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-   -   Iranian Carnet Confusion!!!! (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/middle-east/iranian-carnet-confusion-40856)

Biker Chick 15 Feb 2009 12:02

Iranian Carnet Confusion!!!!
 
Hi All
Was wandering if any of you could help me out. My partner and I are leaving the UAE where we reside at the end of May for our year long RTW - what a fantastic feeling!

We went to the Arabian Touring Club in Dubai to sort out the carnet as we will need this for Iran but we are still a little on the confused side about costs and the actual process!

Basically, I have a 2007 BMW 650 Dakar and my partner has a 2008 KTM 990 Adventure. Can anyone give us an idea of what the deposit should be for these two bikes? The carnet is needed for 2 weeks and for Iran only. He quoted us as 30,000dhs each. Does this sound right? Obviously we want to put down as little as possible!

Second question -When we exit Iran, we will no longer require the carnet and so obviously want to get the deposit back. The AT Club informed us that we can only collect this money back and cancel the carnet in the UAE and not from Turkey (where we will be). We are not coming back to the UAE and they told us that we would therefore need a guarantor to retain the money with the original carnet document (with exit stamp from Iran). They also told us that the guarantor in the UAE would therefore need to make a deposit as well? Does this sound right? Is there any way of getting the money back if you are no longer coming back to the UAE? I guess we would FEDEX the document and the guarantor would take it to the ATC in Dubai? But does this mean the guarantor has to put the original deposit down even though the bikes are registered to us?

Your help is much appreciated

A confused Biker Chick! :helpsmilie:

Stephano 15 Feb 2009 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker Chick (Post 228739)
Basically, I have a 2007 BMW 650 Dakar and my partner has a 2008 KTM 990 Adventure. Can anyone give us an idea of what the deposit should be for these two bikes? The carnet is needed for 2 weeks and for Iran only. He quoted us as 30,000dhs each. Does this sound right? Obviously we want to put down as little as possible!

Dh30,000 per bike sounds about right for the age and value of your bikes. Actually, I left Dh40,000 for a GS in 2002.

Then, don’t forget they’ll charge you somewhere around Dh800-1,000 each (non-refundable) for issuing the carnets. That’s how they make their money (along with the useless International Driving Licence for Dh100).

You can try haggling and they might lower your deposits to, for example, Dh25,000. The game is to undervalue your bikes without taking the piss; the lower the value, the lower the deposit. Unfortunately, Iran is one of those countries in the region with really high import duties so your deposit has to cover what the Iranian government would lose if you sold the vehicle illegally within the country. (Highly unlikely, in the case of a bike, but it applies to all vehicles.)

To retrieve your deposit, your bike doesn’t need to come back to the UAE but the carnet does. I’ve done it 3 times and always got my money back promptly. I’ve never tried doing it through a third party.


I know the man at the Sharjah office better than those in Dubai and have always found the Dubai office less than helpful. If you’d like to pop round to the Sharjah branch to discuss it I don’t mind coming along to see if I (or someone else) could do it for you.

Drop me a line.
Stephan

Biker Chick 16 Feb 2009 17:14

Thanks Stephano - I just dropped you a private email with more queries!!!!!

danielsprague 19 Feb 2009 09:30

You don't actually need a carnet to enter Iran, strictly speaking. You can get a local Iranian carnet at the border. I think it's around $200. That said, I'm not sure if it's possible at every border. I know it is possible at the Turkish border.

It would be far cheaper to do this if you'll not be needing a carnet elsewhere

Biker Chick 19 Feb 2009 09:39

Wow - I never knew this. I was told for Iran that you absolutely needed a carnet de passage and you could be chucked in jail if you didn't have one.
This would solve all our problems of deposits etc? Do you know where I would find out more information on this - getting a carnet at the border?

Thanks
Lou

Stephano 19 Feb 2009 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker Chick (Post 229577)
Wow - I never knew this. I was told for Iran that you absolutely needed a carnet de passage and you could be chucked in jail if you didn't have one.
This would solve all our problems of deposits etc? Do you know where I would find out more information on this - getting a carnet at the border?

Thanks
Lou

If you go down this route, you should double check with the ferry company (Oasis) because from what I recall they ask to see all your documentation before they sell you a ticket. Good luck.
Stephan

nerijust 19 Feb 2009 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker Chick (Post 229577)
Wow - I never knew this. I was told for Iran that you absolutely needed a carnet de passage and you could be chucked in jail if you didn't have one.
This would solve all our problems of deposits etc? Do you know where I would find out more information on this - getting a carnet at the border?

