Another North American Trip

Hi. It's about time I did the shipping via Air Canada post.
Though I believe that there is an issue getting bike insurance due GDPR problems, here we are, in the problems will soon be sorted.
I will do the update in a number of short posts, because if I don't I get logged out and loose it all.
 
The following is the process we followed, but please double check everything as things/ requirements do change.
As there are time limits on certain applications I have arranged them to suit.
Air Canada only allow you to book 28/30 days in advance, which is plenty of time.
Firstly I would phone Air Canada Cargo and speak to one of the booking staff , confirm they are shipping bikes to and from the locations on the dates you require. Then get them to email you so you have firm contact point. I say this as I didn't and nobody picked up my initial booking email which caused a minor issue.
 
We were also flying with Air Canada, and what follows is the process we carried out.

Booked our flights with Air Canada.

Emailed our contact at Air Canada Cargo all required details of flights and bike as per their instructions.

Applied for EPA Certificate from US government site. Can take 21 days.

Applied for bike insurance( we went through Motorcyclexpress) takes min 15days.

Booked first night accommodation in USA and Canada( required for ESTA applications, even though it mind be for only one night) via booking.com

Applied ESTAs for both USA and Canada, minimal charge, takes a matter of hours to come through.

Booked travel insurance, takes a matter of minutes as they are UK based.

Contacted BMW dealer and got an up to date recall history for my bike emailed to me. I only did this as it was mention on one of the adventure forms.
 
I'm sorry I missed out obtaining our Dangerous Goods Certificate from Universal Packaging, a phone call and then emails. They did mine in 7 days but I think they prefer a bit more time. Cost us £37.

With hindsight the process is best off being started early in the working week, As US gov departments(EPA), U.S. insurance companies don't work weekends and I was dealing real people not on line application systems.
 
Again this only the process we went through, please double check and do your own research.
I hope this has been of use.
Tomorrow I will try and post my experience of dropping the bike off for shipping.

Cheers Andy
 
Right. Dropping the bike off for shipping.

Once I'd booked the bike to be shipped with Air Canada Cargo, it was only about 5 days later they told me the time/date/ flight number. They told me that the maximum time before the flight that I could drop the bike off was 48hrs .
I just the maximum, so on the Monday prior I rode the bike down their cargo depot at London Heathrow. Due to what I been told by the booking staff and the provider of the Dangerous Goods Certificate I went armed with following:-
 
Please note I'd all ready let them know what I would be dropping the bike off.

The booking ref for the bike from Air Canada Cargo.
Photo ID, I took both passport and driving licence.
3 copies of the Dangerous Goods Certificate( colour copies).
Log book for the bike( I took all the bikes docs including states insurance).
Valuation of the bike, as was insuring for in flight damage( uk insurance valuation page.
 
I arrived on time, they were expecting me and had the paperwork ready. They me for photo ID, bikes log book, 3 copies of Dangerous Goods cert, and my Canadian address( I used my first hotel details)and contact tel. I had to list what I was leaving in the planners and the value- riding gear and tool kit.
I then took the bike next door to the depot area, they asked how much fuel was in the tank,less than a 1/4 tank, they X-Ray d my planners, they went back on the bike. I left a set of keys in the ignition. Then back to the counter to finish off and pay.
 
Back at the counter the guy was filling more docs and said" have you been to Customs?"

My worst fear, I'd missed some vital bit of info. I said "no". He said "no worries , I'll fax them the details". Panic over.

I paid approx £760 for the bike, and £ 20 for insurance.

All done in just over 30 mins. All staff were helpful and a good laugh.
I would advise taking as much documentation with you as possible as if different staff are carrying out the same process they may ask for different documentation/details.

Next time picking the bike up in Toronto.

Cheers Andy
 
Sorry for the missing words, bad grammar, but doing the posts on a kindle means I'm typing blind at of the time and as fast as I can to avoid being logged out. I'd lost the previous updates twice before managing to complete them.

Cheers Andy
 
Pickup was straight forward. We'd booked into a hotel near the airport terminal. I phoned the Air Canada Cargo depot and they confirmed the bike was there and available. Their depot is opened 24hrs. As I was knackered I decided to get the bike the following morning.The cargo depot is on the other side of the airport, so the following morning we got a taxi for the 10 mile journey. Arrived at the depot at approx 8am, handed over the paperwork the staff at Heathrow had given me, together with ID. They did there bit, issuing more paperwork and stamping stuff. Armed with the docs they'd given me, we then walked for 5 mins to the next building, Customs.
 
When we arrived at Customs, we were the only ones there with 4 members of staff. They processed the paperwork. We had a discussion about if I needed to obtain a Canadian licence plate. They seemed most concerned about if I was going to sell or give the bike to someone. I stated that you are allowed to temporarily import a bike for up to 90days for your own use as a tourist, as long as you take the bike with you when you leave. They seemed happy with that, stamped and issued more paperwork. Then we were on our way backed to cargo depot.
 
Back with the cargo people, they took the completed paperwork of me. I had to pay 2 lots of tax, import and navigation?. Which came to a total of $99(about £60). Then they showed us to the warehouse next door where they brought the bike to, strapped to a big aluminium pallet. They unstrapped the bike, we got our gear on and rode away. The whole process was about 40 mins. All staff, cargo and Customs were helpful and chatty. Nobody was there to hinder or over complicated the process.
Next US border.
 
The crossing was on a wet Saturday morning at Sault set Marie. We joined the line of four vehicles waiting . These quickly moved on and we closely followed them to the barrier. It would appear we should have stayed behind some line on the road so they could take a picture.I think the officer was about to tell us off, but I quickly stated I hadn't seen the sign. At which point he asked us where were we from. After telling him from England he forgot the telling off and asked our plans. After I told that our first night was going to be in Marquette, he proceeded to recommend walks and waterfalls in that area. He informed us that we would have go into the office to complete some paperwork and wished us a safe trip.
 
Another officer escorted us into the office. Luckily we were the only ones there with 4 staff. Up to the counter, produced our passports , and copies of our esta's .He asked for the bikes docs and our USA address(first nights accommodation). He was surprised that we'd already bothered to get the esta's and he noticed the bikes insurance card. Again surprised and stated we'd been very diligent. He didn't bother with the EPA cert. After issuing a couple of certs and charging us approx $12, he asked we needed to get a USA plate for it. As with the Canadian Customs, I went down the line of being a tourist, temporary import, not selling or giving the bike to anyone, and we would taking it back home with us. He seemed happy with this, and stated" if you did 're plate it they would charge you a tax, and none of like paying taxes". Everything done he wished us a safe journey.
 
So we got out of the door , on the bike and off before he changed his mind about anything. All in all a straight forward process with friendly staff.
I would strongly advise anyone to apply for everything esta's EPA cert etc ,as you don't know what any officer, requirements maybe.

Thinking back when he checked his system, it showed that our esta's hadn't been approved. So has we'd had copies of our approved esta's he ignored their system, overrode it and issued our docs. Like I said, straight forward and helpful .

I hope this has been of use.
Please double check and research the details and procedures yourself as they will change.
We've been here for nearly 6 weeks and its been great. I will do a ride report when I get back, when I will be able to post photos.

Cheers Andy
 
What docs did he issue?? Never had that in 10 years of crossing the Canadian US border.
 


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