Travelling Canada to USA by motorcycle

Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

Serious replies much appreciated.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

Dave Milligan wrote:
Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

What is your nationality?

If you are Canadian all you require is a birth certificate and drivers
licence. If you fit the racial profiling expect being sent to a secondary
interview. The type of vehicle you are driving/riding should not make any
difference. They may want to see some sort of agenda or travel plan (hotel
bookings etc.) and that you have the adequate funds for your trip available.

Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

You're a citizen of OZ, flying to Canada, then riding into the US for 3
months ?
Who owns the M/C ? Where is it registered? The USA requires proof of
liability insurance

You'd be better to contact the US authorities for a definitive answer (on
paper) so you dont encounter some major unforseen problem at the Border that
could ruin your trip.

On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 05:54:08 GMT, "Rudy"
wrote:

Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

You're a citizen of OZ,
Yes, but with a Kiwi (New Zealand) passport so probably same rules
flying to Canada, then riding into the US for 3
months ?
Yes
Who owns the M/C ?
Me
Where is it registered?
Australia
The USA requires proof of liability insurance
I would arrange that with a US Insurer before I arrive.

You'd be better to contact the US authorities for a definitive answer (on
paper) so you dont encounter some major unforseen problem at the Border that
could ruin your trip.
Will do.

Thanks for your help.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

Dave Milligan wrote in message


Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

Assume you are Australian?

In that case, crossing the land border between Canada and the USA for
third country residents is no different than landing at an airport
from the third country. You need a passport and proof that you are a
tourist and have funds sufficient to support yourself.

As to the motorcycle. Whose is it?

If rented, you will need the rental contract, and the other paperwork
from the rental company, which will include insurance proof. It must
CLEARLY AND SPECIFICALLY state that you have permission to take the
bike into the USA.

If you are borrowing the bike from a Canadian friend, then its about
the same. You will need the registration card, and a proof of
insurance that CLEARLY states its applies to the USA, and a written
(preferabably notorized) statement from the owner that you have
permission to take it into the USA.

If you a thinking of buying a bike in Canada, then all you will need
is the registration in your name and an insurance proof. You MUST
have USA/Canadian insurance to operate a motor vehicle in either
country.

However if you are thinking of shipping a bike, then that is quite
complex. If that is what you want to do, then repost.

In any event, you will need a driver's liscense. The Australian
version will do, since it is already in English. Some US states
require a seperate motorcycle endorcement, some do not. If Australia
requires a seperate motorcycle endorcement or a seperate motorcycle
liscense, you will need that. If it does not, a letter from somebody
in authority (like just a local cop on letterhead) that the standard
liscense is valid for motorcycle use in Australia and that you own and
ride motorcycles in Australia, would be helpful.

On 2 Oct 2004 05:35:20 -0700, (SP Cook) wrote:

Dave Milligan wrote in message


Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

Assume you are Australian?
Kiwi actually but living in Melbourne.

In that case, crossing the land border between Canada and the USA for
third country residents is no different than landing at an airport
from the third country. You need a passport and proof that you are a
tourist and have funds sufficient to support yourself.
OK.

As to the motorcycle. Whose is it?
My own bike which I will be shipping from Melbourne to Vancouver.

..snip

However if you are thinking of shipping a bike, then that is quite
complex. If that is what you want to do, then repost.
This is the part I am really interested in.

snip

In any event, you will need a driver's liscense. The Australian
version will do, since it is already in English.
My Aussie drivers licence is endorsed for motorcycle use, but I will
probably obtain an International Drivers Permit (also m/c endorsed)
just to be sure.

Much appreciated.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

The most complete and accurate information on this subject can be found
on the US Customs website at www.customs.gov; click on the "Travel"
button on the menu bar near the top.

BTW, one thing they're incredibly sticky about is drugs . . . avoid
crossing into the USA with any medication across other than essential
prescriptions, and for those you MUST have either a signed letter of
necessity or the actual prescription from the prescribing physician (a
simple pharmacy receipt or bottle label won't do!) They routinely detain
Canadians who show up at the border with the most innocuous prescription
medications if they fail to produce such documentation on demand. You
should also check with a Canadian pharmacist on any other medications
you may be carrying prior to crossing, as some drugs that may be sold
OTC in your part of the world might be controlled prescription drugs in
North America.

-------------------------------------

Dave Milligan wrote:
Can anyone please give me some advice on travelling by motorcycle from
Canada across the border to the USA.

What documentation (apart from passport) would one require to satisfy
US Customs authorities sufficient to allow passage for a 3 month
touring holiday.

Serious replies much appreciated.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan

My Name wrote:

.................................................. .................................................
You
should also check with a Canadian pharmacist on any other medications
you may be carrying prior to crossing, as some drugs that may be sold
OTC in your part of the world might be controlled prescription drugs in
North America.

Take his posting seriously!

As an example of differences in bureaucratic "mindset", Tylenol 1 (with a
tiny bit of Codene is a painkiller (and cough suppresant) readily available
in Canadian pharmacies without a prescription. All one has to do is ask the
pharmacy staff.

In the USA it is available only by prescription. Something like this could
be trouble for you at the border.

Similar thing with the baby vitamin Tri-Vi-Sol with Flouride additive -
forbidden in the USA since the days of McCarthy.

Dave Milligan wrote in message

Assume you are Australian?
Kiwi actually but living in Melbourne.

Same. The rules would be different if you were a citizen of a third
world country.

As to the motorcycle. Whose is it?
My own bike which I will be shipping from Melbourne to Vancouver.

However if you are thinking of shipping a bike, then that is quite
complex. If that is what you want to do, then repost.
This is the part I am really interested in.

OK, this gets complicated. Temporary importation of a motor vehicle
into the USA or Canada from outside requires several things.

- You will have to post a bond with USA and/or Canada customs to
insure that you will re-export the vehicle. Otherwise you will have
to pay duty and bring the vehicle to North American safety and
emissions standards. You will be time limited (6 months, probably)
and will have to provide Customs with proof of re-export to get the
bond cleared.

- You will have to obtain registration in some North American
jurisdiction (here, vehicle registration is done by the state (prov.
in Canada) but good continent wide. Australian (or any other plates)
are not valid here.

- You will have to obtain insurance from a North American insurer.
Again Australian insurance is not valid here.

I would contact an expierenced company that does this work.

When are you doing this ?