Thanks
Lou

Try this, maybe he still working.
Iran :: Carnet de Passage at the border

ilesmark 20 Feb 2009 10:43

Are you planning to go through Pakistan after Iran? You can get through there as well without a Carnet, you know. But you will be given a police escort all the way through and you WILL be stuffed when you reach India, as the collection of impounded foreign-registered vehicles at Wagah Border attests. You will have to leave your vehicle there and then either go off and get one or say bye bye to the vehicle.

Biker Chick 21 Feb 2009 09:59

Hi

we will be going through Iran and on to Turkey and then Europe so only need the carnet for Iran. I think this will be our last chance to ever go to Iran and from what I hear about it-I have to goeven with these challenges! I now have an Iranian agent who can do the carnet at Bandar abbas (Hossein) but still in the early stages of discussing it so will let you know what comes out of it.

Cheers for all the info
Lou

alan s 9 Mar 2009 14:18

Iran - Carnet at the border
 
Lou

I note you are in contact with Hossein regarding carnet / insurance for Iran. I have checked the link and have tried on the first two numbers which are unobtainable. The third rings but as yet is unanswered. Also tried by email but no response as yet. He may be travelling.

I am based in Dubai and am looking to travel at the end of April / Early May. Could you let me know how you are progressing with Hossein and have you any updated contact information. Also any relevant travel info for routes back either to the UK or to Poland would be much appreciated. I am not sure if I am going by bike ( UK registered) or by 4x4 (UAE registered) just yet.

many thanks

alan s 9 Mar 2009 14:48

Iran - Dubai / Sharjah / Oman Ferry Information
 
Here is a link for ferry information from Iran, Bandar Abbas to Dubai / Sharjah and Oman. It includes prices, times, distances and contact details for transport agencies.

Iran ferry ship, persian gulf shipping ticket, Travel Iran persian, Tour Operator Iran persian gulf, IranTravelingCenter

It also contains information for other Persian Gulf ferries from Iran ports:
Bandar Bushehr
Bandar Lengeh
Khoramshahr
Abadan

to:
Bahrain
Qatar
Kuwait
Damman, Saudi Arabia
Kish ( Island)
Qishm (Island)

alan s 9 Mar 2009 15:16

Insurance - Green Card System
 
Anyone travelling on a southerly route from Europe to the Middle East may already have third party insurance coverage on their existing insurance for other countries under the green card system. Here is a link to a map showing coverage.

Green Card System

and a link to further information on the green card:

Council Of Bureaux › Status of the Green Card

nerijust 10 Mar 2009 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan s (Post 232487)
Lou

I note you are in contact with Hossein regarding carnet / insurance for Iran. I have checked the link and have tried on the first two numbers which are unobtainable. The third rings but as yet is unanswered. Also tried by email but no response as yet. He may be travelling.

No, I'm not in contact with Hossein, I just know that some people did this one year ago.

Biker Chick 10 Mar 2009 09:31

Hi All

Thanks for all the info - very helpful. I got in contact with Hussein by email and he replied after some time that he could help me out with a carnet but that he lives 2000kms away from Bandar Abbas and I should give him notice so he can make his way down and meet us at the border. He said that it would cost around $300 per bike. He did give me a number to call - 09144138096 but I havent called it yet as Im still doing the visa first.

I hear conflicting ideas about getting on the boat without a carnet. I heard that immediately at customs you would be put in prison if you didnt have the carnet at this point and also that you wouldn't be allowed to actually get on the boat in the UAE without the carnet already in place. So I am a bit nervous to use someone who would meet me at the border but at the same time I guess this is all part of the travelling experience!!!!!! Still, this is our first country and I don't want to get nicked on the first day!!!!!

However, I do have a big problem about getting the carnet here with the ATC as
1. all my money is in UK bank accounts and don't wanna transfer money over as I will loose on the exhange rate.
2. I will have to use a guarantor to get the money back as I won't be in the country again and this seems to complicate things as the guarantor also has to put down a deposit?

All in all, I see it as a challenge and it will be sorted. Iran is definitely a country that I want to visit and this will probably be one of my last chances as I won't be returning to this region any time soon!

I willl let you all know of any further developments.

Thanks
Lou

mosq 26 Mar 2009 14:15

when I travelled to Iran last spring, I didn't prepare any Cornet before the trip. All things were made at the border (but I entered from Azerbaijan). I travelled through the whole Iran and went back with a Caspian sea ferry directly to Russia. At Iranian border agents made for me TRANSIT documents for my car for 5(five) days. I was in Iran for 2 weeks (5 days ended exactly in Bender-Abbass) and when I was loading to the russian ferry, in Anzali, agents made for me corrections for some money and 'closed their eyes' on my additional time I was in the country (about 9 days over limit).
The reason that I didn't get Cornet de passage (or how it called, I don't know) - that the point of exit from Iran must be the same as point of entrance (if I entered from Azejbaijan, I need to go back through Azerbaijan also). Since after Iran my way was routed directly to Russia over the sea, they said me they can only do transit documents for me.
I paid about 150 USD for the agent. This included all taxes, border fees, and agent's fee, also I didn't do anything but waited for 4 hours while that agent was running through the customs area making signs, staps, paper copies, etc,etc,etc..
They gave me about 12 papers (A4 format) for the car :))) Everything was in Farsi. As I understood, there were letters, certificates, tables and all other sh*t.

