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-   -   Where can't we take our RHD vehicle? (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/4-wheel-overland-travel/where-cant-we-take-our-74740)

James86004 18 Feb 2014 22:20

Where can't we take our RHD vehicle?
 
Hi all,

A lurker here who has been reading various threads. One thing I was surprised to read was that right hand drive is banned in a few countries with various levels of strictness and enforcement. Some exempt temporarily imported vehicles. Is there a list of these countries on here? It is a little tedious trying to compile it all by hand. So far, I have:

El Salvador
Nicaragua if the border guards care
Chile
Bolivia
Vietnam

Thanks,
James

moggy 1968 19 Feb 2014 01:43

Gambia requires (or did) a carnet for RHD but not LHD after an influx of RHDs on the plymouth dakar

Gipper 19 Feb 2014 04:23

Ghana was a real pain to get into without a Carnet in our RHD Defender 90, took us over 4 hours to persuade the police chief to let us in, this was 11 years ago now, so not sure if things are better/worse currently. Our friend in a LHD German TLC got straight in with no Carnet.

mark manley 19 Feb 2014 05:57

Azerbaijan apparently applies the same 72 hour to get to Baku port rule to RHD cars that it applies to motorcycles, drivers of LHD can get temporary import for the length of their visa if they argue their case.

danielsprague 19 Feb 2014 11:11

Oman, Saudi Arabia. No way to drive RHD in those countries as far as I know.

I was once refused entry to Uzbekistan in my RHD vehicle, but a little negotiation and persistence got me through. On three subsequent visits nothing was mentioned.

Got into Azerbaijan with RHD vehicle, was given 72 hours, didn't realise LHD cars could stay longer!

roamingyak 19 Feb 2014 11:51

Nigeria and Cameroon are worth noting. It is entirely legal to drive a RHD in transit as a tourist, but not to import it permanently. So expect a lot of excited policemen to stop you thinking they will be getting a big bribe. No problems at the borders, they know, but not all policemen do, so you need some patience to explain your just transiting and its all legal.

Saudi = definite No. Had to go on the back of a truck driven by Ali Barber.

danielsprague 19 Feb 2014 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by roamingyak.org (Post 455132)
... driven by Ali Barber.

Was he the head of a band of forty hairdressers?

roamingyak 19 Feb 2014 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsprague (Post 455151)
Was he the head of a band of forty hairdressers?

:-) ;-) It was a very close shave! ;-p

mark manley 19 Feb 2014 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsprague (Post 455126)
Got into Azerbaijan with RHD vehicle, was given 72 hours, didn't realise LHD cars could stay longer!

Friends entered with their German registered LHD Landcruiser and after a discussion were given a 30 day permit to match their visas.

moggy 1968 20 Feb 2014 00:13

jeez, I'm astonished, never knew there was so many places it was an issue, bigots!! don't they know the left is the correct side to drive on!!:scooter:

bnicho 20 Feb 2014 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by moggy 1968 (Post 455206)
jeez, I'm astonished, never knew there was so many places it was an issue, bigots!! don't they know the left is the correct side to drive on!!:scooter:


... and that's when the fight started. :D

James86004 20 Feb 2014 03:56

This getting to be a pretty long list. Wow.

I drive our RHD a lot here in Tucson. Once I was I was in the left lane at one of our fair city's traffic lights, and a heavily tattooed kid in a highly modified Honda Civic pulled up to my right. He did a double take when he noticed the steering wheel was on the right, took his cigarette out of his mouth and asked if that was original. When I said yes, he grinned and said, "Man, that is TIGHT!". The light turned green, and he probably hit 60 by the time he reached the other side of the intersection.

danielsprague 20 Feb 2014 08:34

I like driving RHD in LHD drive countries - makes it much easier to ask for directions when (frequently) lost!

Bermuda Rover 20 Feb 2014 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsprague (Post 455245)
I like driving RHD in LHD drive countries - makes it much easier to ask for directions when (frequently) lost!

But it can be a pain in the neck at toll-booths. You need a passenger in the left-hand seat to pay the toll - otherwise you have to unfasten the seat belt and climb across to be able to pay :(

bnicho 21 Feb 2014 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bermuda Rover (Post 455263)
But it can be a pain in the neck at toll-booths. You need a passenger in the left-hand seat to pay the toll - otherwise you have to unfasten the seat belt and climb across to be able to pay :(

Having watched a lovely young lady driving a LHD 66 Mustang attempt to enter the carpark at my office, I have to agree with that. She had to put it Park or Neutral, slide over, roll down the window, swipe her pass, then reverse the whole exercise rapidly before the gate came down.

Somewhere I have a video of a RHD classic Mini reversing through a toll booth in the USA/Canada. That option is unlikely to make you many friends though. :)


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