Planning a bike tour in Europe? Hold off on buying a bike and all the gear until you get here. It could save you hundreds of dollars.
As long as you don’t normally live in Europe, you can claim back the sales tax (commonly called VAT) on purchases you take home with you. That sales tax can be as high as 25% – a big savings, especially if you’re just getting started in bike touring and have a lot of things to buy.
The money you save on a bike and accessories can be enough to pay for your flight. Plus, you won’t have to worry about airline fees for bikes or extra luggage on the way to Europe.
What can you save? Here are some examples that compare U.S. prices on REI with prices from local shops in Holland.
Ortlieb Panniers
Let’s take the Ortlieb Frontroller Plus Panniers as an example. They go for about $140 U.S. in America, plus state taxes. In Holland, they sell for around €95 euros or roughly $130 U.S., including tax. Already you’ve saved a bit but if you adjust the price for a VAT rebate, you can expect to save another $20-30 U.S., depending on the country where you make your purchase.
Tubus Racks
Now that you have your panniers, you need something to hang them on. The Tubus Cargo Rack costs about $120 from REI, plus state taxes. In Europe, it costs €80 or about $105 U.S., with all taxes included. If you take the tax rebate into account, the European price will come down another $15-25 U.S., saving you as much as $40 U.S. from REI’s list price. Bargain!
Koga-Miyata Randonneur Bicycle
This is where things get really interesting. Koga’s steel-framed Randonneur bike goes for about €1,800 in Europe and from that you can deduct about 20% tax (again, depending on which country you buy it in), making the price about €1,450. Now, let’s compare that to the situation in North America or Australia. This Canadian bike shop lists a Koga Randonneur at $3,299 Canadian dollars or about €2,400 at current exchange rates, before tax. We found similar prices online from Australian retailers. So, just by flying to Europe to buy your Koga, you’ve saved a cool €1,000 – easily enough to pay for your flight, with change leftover.
And remember, the tax back scheme doesn’t just apply to bikes and bike gear. It also goes for other things you might buy on tour, like a new digital camera or souvenirs. Keep your receipts!
Tempted?
If you like this idea, keep a few things in mind:
- Allow 1-2 days at the beginning of your holiday to shop for the things you need.
- Identify good bike touring shops in the area where you plan to start your tour and get in touch at least a month before you arrive, to make sure they have the items you need in stock.
- There are minimum purchase amounts that vary by country. In Holland, you must spend at least €50.
- The savings you make will depend on exchange rates and may vary from the time this article was published.
- Always check before you buy to see if the item comes with an international warranty.
Helpful websites for VAT-free shopping include:
- De VakantieFietser – A bike touring shop in Amsterdam that specialises in direct tax refunds when you buy a bicycle. See their information on VAT refunds.
- VAT Free and Global Refund – If the shop you buy from doesn’t offer a direct refund (usually the best value option), you can go through refund companies but they charge a commission so you won’t get all the tax back.
- Wiggle – You don’t have to come to Europe to save the VAT. This UK-based retailer will ship bicycle equipment all over the world and VAT is taken off the price for items shipped outside of the EU. However, you may have to pay customs charges in your own country. We really like Wiggle because they don’t charge for shipping, as long as you reach a modest minimum order level (about $75 U.S.).
- Rick Steves has a good primer on claiming the tax back and rates of VAT in different countries
19th April 2010 at 8:01 pm #
Keep in mind you’ll likely have to pay an import duty on anything you bring back home.
19th April 2010 at 8:19 pm #
Good point Chris. It will depend on what your allowance is, which in turn usually depends on how long you’ve been out of the country. Your purchase may well fall below your allowed limits. For Canadians, it’s $750 for a trip of a week or more and I read online that for Americans it’s up to $1600. You can also often combine limits between parties travelling together.
19th April 2010 at 8:33 pm #
Switzerland has an exemption of CHF 300 (~$US 280) per visit greater than 24hrs out of the country. I didn’t realize Canada & the USA were so generous!
15th June 2011 at 10:46 am #
hello at present i am looking 2 buy a road bike from indonesia tru internet wood i have to pay goverment tax or vat on this i live in ireand the cost of bike is about 1400us dollers kind regards brendan
9th March 2022 at 11:48 am #
I must express my love for your kind-heartedness giving support to individuals that really want assistance with this one question. Your special dedication to getting the message all-around turned out to be certainly significant and has consistently helped guys much like me to get to their ambitions. Your own valuable hints and tips signifies a whole lot a person like me and a whole lot more to my mates. Thanks a lot; from everyone of us.