When I was leaving the Iran at Anzali port I paid additional 100 USD for the same procedure and it took about 10 hours in total to prepare all documents.

mcgiggle 27 Mar 2009 08:10

Hi mosq, were did you get the info about exit point being the same as entry point ?

Cheers
Pete

mosq 27 Mar 2009 09:08

exactly at the border (Astara town, between Azerbaijan and Iran, near Caspian sea). when agent didn't allow me to write exit point "Anzali" in Carnet, I went directly to the border's chief and asked what the hell is going on.. they said me that this is the rule, that "if you enter to Iran with Carnet then you must exit to the same border point where you entered. If you want to exit to another country, then it means that Iran will be transit country for you, and you need to have transit documents."

As I understood from what they said later: when you do transit documents, some iranian transportation company must "control" your vehicle. they write that your vehicle is under control of "ABC company", give all certificates, transit route table and other stuff and then you can go through Iran. There are several transport companies for your choice and from every company there is an agent at any border point around Iran.
I can post that documents, if someone can read Farsi.

All this sounds too hard and fantastic, and I didn't believe them even I entered Iran, I thought that they fooled me and just took money for nothing... But maybe such customs procedure is true, because Iran like paper works, and for every move you will need a bunch of papers. (for example, when I exchanged 100 USD to Iran Reals at the bank, I posted about 5 signs, then stamped 4 papers, then they made copies and only then exchanged me that $100)..

Henn 6 Apr 2009 23:30

Late 2008 we had no issues with standard, pre-organised Carnets and entering and exiting through different border crossings.

The "on the border" system sounds far easier and cheaper, but I'd be interested to hear more news of it.

Ben

Biker Chick 9 Apr 2009 12:58

Hi All

We are still waiting for the Iranian visa which was delayed cos of Iranian New Year so still not gone to get the carnet yet?! Will keep you posted though.

How long does it take to get this visa?!! Elections are coming up in June so perhaps a reason why it's taking so long!

MikeS 9 Apr 2009 13:47

At most, I reckon it took about 3 weeks or so waiting for the approval number to be emailed from Iranianvisa.com, but I was travelling all that time so the wait didn't really affect me. Good luck with it.



Quote:

Originally Posted by Biker Chick (Post 236991)
Hi All

We are still waiting for the Iranian visa which was delayed cos of Iranian New Year so still not gone to get the carnet yet?! Will keep you posted though.

How long does it take to get this visa?!! Elections are coming up in June so perhaps a reason why it's taking so long!


raffexpat 5 Jul 2009 19:43

Did you get sorted with carnet issue
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by alan s (Post 232487)
Lou

I note you are in contact with Hossein regarding carnet / insurance for Iran. I have checked the link and have tried on the first two numbers which are unobtainable. The third rings but as yet is unanswered. Also tried by email but no response as yet. He may be travelling.

I am based in Dubai and am looking to travel at the end of April / Early May. Could you let me know how you are progressing with Hossein and have you any updated contact information. Also any relevant travel info for routes back either to the UK or to Poland would be much appreciated. I am not sure if I am going by bike ( UK registered) or by 4x4 (UAE registered) just yet.

many thanks

Hi Alan, I guess by the time you get this you may well be gone. If not why, if so, how did you get the carnet issue resolved.

Meto 8 Oct 2009 10:43

We toured Iran in 2008 with two 2008 KTM 990 Adventures.
We entered and returned from the Gurbulak/Bazargan border.
As Turkish citizens we went to Turkish Touring and Automobile Agency and we paid 75 EUR (non-refundable) and 200 USD (depozit to get back when returning the Carnet) and took our Carnet.

Bartosz 10 Nov 2009 12:01

Iran without CPD
 
I think about mosq's experience. I have plan to drive from Turkey to Georgia and then to Armenia (it is no problem with visas for Georgia and Armenia) and next from Armenia to Iran. I think it will be transit to Turkey and without CPD. I don't know anybody try this. Next problem will be how many days we can stay in Iran.

kujo4pm 26 Oct 2011 08:22

Incidently I was able to contact one Hossein Ravanyar (he says he can organize a Carnet de Passage in Iran) Iran Overland :: Explore Iran Overland - Hossein Ravanyar - Tabriz and he wrote back which I believe many people have tried and failed - looks like he's back in action!

tony johnston 28 Oct 2011 09:10

Carnet and Greencard
 
i am sailing from Sharjah to Iran on 08 Nov.
I have my Oasis tickets and they have retained my original Carnet and Cert Of Tourism isued by AA Dubai on behalf of RTA. Oasis have advised me both these docs are required to board and they handle these formalities with the Authorities to speed things up.

