Carnet
 

I'm sure there's a lot of info on here somewhere already... but I'm confused about Carnets and where to get one ! Anybody based in London fancy explaining all that side of it to me over a few beers one night ?

cheers


Simon

There's tons of information already on this site, for starters try trip planning

For more info, go to search page

Most people in the UK use the RAC carnet service RAC carnet

Please send three virtual pints of Harveys.

Don't need one for most of southern Africa but ended up having to buy one in Kenya through the AA - the AA, and it's affiliates, are BIG in Africa and most country offices can really be of assistance.

Anyway, recently got back from Kenya and am now based in Brighton, wife's buggered off to India and so am rattling around for the next two weeks. Got my carnet and comesa etc and so can edjumacate you if sufficiently lubricated.

Comesa
 

Enzo!!

You say you have sorted COMESA insurance.

I'm trying to sort this in advance but can't find anywhere that will sell it to me.

Contacted AA - they don't sell it.
Managed to track down
Phidelia Mwaba
Yellow Card Coordinator For the National Insurance Bureau of Zambia.

She can only sell it as an extension of an existing policy.

Have just about given up and will get it over there - unless you know a lad that will do the business

Cheers

Niallo

Valid in: ANG; BOT; BUR; DRC; DJI; EGT; ERI; ETH; KEN; LES; MAL; MOZ; NAM; RSA; RWA; SOM; SUD; SWA; TAN; UGA; ZAM; ZIM.

You can't buy it in SA and so if you start there either buy in Zim or Zam.

The COMESA is not valid in the country in which you buy it. Therefore you have to buy LOCAL 3rd party insurance first - the COMESA is then an extension of this policy.

You can buy it in advance: Ring Mary Githinji at the AA in Nairobi - give her all your car details - tell her how long you want it to last and when you want it to start. She'll then sort out your local insurance and COMESA. Organise collection/payment with her...she is an honest broker, please pay her my regards.

MARY M. GITHINJI
BRANCH MANAGER-AA OF KENYA
SARIT CENTRE 2ND FLR-WESTLANDS
TELEFAX:+254 020 4449676
TEL: 3753481/3743196,0726 829851,0733 745692
mary.githinji(at)aakenya.co.ke

Cheers Enzo

Invaluable info there and much appreciated:thumbup1:

Niallo

carnet information
 

We researched our choices for a carnet and it was between RAC and ADAC. The main difference is that RAC is more expensive but ADAC, a german company, offer a far better standard of service and have a huge support/ information structure behind them.
Check out our web page for details- NESSIESADVENTURES and go onto the preparation page.
Good luck!
Dave and Rose

Carnet
 

A couple of tips on a carnet.

You declare the value of the vehicle and this is then used for the value of the bond. Hence minimise the declared value.

2nd tip is to try and get a bank guarantee rather than pay for pricey insurance. They quoted me a crazy £5,000 for an insurance policy but with a bank guarantee the fee from the bank was £150. Quite a saving.

We got any 3rd party cover on the borders, it was never very expensive. Be careful though some will try and charge you over the odds!

Carnet Info - ADAC
 

I have just had an email back from Karina at the ADAC and she tells me that if your vehicle is UK registered then they cannot help and then gave me the link to Paul at the RAC so it looks like it's the only option for us.
Paul has been very helpful though. He has got lots of experience and answers every question straight away (no need to say 'I'll come back to you on that one').
I haven't had too much hassle getting hold of him so can't complain about that but it's worth the effort anyway as you get all the questions answered there and then.
Because our trip is over three years he will need to re-issue our carnet along the way and is happy to do so and has an excellent system in place for our situation.
If you are going to Africa Egypt is the big problem and requires the big 800% deposit (if you go the bank guarantee route which we are) so, because we have been there before, we are going to by-pass it. Even if we write down the value of the vehicle 800% ends up to be a chunk of money no matter what so the by-pass seems like the only option. Haven't figured out how we will do it yet so maybe someone can give us some ideas on routes already used.
Thanks
Barbara

Paul at the RAC is very helpful he even dealt with our bank over the guarnetee (Intelligent Finance ((not so very)) as they had never heard of a carnet and therefore were not sure how to respond. On surrendering the Carnet Paul had it cancelled and bank informed within 48hrs.

I used the RAC in '93 they (at the time) let you value your own vehicle my merc was 'worth' £1000, I needed a carnet worth 400% for Asia. I then took out insurance which was 10% of the £4000 carnet, hence £400. I got half of this back when I surrendered the carnet at the end of the trip. For me it was the only way I could afford it. There was also a £50 fee for the carnet.

Graeme