Modern Vespa

Greetings all! My name is Courtney and I am a proud owner of a 2020 GTS 300 HPE of the Verde Relax variety

A little backstory: I purchased my Vespa in the summer of 2020 and have since made some modifications including matching top case, rear crash bars, alarm, handlebar lock (swings from under the seat to the left handle), heated grips, and short/tall windscreen (season-dependent) as my Vespa is my sole means of transportation. I am a year-round rider and so these additional comforts added to the Vespa have more than served my purposes and brought me absolute joy!!! I'm also forever grateful to members here as I've been a longtime lurker and used advice gleaned from this forum to inform some of my decisions and modification choices.

My problem: My employer (non-military) has informed me of an opportunity to temporarily(?) relocate to our office in Germany beginning the summer or fall of 2022. I have ZERO plans to sell my current Vespa and definitely had dreams of bringing it along with me…but my hopes have been dashed while doing some research in terms of US vs EU specs and all of that. However, I haven't really come across any first hand accounts or experiences of doing this process recently (2020-).

As it's likely that I'll need to leave the Vespa here I have arranged to do so in someone's very capable hands…BUT I'm also determined to try and do all I can to bring mine hence why I'm inquiring so far in advance. Otherwise, I am okay with repurchasing another Vespa once I arrive in Munich. In that case, I'd love to get another 300 but am also okay with a 125+. Once ready to return, I'd sell it - although it should be noted that my employer is trying to work through just how long my stint would be so unfortunately I don't have that info.

To sum up my questions: 1) Has anyone has successfully brought a US spec Vespa into Germany or know what that process would look like? i.e., time, cost, modification requirements, etc.? I'm trying to think through this process early in case there's the small chance I'm able to pull off bringing my beloved Vespa. 2) Should I need to purchase a Vespa in Germany, where is a good place to get started/check out?

Thank you to anyone who is willing to help me think through this. Alternative ideas also welcomed!

Probably easier to just buy one in Munich, sell it when you come back and write it off as rental during your time there. Sorry I can't offer any constructive advice regarding importing. Good Luck!

Welcome, cocoverde! Congrats on your Vespa and getting to work in Germany. I know nothing about transporting a scoot out of the country, but you've got me curious.

I just did a multimonth trip in Europe. I'm not a European resident, so I had to rent a GTS (approximately 40€ per day - definitely would have bought/sold if I had the option).

I believe a new resident (or nonresident) can bring their foreign-registered vehicle for up to one year. That rule might have been for Italy, but I'm sure Germany has an equivalent. You might need to buy green card insurance (the European term for insurance that applies when you're out of your home country).

You can also buy a vehicle with export plates in Germany without being a resident, as long as you bring it back to the US with you. I think the time horizon for that is also one year.

I suspect your employer will get your residency established, but I don't know as much about the process for residents.

Contact SIP in Munich, they may be of assistance. (They are mentioned on this site frequently)
I sold an American spec car to a German while I was there (1989) and he owned several American cars.
You may have to pay duty on the scooter and you would need German license plates. Contact the Bavarian Landes Office about plates.

https://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Importing_a_motorcycle_to_Germany

https://www.movingto-germany.com/
https://www.moving-to-munich.com/

Avoid Oktoberfest, mostly toirists, and go to the Fruhling Fest. Fruhling Fest is held in spring on the same grounds as the Oktoberfest and had few tourists.

Consider renting an apartment on a train or bus route that passes near where you work.

AIUI if you're there less than six months you shouldn't have to get it registered and taxed or take a driving test to get a German driving licence. If you remain domiciled outside Germany then it might be even longer.

My recommendation: find out who administers the relo process for your corporation. Then, have an email "chat" with the relo services company representative for the specific location and detail what you mention here, as a concern. The rep will be of invaluable benefit. Not only for mode of transport, but, housing and other necessary relo items you will need (housing options/locations, and insurance, for examples). If you have family members - the list expands. The relo rep does all this as their job - they can advise you the best, according to current protocols, as it relates to the company and said country. It is as much a process for you, as it is for the company, to send you. You need the best information to make informed decisions. Best to you!

Different rules may apply if you will be there less than 6 months.

https://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/Entering-Germany/Duties-and-taxes/Temporary-importation-of-a-vehicle/temporary-importation-of-a-vehicle_node.html

The mandatory insurance is the minimum liability insurance required. Purchase additional insurance from an agent.

Get an International Driver's License before you go. An International Driver's License is not valid in the country where obtained (USA for you).

From what I could find in the references provided, you need to verify that the lights are certified for EU.

If I was in your position, I would take my scooter with me and try to get my employer to cover shipping and registration instead of rental car.

The roads in Munich are well maintained and you should be able to ride year around. On days where there is snow on the road there is a good bus and train system. There can be a long wait if you need to change buses so I would try to locate near a commuter train
stop.[/i][/u]

Check on this group.
https://www.facebook.com/vespaclubmuc

While living in Germany we witnessed a couple rides with over 30 - 40 scoots.

This.
You might need to stick a USA sticker on it. You should be able to drain the tank, disconnect the battery, put it in a crate and stick it on a plane. When you go to pick it up, you will fill out the temporary importation paperwork.

And thanks to Brexit, if you are about to overstay, you can ride it to Britian, spend a night complaining about roundabouts, and import it back into the EU again.

