Tema Motorcycle Customs: ICUMS, DVLA & Delays

Getting a motorcycle to Tema is only half the journey. The real test starts when your bike hits the quay and enters Ghana’s Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) and, after that, DVLA inspection and registration. Small mistakes—wrong HS code, missing G‑CAP, unclear invoices—can turn a 4–8 day clearance into weeks of storage and extra fees.

This article breaks down each step of Tema customs for motorcycles, shows how ICUMS and DVLA work in 2026, and highlights the avoidable errors that create the longest delays. It is designed to sit alongside the main guide Motorcycle Import to Ghana 2026: Duties, Customs & Shipping and West Coast Shipping’s international motorcycle shipping rates, which covers freight pricing and multi‑bike consolidation.

ICUMS Overview for Motorcycle Imports

Tema’s customs environment is fully integrated into ICUMS, Ghana’s single‑window digital platform for import declarations, valuation, risk assessment, and duty payment.

What ICUMS does for your shipment

When a motorcycle container arrives at Tema:

• All declarations and HS classifications are submitted electronically by a licensed clearing agent, as outlined in Ghana’s trade procedures and West Coast Shipping’s Ghana guides.

• ICUMS calculates duties and levies based on your HS 8711 code, CIF value, and the latest GRA vehicle import table.

• The system assigns a risk channel (Green, Yellow, Red, or Blue), which determines whether your bike is released on documents, scanned, or physically inspected.

West Coast Shipping’s Tema content emphasizes that ICUMS can be fast and predictable when documentation is correct, but punishes errors with automatic flags and manual review.

Step‑by‑Step: ICUMS Processing for Motorcycles at Tema

Motorcycles follow a structured clearance path very similar to cars; the difference is mainly the HS code and valuation patterns.

1. Pre‑arrival documentation and IDF

Before the vessel arrives, your agent should already have:

• Original bill of lading or sea waybill.

• Commercial invoice / bill of sale for the motorcycle.

• Packing list, especially if multiple bikes share a container.

• Export documents from the USA.

• Ghana Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Ghana Card PIN for the importer.

• Any required G‑CAP conformity certificate.

Using these, the agent submits an electronic Import Declaration Form (IDF) through ICUMS, which becomes the backbone of your customs entry.

2. ICUMS declaration, classification, and valuation

Next, the clearing agent:

• Assigns HS 8711 and the correct engine‑size line to each motorcycle.

• Inputs CIF (purchase price + freight + required cover).

• Uploads all supporting documents into ICUMS.

ICUMS then:

• Generates a preliminary tax bill using current GRA rates.

• Sends the entry for digital vetting; customs can adjust the value if declared CIF looks too low versus benchmarks.

West Coast Shipping’s Ghana guides stress that realistic invoices and clear photos greatly reduce valuation disputes at this stage.

3. Risk channel assignment: Green, Yellow, Red, Blue

Once the declaration is in, ICUMS assigns a risk‑based colour code:

• Green: Low risk; automated or near‑automatic release once duties are paid.

• Yellow: Medium risk; document checks and scanning, with physical inspection only if anomalies appear.

• Red: High risk; mandatory physical examination of the motorcycle.

• Blue: Post‑clearance audit; goods can be released with controls carried out later in specific cases.

In practice, many first‑time or low‑value motorcycle imports are channelled to Yellow or Red, especially when documentation is thin or values look low, while repeat importers with good records see more Green channel outcomes. Salvage or heavily modified bikes are very likely to fall into the Red channel, given the extra attention Ghana Customs applies to damaged vehicles.

Duty Payment, Inspection & Release Timelines

Once the ICUMS tax bill is accepted, you move into payment and inspection.

4. Duty and tax payment

Your agent or you (via your bank) settle duties and levies at connected banks or through integrated digital payments. Common delay points here include:

• Bank transfers not correctly linked to the ICUMS reference.

• Attempting to pay with the wrong currency or account format.

West Coast Shipping’s “Avoiding Delays at Tema Port” guide specifically flags ICUMS payment complications as a major delay factor, so aligning payment references with your declaration is crucial.

5. Physical inspection (for Yellow/Red channels)

Where ICUMS assigns Yellow or Red:

• Yellow: The container is typically scanned; if images and docs match, no full unpack is needed.

• Red: Customs officers physically inspect the motorcycle, checking VIN/chassis, condition, and consistency with declared value. Salvage and non‑running units are typically placed here under Ghana’s salvage handling rules.

Wholesale and salvage‑focused West Coast Shipping guides advise importers to expect inspection timelines of 2–10 days for flagged vehicle shipments, depending on queue length and the complexity of findings.

6. Release order and port exit

Once duties are paid and any required inspection is passed:

• ICUMS issues an electronic release.

• GPHA and terminal operators allow the container or crate to leave the port area, either to a nearby warehouse or for direct pickup.

Well‑prepared vehicle imports commonly clear Tema in 4–8 days, a range West Coast Shipping repeats across its U.S.–Ghana car export and Tema delay‑prevention content. Motorcycles handled with the same discipline generally fall into the same window.

