The documents needed vary according to what's being done. Buying a second-hand bike in India, riding it around and then selling it again is relatively straightforward and needs a minimum of paperwork but riding it home requires more. The documents discussed here relate to the bike only but you may need additional documentation for yourself such as visas.

Ownership Document:
Required for:

1. Buying a second hand bike.
2. Buying a new bike.
3. Selling a bike.
4. Riding Home

Strangely, an Ownership Document does not have to be in the name of the person who owns the bike. When buying second hand the Ownership Document must be obtained along with a written statement from the previous owner stating that the bike has been sold to you. There is no need to get the Ownership Document changed into your name. When selling the bike within India, the same process is followed with you writing a statement saying that you have sold the bike to the new owner. If you opt for a new bike, you will have the Ownership Document in your own name. To get this you will need an Indian address that is not a hotel, a letter from your Embassy/High Commission and there is a nominal fee. Whether the bike is new or old, you will have to get the Ownership Document changed into your own name if you want to bring the bike home.

No Objections Document:
Required for:

1. Buying a second hand bike.
2. Selling a bike.

If you intend to sell a bike in a different state to the one you bought it in, you need this Certificate.

Insurance Certificate:
Required for:

1. Riding in INDIA.

You must have an insurance certificate if you are going to ride the bike in India. Cover can be basic third party type of fully comprehensive. There is no point at all in getting comprehensive insurance as no claim can be settled in India until a number of years have passed since the incident. If you ride the bike home, you will do so without any insurance at all. 

Letter from Embassy/High Commission:
Required for:

1. Buying a new bike.

If you buy a new bike or if you need an existing Ownership Document to be changed into your name, the Indian authorities insist on a letter from your Embassy. The letter is a standard one and your Embassy will know what to do, it's basically just a statement to the effect that your government will not hold the Indian government responsible should you kill or maim yourself on your bike. If you buy the bike in Delhi from us, it is simply a case of going down the road to your Embassy and asking for a letter.

Carnet de Passage:
Required for:

1. Buying a new bike.

If you want to ride the bike out of India you will need one of these trick and expensive documents. The exception to this is Nepal where you are allowed to ride after only a little paperwork at the border. The Carnet allows you to enter each country without paying import duty on the bike. If you leave a country without the bike, the government uses the Carnet to claim the relevant duty, sometimes several time the value of the bike. The Carnet must be issued in your own country and it is usually issued by a motoring organization. In the UK it is the Automobile Association (AA). You need to know the registration number and frame & engine number of the bike and you need to list the countries that you want the Carnet to apply to. Organize all this at home if you can but we managed to do it all from India using faxes, the very helpful AA and the not so helpful DHL to get the document couriered to us.

International Driving License:
Required for:

1. Riding in India.
2. Riding Home.