An international Drivers License from AAA might come in handy.

Horizons Unlimited has more information about how to do what you want to do.

Thank you for the warm welcome!

That sounds like an amazing trip! I confess that part of my motivation for bringing the Vespa with me would be to do some traveling. Thanks for the valuable info!!

Awesome - thank you so much for the recommendations! Definitely plan to find an apartment near a train or bus route. I am fortunate that my supervisor is based in our office there and will be able to advise and check out places in my absence.

You both have renewed my determination to try and get the Vespa there with me!! This information is golden - thank you! I'll update my progress in case anyone else has something similar happen to them.

Fortunately, I think my employer would be open to covering these costs so I will put this on their radar ASAP!

Good call on the international license, I hadn't thought about that. I'll also look into the Vespa's lights to ensure they are to spec.

Definitely glad to hear about my alternative transportation options in Munich. I have successfully managed to not own a vehicle until the Vespa the past 12 years or so (the purchase was mostly fulfilling a lifelong dream in addition to a general means of transportation). Prior to that, I relied on bus and/or train in various cities lived in.

Thanks for the info!

I'm thinking it may be longer than 6 months...perhaps a year? In any case, I'm now motivated again to push forward in trying to bring my scoot with me regardless so thank you for this wonderful info!

I rode and lived in Germany almost 25 years----Non military, just fly it in, leave US plates on, ride it, maybe Geico for some insurance----probably not get caught---international lic no longer seems to be necessary, just US with MC indorsement. Long term stay, year or more get German model and registration.

There is someone from Germany hanging around in MV, at least Der Blechfahrer?

Longer than 6 months and I believe you'll have to register your imported vehicle. With US cars the technical inspection for this could be painfull, but with bikes, if required(?) it should not - typically a new EU spec bike just gets stuff added for the US, like silly side reflectors, peculiar fuel emission boxes and such

On the other hand, it may be worth checking out that once/if registered in EU, how easy is it to register back in the US?

In any case, prepare to pay some duties, taxes etc. when bringing in your non-EU scoot.

I don't know the theft story in Germany, but I wonder if US plates would make you more/less of a target than a local.

Courney,

This is a great forum for all your questions. In the military, they would ship our
cars. However, most sold and bought something when they arrived in the new
country.

You have been spoiled by the 300 (The Vespa for all purposes - power to get up and go).
You may not be content with a smaller cc model. After all, you have all of Germany
and Austria to explore. It would be kind of cool cruising all over in a Vespa 300 with
a pack on the back. Kind of a Hemingway sort of thing. The Black Forest awaits you.

Best Luck in the land of great beer.

Bob Copeland
Frost Bite Falls Minnesota

Courtney,

When first in Germany. I kept wondering why there were so many signs
for the city of Ausfahrt on the autobahn.

Bob Copeland

And if you do get caught, hopefully they'll just impound your bike. I overstayed my welcome in Argentina, and my bike got to sit in the Aduana's office between Argentina and Uruguay until I took a 60 mile bus trip to Buenos Aires, where the Customs department found the most expensive MZ Baghira for sale on Ebay and set a fine of about what the bike was worth.
You appear to be confused as to what an international driver's license is. It is not a document that allows you to drive in other countries. What it is is a translation of your license into different languages, so the cop who pulls you over and doesn't have a command of the English language can see that you are licensed to ride a Motorcycle, for example. So they don't impound your bike until you can find someone who speaks English and is willing to do a search of the (Your Home State Here) DMV website, for example, to figure out what the different endorsements mean.

https://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/international-drivers-license/#:~:text=What%20is%20an%20International%20Driver%27s%20License%3F%20An%20International,It%20contains%20your%20name%2C%20photo%20and%20driver%20information.

a not helpful comment:

I have this dream of shipping my Vespa from Australia to New Zealand for a 2-4 week ride. I wonder what that would cost

They've got it almost right - but it bloody well ISN'T A LICENCE! It's just a permit. One of two possible permits depending on the country you want to travel in. Even in the EU you need both to go everywhere - Ireland only recognises the 1949 Geneva IDP, though the rest recognise the more usual 1968 IDP. This also applies the other way round - in most states in the USA a 'foreigner' will need the 1949 IDP, though a few states are quite content with the foreign driving licence.

So be careful which one you ask for!

As much as it costs to go somewhere a little more interesting:
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/get-ready/shipments?field_shipment_from_city_value=&field_shipment_from_country_value=australia&field_shipment_to_city_value=&field_shipment_to_country_value=new+zealand

And for Courtney, here's EEUU to Tedescolandia:
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/get-ready/shipments?field_shipment_from_city_value=&field_shipment_from_country_value=united+states&field_shipment_to_city_value=&field_shipment_to_country_value=germany

Thanks, that gives me hope

I don't have any useful information to add, but I would like to say that seeing things like this just make me happy that other people get it. That I'm not the only one who can feel that strongly about a funny shaped little motorbike, and will do anything to hang onto it. I really you're able to bring it along with as little hassle as possible!

Truer words have never been spoken. The thought of exploring new lands (for me) on my Vespa is a huge driving force for my desire to pull this off. I'm sure the Vespa and I would both come back with some stories to tell! Thanks for the well wishes, Bob!!

This sounds amazing!!

Yes. This. 100%. Full stop. The attachment I have for this scoot borders on unhelathy