time to get a South African carnet?
 

If I show up in South Africa and buy a bike, can anyone help me estimate how long it would take to get the bike titled in my name AND get a carnet? It would put a real damper on things if I show up and have to wait 6 or 8 weeks on paperwork... I'd probably spend my entire travel budget and go broke before I ever left Capetown.

thanks

steven
www.twowheeledtraveller.com

Hi - I bought a new (from a dealer) car in South Africa last year. Getting it registered was really quick - from walking into the showroom to having the car registered and taxed was only 4 days. They have a strange system where you need to get the car inspected by a 3rd party to validate the VIN etc (even if it's brand new!) - but it's all quite painless. I don't know if the same inspection applies to bikes.

I'm afraid I can't help with the Carnet bit.

Cheers,
Andy

To get a carnet through the AASA is relatively painless. They say 1 week on their website but budget two at least. If you are putting up the deposit in cash / credit card then it should be quick. If you have to arrange guarantees etc. then expect longer.

Registering the bike for a non SA resident is quite easy and should take you no more than a day or so. I used the address of my hostel in Cape Town.

I have previously posted details on getting the SA carnet on this site. Otherwise try this link to the AASA:

http://www.aasa.co.za/Travel+and+Rou...de+Passage.htm

cheers

I recently purchased a bike in SA and was able to get all paper work finalized within 2 days, including interpol clearance. Regarding carnet, you can communicate directly with AA South Africa via email. They seem open to expediting the process for a fee.