Wrt the Carnet Guarentee,Stefano is correct re undervalue and haggle. I put up Dh.25k for a 1 yr old LR Defender after haggling. Best to go in there on a Sat morning when its quiet and relaxed. I have put down a cash deposit and my daughter in law is going to redeem it when I send her the Carnet back. I have put her name on the receipt slip for the deposit. There was no mention of a counter guarentee from her!!!!This may also be your best method if you have a friend you can trust to send the Carnet back to and redeem the deposit for you but remember to have his name put on the cash deposit receipt.

I have arranged Green Card through Home in Holland and Iran is a member of the GC system.

Don't forget to allow approx 4 wks(max) for your Iranian visa.

Enjoy your trip.

peter04 6 Nov 2011 12:55

Carnet Problems
 
Hi Guys

Some great info.
I will be traveling through Iran at the end of Feb begging of March then into Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Russia Ukraine Slovakia Czech Republic Germany Luxembourg Belgium France UK.

the Automobile club here have told me that I don't need a carnet as I will be exporting the bike on export plates, I thought this was a bit odd so I called the Iran embassy and they told me that what ever the Automobile Club have said is what I do.

So now I am very confused. The joys of traveling.

Peter

eljulian 6 Nov 2011 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter04 (Post 354958)
Hi Guys

Some great info.
I will be traveling through Iran at the end of Feb begging of March then into Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Russia Ukraine Slovakia Czech Republic Germany Luxembourg Belgium France UK.

the Automobile club here have told me that I don't need a carnet as I will be exporting the bike on export plates, I thought this was a bit odd so I called the Iran embassy and they told me that what ever the Automobile Club have said is what I do.

So now I am very confused. The joys of traveling.

Peter

I'd be very sceptical of that. It doesn't really make sense either, wouldn't a car on export plates be even more likely to be sold in Iran? Try contacting Iranian customs, they're the only ones who can give competent answers.

There have been reports of people getting into Iran without a carnet though. The guy I'm thinking of paid something like 200 Dollar for some sort of insurance against him selling the car, but had to wait a day at the border.

They're definitely not going to just let the vehicle in without anything. I'd play it safe and try and get a carnet.

eljulian 6 Nov 2011 14:28

Here's the guy who made it without a carnet: www.brauner-benz.de

rupertu 30 Nov 2011 10:02

1 Attachment(s)
Is this true?

Our South African carnet covers every country except Iran. Does anyone have any idea where we can actually get this Iranian temporary vehicle import document, any real experience of doing so. Where to go etc...
That is of course if the country doesn't go up in a big white flash or us Brits get banned because of Britains ridiculous foreign policy of constant meddling in the middle east.

Rurpecht --- www.bigbiketrip.net

:helpsmilie:

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsprague (Post 229576)
You don't actually need a carnet to enter Iran, strictly speaking. You can get a local Iranian carnet at the border. I think it's around $200. That said, I'm not sure if it's possible at every border. I know it is possible at the Turkish border.

It would be far cheaper to do this if you'll not be needing a carnet elsewhere


eljulian 30 Nov 2011 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by rupertu (Post 357726)
Our South African carnet covers every country except Iran.

I would just take out/replace the last sheet.

I've never had anybody look at the list of covered countries except once, when the Guinean customs official had to discover that Guinea was indeed covered, much to his disappointment, of course.

rupertu 30 Nov 2011 10:37

making contact
 
Meto can we catch up in Turkey in December 2011?

Bigbike trip - two KTM 990 Adventures

www.bigbiketrip.net

:mchappy:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meto (Post 259620)
We toured Iran in 2008 with two 2008 KTM 990 Adventures.
We entered and returned from the Gurbulak/Bazargan border.
As Turkish citizens we went to Turkish Touring and Automobile Agency and we paid 75 EUR (non-refundable) and 200 USD (depozit to get back when returning the Carnet) and took our Carnet.


QatarRider 1 Dec 2011 08:22

I did Sharjah to Bandar Abbas in August, carnet from Qatar was 50,000 QAR plus about 800 for the carnet itself, the 50,000 was returned in days, but I did present the carnet in person. I dont think you can get on the ferry without one. The ferry website is way out of date, the only route is Sharjah-Bandar Abbas, Sunday evening 10pm, and Thursday I think as well, arrive on Saturday to start the paperwork, then turn up at about 4pm on Sunday and faff about for 6 hours before the ferry leaves, all part of the fun. We went on KTM 990s, brillant bike for the trip, Rob


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