Leaving bike over winter in Turkey

designer dave

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Can anyone help me...?
Planning to ride to Southern Turkey in September but due to changed circumstances have to leave UK registered etc bike there over Winter and ride back in Spring 2013. Can I leave the bike (in non EU country) for 5 months and get it out again? Do I need any special papers/carnet insurance. I am a UK citizen.
Thanks for any help here.
 
Your bike is "tied" to your passport and the paperwork is highly organised both for entry and departure. You might be better looking for somewhere to leave it near, say, Alexandropoulos just over the border in Greece
 
Kritou is right, the only way to leave the bike when you leave the country is to hand it to customs at the airport and have them impound it before you fly, then claim it back when you return. I had to do this a few times when I was in Turkey, and it was a massive pain in the ass. I certainly wouldn't leave it in Turkish customs for the winter. Plus you have 6 months max in the country, so if you're leaving it for 5 months that only leaves you one month total of riding. If you're taking the bike to Southern turkey then take it by ferry to Simi, Rhodes or Kos, store it there and fly home from within the EU. Careful with your insurance policy as most have a limit to the amount of time they will cover the bike out of the UK consecutively. Remember that Turkey has very low speed limits for bikes - 43mph on A roads and 50mph on motorways - and they do have plenty of cops with speed guns and a desire to issue cash fines.
 
I think it's now possible to leave a vehicle without needing to leave it with customs, but the six month rule on foreign plates still stands. As suggested by others, it might be easier to leave it in Greece (mainland or Island), as there are a couple just off-shore from Turkey.
 
Guys thanks so much for this... I certainly dont like the idea of leaving it in customs after what you say but do I understand it correctly that as long as I take it out of Turkey in 6 months from the date of entry I'd be OK, provided I can square it with UK insurance...? or will they stamp my passport in a way that identifies Ive arrived on my bike and therefore cant leave or get back in without it...?
 
They will stamp your passport, but from what I understand it's now possible to leave a vehicle in the country if you have to leave, without storing it with customs. I'll try to clarify that today. The six month rule still applies, from the date of entry, and you can't bring the bike back in again for another six months if you keep it here for that long. It's possible to arrange insurance here, but if only storing it, and you have somewhere safe, I wouldn't bother. Let me know if you do and I'll try to get a quote.

You'll need to find somewhere safe to keep it, which could be at my place in Istanbul if needed, but it would be on the drive without any cover and we get a bit of snow over the winter.......

 
ExpatinIstanbul said:
from what I understand it's now possible to leave a vehicle in the country if you have to leave
Click to expand...

I've had friends do this in the past but I never really looked into it. I just spoke to a pal at the Brit Consulate and his pal at who is an official customs consultant, both of which confirmed that the above is possible...that you can enter Turkey on your bike, take a flight out and return later to pick it up. What you'll need to do is go to the customs middle men and obtain a form which you'll produce at the airport. The 6 month in & out rule applies.

I'm near the airport & have a secure garage if you need. I've still got a bike in there that a pal left with me when he went to Scotland 3 years ago :blast

Disclaimer...while the above is from 'officials' in the game, I will not take responsibility for any loss that may arise as a result of your use of this information :D Having worked with Turkish govt officials for a while I know how unreliable they can be :aidan
 
Again thanks for all your help and particularly the offers of parking, thats really kind... Lots to think about. Dilemma now is what its going to be like riding home in March... Whilst its been great here of the last couple of years its been business as usual in continental europe weather wise. Will keep you posted.
 
Pay the expenses and I'll ride it back for you, I'm off to the UK around that time anyway. Unless you want to ride yourself of course.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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