Harley-Davidson from Canada to Moldova: 5% Duty, 20% VAT and Zero Excise up to 10 Years

In Moldova, motorcycles and passenger cars are taxed almost as mirror images. A passenger car is imported without VAT in 2026 but pays excise on every cubic centimetre. A motorcycle is the opposite: excise is zero for machines up to ten years old, while customs duty and 20% VAT are both charged. For a Harley-Davidson buyer this changes the whole logic of the budget: engine size has almost no effect on what is paid at the border, and age becomes the parameter that matters. Below — what the charges consist of, where the age threshold lies and which models from our stock fall under it.

Heading 8711 and the country's general rules

Motorcycles fall under heading 8711 of the Harmonized System; machines above 800 cc go to subheading 8711 50. Every Harley in our catalogue, from the Nightster to the Road Glide, is classified there. Moldova's general rules — a non-EAEU regime, the declaration procedure, the paperwork for a vehicle from Canada — are covered in our article on importing a car from Canada to Moldova. Here we cover only what makes a motorcycle different from a car.

Import charges for a motorcycle in 2026

We quote the duty rate from the latest data Moldova reported to the WITS database, for 2023. The official 2026 tariff text could not be accessed publicly, so we confirm the rate for the specific code when preparing the estimate. The 20% VAT conclusion follows from the exemption list: it covers only passenger-car positions of heading 8703, and motorcycles are not on it.

Excise: ten years free, then a sharp step in year eleven

Vehicle excise in Moldova is set not by a coefficient but by a table: each age band has its own fixed amount in lei per cubic centimetre. For heading 8711 it looks like this:

• up to and including 10 years (bands 0–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 years) — 0 lei;
• 11 years — 21.24 lei/cc; 12 years — 26.24; 13 years — 31.24; 14 years — 36.24; 15 years — 41.24;
• 16 years — 46.24; 17 years — 51.24; 18 years — 56.24; 19 years — 61.24;
• 20 years and older — 66.24 lei/cc.

Three sources — the published text of the Fiscal Code annex, the 2026 rate table and the government's announcement that vehicle excise does not change in 2026 — give identical figures. Customs Service Order No. 564-O of 23.12.2025 on 2026 excise rates confirms that heading 8711 remains excisable.

What this means in money. A Sportster S with a 1,252 cc engine pays zero excise up to 10 years of age. The same bike at 11 years would pay 1,252 × 21.24 = 26,592.48 lei, and at 20 years 1,252 × 66.24 = 82,932.48 lei. Between year ten and year eleven the amount jumps from zero straight to five figures.

One point we check before purchase: how the "operating period" is counted — from the year of manufacture or from the date of first registration. Public sources give no clear answer, so for motorcycles on the 10–11-year boundary we calculate excise both ways. For our stock the question does not arise: these are 2024–2025 models.

Why a deal with Canada would change nothing

Harley-Davidson builds motorcycles in York (Pennsylvania, USA), and some models for selected markets at its plant in Rayong (Thailand), according to the company's 2025 annual report. According to trade press, production of the Revolution Max models — Pan America, Sportster S and Nightster — moved to Thailand in 2024. A warehouse in Toronto or Montreal does not change a motorcycle's origin.

For Moldova it makes no difference: it has no free trade agreement with either Canada or the USA (per the WTO regional trade agreements database), so the 5% duty applies to any Harley. What does matter is where the motorcycle itself comes from. We work only with the Canadian market: new bikes or clean used ones with a verified history, no US auctions and no damaged units. For a vehicle that pays both duty and VAT in Moldova, accurate value and history documents are the basis of a correct calculation.

Which Harleys in stock qualify for zero excise

Every Harley-Davidson in our catalogue is a 2024 or 2025 model year, so they all fall into the first age band, and every engine is larger than 800 cc. The consequence is simple: within the line-up, engine size does not affect the customs charges — the difference between models comes down to their customs value, on which duty and VAT are calculated.

• Touring: the Road Glide CVO 2024 with the Milwaukee-Eight 121 VVT, the Street Glide 2024 and the Street Glide Limited 2025 with the 117ci engine — for long trips with a passenger and luggage.
• Softail: the Fat Boy 114, Street Bob 114, Heritage Classic 114, Low Rider S, Low Rider ST and Breakout 117 — cruisers for the city and out-of-town rides.
• Revolution Max: the Nightster (975 cc), Sportster S and Pan America 1250 Special (1,252 cc each) — liquid-cooled engines; the Pan America is an adventure bike with Adaptive Ride Height.

The Road Glide 3 trike is a separate case: for three-wheelers we confirm the code and rates before purchase. The full line-up and availability are in the motorcycles section.

After the border: registration and annual tax

A motorcycle is registered in the State Transport Register maintained by the Public Services Agency (ASP): under the agency's instruction the register covers motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles and quadricycles. We recommend checking the licence category and the minimum rider age for powerful motorcycles with ASP in advance — public Moldovan sources are inconsistent on this.

After registration the owner pays an annual road tax. For motorcycles in 2026 it is modest: 300 lei up to 500 cc and 600 lei above 500 cc — so 600 lei a year for any Harley in our stock, whether a Nightster or a Road Glide CVO.

How the deal works

Our process is described in the guide how to import a Harley from Canada. For Moldova it looks like this:

• we select the motorcycle and check its history and documents by VIN;
• before purchase we calculate the estimate: 5% duty, 20% VAT, the procedures fee where it applies and, for used bikes older than 10 years, excise from the table;
• we buy the motorcycle, prepare the export documents in Canada and ship it by sea; route and timing are worked out for each specific shipment;
• we support the customs clearance and hand over the motorcycle with the document pack for registration with ASP.

We do not publish motorcycle prices: the price is on request, and the final border amount is calculated for the specific model. Send us a request and we will send the estimate before you make a decision.

Rates are current as of October 2026 and may change; the duty rate for the specific code and the applicability of fees are confirmed on the date of clearance.