9th March 2022 at 11:49 am #
I would like to convey my respect for your kindness in support of individuals who absolutely need assistance with in this concern. Your very own commitment to getting the solution along was especially useful and has all the time allowed people much like me to attain their desired goals. Your new warm and friendly instruction means a lot a person like me and especially to my peers. Thanks a lot; from everyone of us.
26th April 2022 at 1:03 pm #
I didn’t know that.
7th May 2022 at 5:18 pm #
Wonderful views on that!
21st July 2022 at 1:46 pm #
I precisely wished to thank you so much yet again. I am not sure the things I would have carried out without the actual aspects provided by you concerning such area of interest. It absolutely was a real frightening matter in my view, but being able to view a new specialised fashion you managed the issue forced me to leap over joy. Now i’m thankful for the help and even have high hopes you really know what a great job your are doing educating others thru your website. I am sure you have never come across any of us.
24th July 2022 at 9:13 am #
I’m just writing to let you understand what a nice experience our princess developed studying your blog. She even learned so many issues, most notably how it is like to have an incredible giving character to let the rest smoothly understand certain hard to do things. You actually exceeded readers’ desires. Thank you for delivering those warm and friendly, safe, educational as well as cool tips on the topic to Jane.
24th July 2022 at 9:20 am #
I needed to create you that little bit of word just to thank you so much over again regarding the nice concepts you have provided on this page. It is really unbelievably open-handed with people like you to convey easily all that many of us could possibly have distributed for an e-book to generate some dough for themselves, mostly now that you could have tried it if you ever desired. The strategies in addition worked to be the great way to fully grasp most people have a similar dreams similar to my very own to realize good deal more when it comes to this matter. I’m certain there are numerous more pleasurable opportunities in the future for many who find out your blog.
20th August 2022 at 1:53 pm #
I must show my affection for your generosity for women who actually need assistance with in this subject. Your special commitment to getting the message up and down appeared to be definitely beneficial and has frequently helped workers just like me to reach their endeavors. The useful guideline can mean a whole lot to me and especially to my office colleagues. Warm regards; from each one of us.
26th August 2022 at 7:33 am #
I have to show appreciation to the writer just for rescuing me from this type of setting. After browsing throughout the search engines and obtaining suggestions that were not powerful, I assumed my life was well over. Existing devoid of the solutions to the difficulties you have resolved through your main short post is a critical case, as well as the ones which could have in a wrong way affected my entire career if I hadn’t noticed the blog. Your good mastery and kindness in controlling every part was crucial. I am not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a step like this. I am able to at this time look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for the reliable and amazing help. I will not be reluctant to refer the blog to anybody who wants and needs counselling on this subject.
26th August 2022 at 7:34 am #
I really wanted to develop a brief message to express gratitude to you for these splendid solutions you are showing at this site. My long internet search has at the end of the day been rewarded with reputable facts to share with my best friends. I would claim that most of us visitors actually are rather endowed to live in a good website with so many lovely professionals with very beneficial solutions. I feel pretty happy to have seen the web page and look forward to many more brilliant moments reading here. Thanks a lot once again for a lot of things.
23rd October 2022 at 5:58 pm #
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with an extremely terrific chance to read critical reviews from here. It is often so brilliant and as well , jam-packed with a good time for me and my office friends to search your website a minimum of thrice per week to learn the new things you have. And of course, I am at all times impressed for the good pointers you give. Some two areas in this post are essentially the finest we’ve had.
23rd October 2022 at 6:04 pm #
I as well as my pals were found to be examining the best helpful tips from your site while unexpectedly developed a horrible feeling I had not expressed respect to you for those secrets. All of the boys became absolutely thrilled to learn all of them and already have truly been taking advantage of those things. We appreciate you getting considerably considerate and for making a decision on such brilliant things millions of individuals are really desirous to learn about. Our own sincere apologies for not saying thanks to you earlier.
9th November 2022 at 4:07 pm #
I precisely had to say thanks yet again. I’m not certain the things I would have undertaken without the actual opinions provided by you regarding this subject. Certainly was a real terrifying setting for me, nevertheless spending time with the very well-written way you handled that made me to jump for joy. I’m just grateful for the work and thus expect you know what a powerful job you are always carrying out instructing others by way of your blog. I am sure you haven’t encountered any of us.
11th November 2022 at 8:33 pm #
Thank you a lot for giving everyone an exceptionally pleasant chance to check tips from here. It’s always so sweet and stuffed with a great time for me and my office fellow workers to visit the blog the equivalent of 3 times in a week to learn the fresh guidance you will have. And definitely, I’m so usually impressed considering the remarkable tips and hints you give. Selected 3 ideas in this posting are definitely the finest we have ever had.
