Belgium has some of the most practical import rules in Europe for motorcycles coming from the USA—but you still need to understand how customs, VAT, conformity, and registration fit together. Getting these right is just as important as picking the right shipping route or container.
For a complete overview of shipping methods, costs, and crating, see the main guide on shipping motorcycles to Belgium from the USA, and check the Belgium shipping page for live rates and transit options.
Belgium applies EU rules for vehicle imports, with specific options depending on why you’re bringing the motorcycle in.
You can import a motorcycle in your own name for private use.
Customs will treat you as a standard importer unless you qualify for special relocation relief.
You’ll typically pay 10% duty and 21% VAT on the adjusted value (bike + freight + duty).
The same framework is described in WCS’s complete Belgium car shipping guide, which applies almost one‑to‑one to motorcycles.
You might qualify for duty- and VAT‑free import if:
You’ve lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months.
You’ve owned and used the motorcycle for at least 6 months before moving.
You’re moving your main residence to Belgium and will not sell the bike within 12 months of import.
If these conditions are met and documented correctly, you can bring the motorcycle as part of household goods with 0% duty and 0% VAT, as explained in Belgium duty‑free import guidance.
Dealers and traders importing bikes for resale must declare commercial intent.
Standard duty and VAT apply (unless specific EU customs regimes are used).
Customs can be stricter on documentation, valuation, and conformity for commercial shipments.
Understanding Belgian import taxes is a key part of the rules.
For most modern bikes coming from the USA:
Import duty: generally 10% of the declared value.
VAT (BTW/TVA): 21% of the combined total of:
Bike value
Plus shipping costs
Plus duty
This structure mirrors the examples and formulas used for cars in the Belgium shipping price breakdown, and the same percentages apply to motorcycles.
Belgium offers significant benefits for historic motorcycles:
Age threshold: typically 30 years or older and in largely original condition.
VAT can drop to around 6% instead of 21% if classified as a collectors’ item.
Duty: often still at 10%, unless otherwise exempt under specific tariff classifications.
To benefit, customs expects proof:
Manufacturer documentation or credible records showing build year.
Evidence that the bike is preserved or restored in a historically correct way.
Belgium’s focus on classic vehicles and emission zones—discussed in Belgium’s classic car emission zones guide—illustrates how historic status can improve both taxation and city access, and similar logic is being applied to classic motorcycles.
Getting your motorcycle into the country is only half the story—making it street‑legal is the other half.
A Certificate of Conformity (COC) proves that your motorcycle matches an EU‑approved type for safety and emissions.
If your bike was originally built to EU spec, obtaining a COC from the manufacturer or their EU representative is the cleanest route.
Without a COC, you may need:
Manufacturer technical sheets;
Proof of previous EU registration;
Individual approval via Belgian technical testing.
These conformity pathways mirror what’s required for cars detailed in the Belgium car shipping guide, adapted to motorcycle categories and power.
Major Belgian cities, especially Brussels and Antwerp, apply Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) rules to limit high‑pollution vehicles.
While LEZ policies currently focus more heavily on cars and trucks, motorcycles are increasingly part of the emissions conversation.
Classic motorcycles may receive some flexibility or special conditions, similar to the treatment of classic cars in LEZs covered in the classic emission zones article.
Knowing where and how you plan to use the bike (daily commuting in an LEZ vs rural touring) should inform both your model choice and conformity strategy.
Belgian customs and tax authorities rely on very specific paperwork for vehicle imports.
You will typically need:
Original title (proving ownership and matching VIN).
Bill of sale or purchase invoice with realistic, well‑documented value.
Bill of Lading (often Express Release unless originals are demanded in a commercial or bank‑controlled shipment).
Passport copy or company documentation.
These are in line with US‑side and EU‑side requirements described across WCS’s Europe shipping overview.
After customs, Belgian residents must often declare imported vehicles via an E705 form with the Belgian tax administration (SPF Finances/ FOD Financiën).
This form confirms that VAT and duty have been handled correctly or that you qualify for relocation relief.
Without proper E705 processing, registration with DIV may be blocked.
The car-specific duty‑free Belgium guide explains how the E705 fits into the relocation context, and the same process applies directly to motorcycles.
Once customs and tax rules are satisfied, the next set of rules kicks in: Belgian registration.
Registrations are handled by DIV (Divisie Inschrijving Voertuigen).
You generally submit:
Customs clearance proof;
E705 (where applicable);
Title and ownership documents;
COC or equivalent conformity evidence;
Proof of identity and Belgian address.
Imported motorcycles typically undergo a technical inspection to verify roadworthiness and conformity.
This includes checks on lights, brakes, noise, emissions, and identification (VIN, engine number).
Older or modified bikes may face extra scrutiny; careful prep and documentation make the process smoother.
These steps parallel the car process laid out in the Belgium car shipping guide, with motorcycle‑specific thresholds for power and emissions.
Belgium applies a registration tax (BIV) and annual road tax.
Calculations depend on:
Engine displacement and power;
Age and sometimes emissions class;
Region (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels may differ slightly).
While bikes usually incur lower amounts than cars, they still add to your overall import cost and should be factored in alongside duty and VAT.
Not all motorcycles arrive as straightforward road bikes.
Salvage or rebuilt status in the US can trigger extra checks in Belgium.
Customs may question valuation and intended use; registration authorities may insist on more intensive inspections.
In some cases, heavily damaged or structurally altered bikes may never obtain full Belgian road registration.
The WCS guide on shipping salvage cars to Belgium illustrates the additional complexity salvage status can introduce—motorcycles face similar scrutiny.
Pure race or track bikes without lights, mirrors, or emissions equipment are often treated as non‑road vehicles.
Import is still possible, but registration for public-road use may be blocked without significant modifications and approval.
Customs sometimes ask more questions when a “bike” clearly lacks road equipment yet is declared for normal use.
If your motorcycle is purely for track days or off‑road use, declare and document it that way from the start so expectations align with reality.
Your logistics decisions (how and from where you ship) affect how smoothly you navigate Belgium’s rules.
Container vs RoRo: For standard motorcycles, containers are easier to align with Belgium’s customs and logistics routines, as discussed in RoRo vs container to Belgium.
Crating and condition: Proper crating or securing helps your motorcycle arrive in a state that passes technical inspection more easily; this is why the main Belgium motorcycle shipping guide spends so much time on crating best practices.
Antwerp vs other ports: Antwerp’s experience with vehicles simplifies customs routines and reduces the risk of procedural misunderstandings around E705, duty, and VAT.
If you’re ready to map real numbers onto Belgium’s import rules, start by entering your origin, motorcycle details, and target arrival window into the calculator on the Belgium shipping page. With that quote in hand, you can then layer on the duty/VAT, classic or relocation options, and registration requirements discussed here.