned to handle the import declaration.

After around two months in Rotterdam, my crate was finally brought to the German border, where I received it in person. I had consulted the relevant customs office in advance and submitted all the documents.

Submitted documents:

  • Registration certificate part I & II
  • German sales contract for the motorcycle
  • Passport with visa documents
  • Chinese driver’s license and Chinese license plate
  • Car insurance from Thailand
  • TIP from Thailand
  • Export document from Thailand

The German customs officials had no problem recognizing the documents and classifying the motorcycle as returned goods in accordance with §203 UZK. Customs clearance itself took less than 15 minutes – and Flux could finally go home.

Cost overview

Shipment Bangkok – Rotterdam: 2.019€
Storage costs in Rotterdam: 122€
Delivery from Rotterdam to the border + place of residence: 620€
T1 document: 85€
Import declaration (ATA number) by agency: 217€
Total costs: 3.063€

 

What I have learned from this

It is probably easiest to drive back home and return by land. If this is not an option and you plan to return within three years, you can apply for an official export document before you leave.

What you need for this:

  • Formal export declaration to German customs (e.g. via ATLAS by a freight forwarder/customs agent)
  • Information that the vehicle is being temporarily exported (tourist traffic, no sale)
  • Customs registration of the vehicle in the export system
  • Exit endorsement (AGV): when leaving the EU, have it stamped at the last EU border (e.g. Turkey)

Important: Without an AGV, there is no proof of return – and this can lead to expensive problems later on.


I hope my experiences can help some of you to avoid unnecessary trouble and stress.

 

Addendum: Official response from the General Customs Directorate

Finally, I would like to show you the original response from the General Customs Directorate in Dresden regarding my case. As this is an official source, I have left the text in the original and not translated it.

Für Ihr Motorrad kommt, wie Sie bereits richtig recherchiert haben, eine Einfuhrabfertigung als Rückware in Betracht.

Voraussetzungen hierfür sind:
Das Motorrad wurde ursprünglich als Unionsware aus der EU ausgeführt
Das Motorrad soll nun wieder in das Zollgebiet der Union eingeführt und zur Überlassung in den zollrechtlich freien Verkehr angemeldet werden
Die Wiedereinfuhr erfolgt innerhalb von 3 Jahren und im gleichen Zustand wie bei der Ausfuhr (der Gebrauch des Motorrads sowie Behandlungen zur Instandhaltung stehen diesem nicht entgegen)

Solange die zuvor genannten Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind und die deutsche Mehrwertsteuer nicht erstattet wurde, kann Ihr Motorrad grundsätzlich einfuhrabgabenfrei eingeführt werden. Andernfalls wäre die Einfuhrumsatzsteuer des betreffenden Einfuhrlandes zu entrichten.
Rückware muss nicht zwingend in dem EU-Land wiedereingeführt werden, in dem der Bet. seinen Wohnsitz hat bzw. das Fahrzeug angemeldet ist. Ihnen als Deutscher Staatsbürger (Hauptwohnsitz in Deutschland) ist daher grundsätzlich auch in den Niederlanden möglich Rückware abgabenfrei einzuführen.

Im Rahmen der Zollabfertigung sind Nachweise vorzulegen, aus denen ersichtlich ist, dass die oben genannten Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind. Grundsätzlich kann im Rahmen dessen ein ursprüngliches Exportdokument genutzt werden. Da dies in Ihrem Fall nicht vorhanden ist, kann ein Nachweis grundsätzlich auch auf andere Weise erbracht werden z.B. Fahrzeugpapiere (deutsches Kennzeichen), Steuerbescheide, Importpapiere des Nicht-EU-Mitgliedstaats, Versicherungsunterlagen, etc.. Inwieweit ein Nachweis ausreichend ist, entscheidet die abfertigende Zollstelle. Ich würde Ihnen daher raten, den niederländischen Behörden alle vorhandenen Dokumente zu Ihrem Motorrad vorzulegen bzw. mit diesen abzustimmen, welche weiteren Dokumente diese akzeptieren.

Soweit die vorstehende Antwort fachliche Ausführungen enthält, begründen diese keine Rechtsansprüche.