12th November 2022 at 8:36 am #
I have to point out my gratitude for your kind-heartedness in support of individuals that must have assistance with the question. Your special commitment to getting the solution up and down ended up being particularly productive and has in every case enabled folks much like me to get to their pursuits. The valuable hints and tips signifies a great deal a person like me and extremely more to my colleagues. Many thanks; from all of us.
17th November 2022 at 1:30 am #
I am writing to let you understand what a remarkable encounter our daughter had browsing yuor web blog. She figured out many pieces, which include how it is like to have a marvelous teaching nature to have other individuals without problems grasp chosen specialized subject areas. You truly exceeded our desires. I appreciate you for displaying the great, trustworthy, explanatory as well as cool tips on that topic to Tanya.
21st November 2022 at 11:51 pm #
Needed to create you a very small observation so as to say thanks as before with your beautiful knowledge you’ve contributed in this article. It is really unbelievably open-handed with you in giving without restraint all that many people would’ve offered for an electronic book to help with making some profit for their own end, particularly considering the fact that you might have tried it in the event you decided. The secrets also acted as the easy way to know that most people have a similar zeal really like my very own to figure out way more with regards to this problem. I’m sure there are millions of more enjoyable instances ahead for those who see your site.
2nd December 2022 at 11:42 pm #
Sport Live Stream: Cómo ver kyoto 2020 sport para relevo, día 2021, reloj y edición
4th December 2022 at 12:46 pm #
While this viewpoint has an element of truth to it, don’t be discouraged.
4th December 2022 at 7:07 pm #
I precisely wanted to thank you very much all over again. I do not know the things I might have implemented in the absence of the entire aspects revealed by you about such a problem. Completely was a real frightful condition in my circumstances, however , noticing a new specialised manner you managed it made me to leap over happiness. Now i’m happier for your assistance as well as hope that you really know what a powerful job that you are getting into training the rest through your site. I’m certain you have never got to know any of us.
4th December 2022 at 7:07 pm #
I intended to put you this little bit of note in order to thank you very much the moment again just for the awesome techniques you have discussed above. It is extremely open-handed with you in giving publicly what a number of people would’ve distributed for an ebook in order to make some cash on their own, even more so considering that you might have tried it in the event you considered necessary. These points also served to be a fantastic way to fully grasp other individuals have similar fervor much like my very own to see way more on the subject of this matter. I think there are thousands of more enjoyable periods ahead for folks who view your website.
9th December 2022 at 1:42 pm #
Bahrain may be very westernized in comparison with Kuwait. Imogene Anders Olshausen
28th December 2022 at 9:06 pm #
Have you read any good books lately? children’s tylenol sleeplessness “There are jokes going around now,” she said. “‘Why did Mr. Obama cancel his trip? Maybe because he can’t pay his fuel and hotel bills.’ It’s not a funny joke.”
2nd January 2023 at 10:05 pm #
Explore the history of the league with morethan 80 archived episodes from the extensive NFL Films library.
4th January 2023 at 9:16 pm #
I think this is a real great blog. Really Cool.
12th January 2023 at 4:25 pm #
town center apartments apartments in carson city nv glo apartments
30th March 2023 at 4:05 am #
Hey, thanks for the blog.Much thanks again. Want more.
30th March 2023 at 2:21 pm #
Or he almost accidentally wins a Darwin award, can’t tell.
3rd April 2023 at 6:06 pm #
Locksmith, highly recommend Locksmith SOUTH WEST LONDON
8th April 2023 at 8:04 am #
ivermectin humans ivermectin online – ivermectin canada
8th April 2023 at 2:18 pm #
Tüm şeker escort ankara kızlarının tek bulunduğu adres bu çatı altında. Hemen gelin ve kaçırmayın.
19th April 2023 at 4:31 am #
ncov chloroquine hydroxychloroquine coronavirus
19th April 2023 at 2:52 pm #
Very well written story. It will be valuable to anybody who employess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – looking forward to more posts.
20th April 2023 at 3:16 am #
pretty handy material, overall I imagine this is really worth a bookmark, thanks
20th April 2023 at 9:53 pm #
hold up to one GB of data. even talk to your friends as if
23rd April 2023 at 6:28 pm #
etanol y humira: resultado colateral, azar y seguridad
27th April 2023 at 10:00 pm #
If a pal or beloved one is having a housewarming celebration within the close to future, you might be questioning:what should I carry?
28th April 2023 at 2:47 pm #
ivermectin generic ivermectin – ivermectin cream
3rd May 2023 at 12:03 am #
Really appreciate you sharing this post. Fantastic.
4th May 2023 at 8:59 pm #
CPD,ICF,UKCP AND BACP accredited qualified staff members
27th May 2023 at 5:07 pm #
Really enjoyed this blog. Cool.
28th May 2023 at 1:27 pm #
I cannot thank you enough for the post. Keep writing.