Feasibility Check - Opinions
 

Hi

Here is the outline of the trip I intend to make (briefly) in my 4x4. The questions regarding feasibility concern the issuing and discharging of the carnet.

Leave UK in May. Leave funds for Carnet bond, copies of all relevant documentation etc with my parents.

Cross Eastern Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, enter Kyrgyzstan in August.

Parents transfer Carnet bond and fee, plus application to ADAC in late August, for Carnet to be valid from October.

I enter Tajikistan in Spetember, then Afghanistan in October.

Parents receive Carnet, send via DHL to Dushanbe or Kabul, I collect Carnet, enter Pakistan late October (Pakistan is the firat country to require a carnet).

Spend 9 months Pakistan - India - Bangladesh - India - Nepal - India - Pakistan - Iran.

Leave Iran (Iran is the last country to require a carnet) for Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Georgia to Turkey August / September 2008, send carnet to ADAC from Baku, Tbilisi, Ankara etc.

Return to UK October / November time.


My main question is regarding the return of the carnet. Does it need to be 'discharged' by customs of Germany or another EU state, or do I simply send it back having been stamped in and out of every country? As far as I understand, it needs to be returned within its validity of 12 months, and it would be uncertain as to whether I'd be back in Germany by that time.

The ADAC info pack states they can post-date the carnet by up to four weeks. Is this four weeks from the date I send the application, or four weeks from the date they issue it?

Anyone have any experience of how quickly the ADAC issue the carnet?

Anyone got any info on a cheaper way to get the carnet? (ADAC €250 fees bond €5000 for vehicle value up to €7500).

Thanks for your help

Dan

The plan sounds good. ADAC issued my carnet very quickly by mail. Just make sure you have all the relevant papers in order. I believe the postdating refers to the issuing date. Perhaps you can send them papers and money and they will hold the documents for you? I haven't tried this. I suggest you contact them and discuss your requirements. I believe they require the vehicle to be permanently imported somewhere and have the certificate of presence on the last page filled out by the importing customs office. At least that's what I understood. However, youare not the only traveller in this situation, so again, ask them. At worst they can hold your deosit until the vehicle has returned or been imported somewhere, but I don't think you can loose your deposit, as long as all the stamps are in order.

However, your location here is marked as UK. Is the vehicle registered there? You may be better off using the RAC in that case.