DVLA Inspection & Registration for Imported Motorcycles

Customs release does not mean your motorcycle is legal on Ghana’s roads. Registration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is mandatory for every imported vehicle, including motorcycles.

DVLA technical inspection

After clearing Tema:

• The motorcycle is presented at DVLA or an approved Vehicle Testing Station for a roadworthiness inspection.

• Inspectors check safety systems (brakes, steering, lights), structural integrity, and emissions where applicable, mirroring the tests West Coast Shipping describes for imported cars and salvage vehicles.

Salvage or heavily modified bikes may face deeper testing, similar to the additional scrutiny applied to salvage cars at DVLA.

Documentation and registration process

DVLA then:

• Verifies customs entries and VIN/chassis against clearance documents.

• Confirms that any G‑CAP and inspection reports match the bike in front of them.

• Collects registration fees and issues plates and a registration certificate once all requirements are met.

West Coast Shipping’s Ghana guides describe DVLA as a separate but essential phase that usually adds 2–5 days for clean units, longer if repairs or re‑inspections are needed.

Common Causes of Delay at Tema and DVLA

Even well‑planned motorcycle shipments can hit bottlenecks. West Coast Shipping’s Tema‑specific delay, wholesale, and salvage articles highlight a few recurring themes.

1. Documentation gaps and ICUMS mismatches

Frequent problems include:

• Missing or inconsistent titles and bills of sale for the motorcycle.

• HS misclassification (wrong 8711 sub‑line for engine size or bike type).

• CIF values far below typical market levels, triggering valuation disputes.

The main Motorcycle Import to Ghana 2026 guide recommends pre‑reviewing every document with your agent before shipping to avoid last‑minute corrections inside ICUMS.

2. G‑CAP and conformity issues

Under Ghana’s G‑CAP program, vehicles must undergo pre‑shipment conformity assessment by recognized agencies. Delays arise when:

• No G‑CAP certificate is available for a motorcycle that customs expects to see.

• Certificate details do not match the motorcycle’s VIN, model, or year.

West Coast Shipping’s duty‑free and relocation content for Ghana shows that missing or mismatched G‑CAP certificates are among the most common reasons a vehicle is held at Tema pending clarification.

3. ICUMS payments and bank confirmation delays

Tema delay case studies from West Coast Shipping cite:

• Payments made from accounts not properly linked to ICUMS references.

• Partial duty payments that don’t cover all levies, leaving the entry in limbo.

Working with agents who clear vehicles daily through ICUMS minimizes these issues and keeps motorcycle imports inside the 4–8 day clearance window instead of drifting beyond 10 days.

4. DVLA inspection failures

At DVLA, the main slow‑downs are:

• Obvious safety defects (brakes, tyres, lights) that fail inspection.

• Structural or frame damage on salvage or crashed bikes, which triggers extra checks and sometimes repair requirements.

West Coast Shipping’s salvage and wholesale guides stress that repairs should, wherever possible, be completed and documented before shipping, since doing them in Ghana under DVLA oversight can be costlier and slower.

How to Prepare for Smooth Motorcycle Clearance at Tema

Bringing the West Coast Shipping guidance together, a smooth Tema clearance and DVLA registration for a motorcycle usually depends on four habits:

1. Pre‑check all paperwork

   • Align title, invoice, and HS 8711 classification before the bike leaves the USA.

   • Share scans with your Ghana agent so they can pre‑validate them against ICUMS and GRA rules.

2. Lock in realistic CIF and duty expectations

   • Use the duty calculator structure from the Ghana motorcycle taxes article and the main Motorcycle Import to Ghana 2026 guide to estimate taxes before purchase.

3. Use professional agents for ICUMS and DVLA

   • Licensed clearing agents and DVLA‑experienced facilitators understand risk channels, inspection queues, and how to resolve issues quickly.

4. Sync shipping plans with clearance capacity

   • Coordinate sailings and consolidation through West Coast Shipping’s international motorcycle shipping rates team so your bikes arrive in a manageable flow, not in a way that overwhelms your local agent’s capacity.

5. Plan Your Motorcycle’s Path Through Tema

For a complete picture of costs and risks:

• Use the international motorcycle shipping rates page to get live transit times and container options from California, New York/New Jersey, or Florida to Tema for your motorcycle.

• Pair those freight numbers with the duty logic and ICUMS steps from Motorcycle Import to Ghana 2026: Duties, Customs & Shipping so you know what to expect from the moment your container is discharged until the day DVLA hands over Ghanaian plates.

Calculate Your Motorcycle Shipping and Clearance Path to Tema

Use the button below to open West Coast Shipping’s motorcycle calculator, select the container setup that best fits your shipment from your preferred U.S. port, and generate a Tema-specific shipping quote. You can then use that freight cost alongside the ICUMS and DVLA guidance explained in this article to plan your motorcycle’s clearance in Ghana.