Car stamp in passport for Mauritania

[mfugl]

Chris Scott says in his book that it is legal to sell a car in Mauritania, but does not speak of this special car stamp aquired in the passport. How should I get around it? What kind of problems could I get into if not having the car when leaving Mauritania?

What if my car gets stolen in Marocco - is it possible for the authorities to see that I entered the country with a car? eg passport stamp or special papers.

It is my intention to start the trip within 2 weeks from germany.

[javierCarrion]

hi There.

yep , in Mauritania your passport get *ussually* stamped with your vehicle's details.
If you sell your car over there , then you should go -with the buyer- to the douanne's offices to "clear" your passport . This is a common procedure and there are fixed fees on that . I think is on the region of 200 Euros .

This is normally payed by the buyer ,althought -being Mauritanians they way they are- is not uncommon that -after he has the car- refuse to pay you the clearing fee , flee away , and then you have to go on your own to pay the full ammount -200 Euros -.

I would advice not to believe the buyer's offer to clear the passport , do it by yourself , and just add those 200 euros to the final price.


Have a nice day.

Javier

[Sam Rutherford]

You can always ask the customs guys at border to not put it in your passport.

Not tried it, so unsure of response and possible 'cost' of that!

Sam.

[Tonyabc]

I crossed out from Mauretania to Morocco without stopping at the Mauretanian border post, I just drove straight through, past officials waving their arms around. Once in no-mans land between border posts I was lucky the officials did not try to follow me.

I did this because I had run out of patience and was not thinking straight. The border gaurds could quite reasonably taken a shot at me.

Before someone points this out I should say that I realise that this way of avoiding the paperwork is not likely to make other travellers border experiences any easier.

Also, I was a lone traveller. I don't think I would have taken the risk if I'd had passengers

[javierCarrion]

you can get your passport NOT stamped with the car's detail for around 30 Euros . Best done crossing at nighttime.

JAvier

[nickt]

We sold a Golf in NKT in January. Cost EUR 200 to clear the passport.

Nick.

[Detourer]

I cross into Morocco almost monthly and at times down through Maure..........Whatever your intensions do the paperwork.

Coming out of Morocco some years ago, via Tangier, I failed to get one of our trucks cleared/taken off against my passport.

Even though I am well known at the border for over a year, every month, I was held up on my return to Morocco, trying to re-enter with a truck that the paperwork [or lack of] showed had never left........bloody nightmare and time wasting........sold the truck in Spain!

Of course, not a problem if you are never going back.