Leaving a car in the Stans
 

Hello there,

I'm planning a trip to the Stans next year and a major question is if any of those countries let me leave/sell/dump my car. The simple reason is that I cannot afford the time driving back to Europe...

My route would be Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan and the rest depending on the question above.

Thanks for all hints.

You can't leave vehicle in Kazakhstan. Ok, you can but it will be a problem with documents. Much easier is to leave your car in Kyrgyzstan.
I suggest to do that.

Thanks, Sambor!
I was thinking also of Tajikistan... that would probably be the last country visited as my plans are nowadays.
But I'm open for any other options.
Check PM.

None of the five former Soviet states of central Asia mark the car on you passport (many often assume that the car symbol on your entry stamp means you are in possession of a car. It does not, it just means you entered at a road border crossing, as opposed to an airport or rail crossing etc), only on your customs declaration.

So if you 'lose' your customs declaration, there is no evidence of the car, and you can dump it, or sell it informally (i.e. on the spot).

To find a reliable buyer, get the cash and sort the paperwork would probably take longer than driving it back.

I don't know what customs would make of you losing a customs declaration, but I would aim to dump the car either in Kyrgystan or Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan has very lax border procedures - when I crossed into the country with my car they didnt even stamp my passport, and I had no customs declaration at all. Kyrgyzstan is a popular country to dump / sell old cars.

Daniel

Thanks Daniel,

I'd rather finish off in Tadjikistan for several reasons (logistics for instance). Will try to scan the market over there. Planning a trip in October.

leaving a car in the stans...I'm in Almaty
 

Hi
I am British, living in Almaty for 3 years, here for another 2 at least... interesting plans you have for your trip. I understand you now want to end in Tajik but I would be interested to find out more about your plans. If you wanted to end in Almaty, I might be interested in buying your car and driving back to UK.

This would mean that paperwork will be less of a problem as the car will leave again. Or I might be able to sort the paperwork here as my partner is Kazakh and has some connections...

Drop me a personal message or email wide boy racer (all one word) at hotmail dot com.

Contact in TJ
 

Hey there,

anyone knows anyone in TJ who might be able to help me selling a 4WD?
I have limited time once finishing my trip in Dushanbe and need to fly back.
Anyone reliable, speaking English, probably wanting to make some money...

Thanks!!

g.

We have a similar situaiton we are currently in Osh, Kyrgystan making our way to Kazakhstan and flying back home from Almaty. We will need to either sell the car, scrap it or ship it. Our favourite option currently is to sell it as it is expensive to ship it back to Europe and it has been a good car! The car is a Nissan X-Trail and has made it through to Central Asia from London!
Many thanks for your help.

Getting rid of it in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan rather than Kazakhstan would be a lot easier.

Kazakhstan is full member of the customs union and Kyrgyzstan is currently just going through the joining process so when you crossed into Kyrgyzstan i assume you never had the customs paper (as this customs union is not in effect fully in Kyrgyzstan)

If you ditch it in Kazakhstan and they paperwork is not filled out correctly for changing owner or scrapping it you will have serious problems should you wish to come back

I know some local guys in Bishkek who might be interested and have brought cars/bikes of travelers before so know the system regarding paperwork, if you want there contact info message me

A bus ride from Bishkek to Almaty is very cheap and not very far, just a few hours.

Also i would assume you would be selling it in USD, Kazakhstan just had a currency crash of around 25% down in one day at the beginning of the week

Wesley, are you sure that Kyrgyzstan is just going through the joining process? My understanding, which could be incorrect, is that they joined earlier this month?

In any event, a couple of days ago, I crossed from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan and didn't have to fill in any customs docs (on a bike with Russian plates).

I was there a few months ago so don't know what recent changes have been made, they were in the transition phase back then so maybe now it is full custom union zone, a few members here are from Kyrgyzstan or live there so maybe they can update in more detail ?

As for yourself if your bike is Russian registered then no import papers needed anyway as you are already in the customs union club

Since Aug 12 there is no custom on the Kazakh - Kyrgyz border. I am affraide that leaving bike/car in Kyrgyzstan will have the same effect as leaving in other ocountries of Custom Union.