Does Syria charge $450 to go through?
 

Hi,
I'm planning a trip from Kuwait > UK.

I'll buy a bike in Kuwait, then do the paperwork for Export, and take it overland to the UK.

My question is this:

I've read in this forum that in Syria, they charge $450 if you're taking an export vehicle through; even if it's only 12 hours or whatever. Is this correct?

My other option is to go through Iran > Turkey. But given the altitude and mountainous terrain, this would have to wait till early summer.

I'm assuming the Iranians don't impose such hefty fees (if any) for taking an export bike across.

Thanks.

You'd better check the export situation with regard to getting a carnet de passage (if you need one which you would for Iran).

In the UAE, the Automobile Association won't issue carnets for export plates. They only issue for standard UAE plates with "tourism" permission (a "siaha" document in Arabic). It might not be an issue in Kuwait, but it's worth checking. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

OK - so, for example, how would you ride an export bike from the UAE to the UK, via Iran?

Since the AA in the UAE won't issue a Carnet, and you can't enter Iran without a Carnet, then the whole deal is off. Or am I wrong?

>They only issue for standard UAE plates with >"tourism" permission (a "siaha" document in >Arabic).

...Which assumes you'll be bringing the bike
back to the UAE, I suppose?

From Kuwait u need a letter from yr employer saying u r ging on leave and will be returning.Then u get permission to take plates out.When I was there in 2001 I heard that this was frowned on but many Lebanese and Palestinian guys do it so try and track down a couple of them for current info.

Drove from UAE to UK twice on carnet and UAE plates with similar letter to retain plates.When I got to UK returned plates to AA who surrendered them to police as part of their service and I got carnet rleased no probs.

“OK - so, for example, how would you ride an export bike from the UAE to the UK, via Iran? Since the AA in the UAE won't issue a Carnet, and you can't enter Iran without a Carnet, then the whole deal is off. Or am I wrong? Which assumes you'll be bringing the bike back to the UAE, I suppose?”

As I mentioned, Darwin, you can’t get a carnet on export plates in the UAE but there is a loophole. When you leave here for the final time, there are all kinds of letters you have to get such as bank letters to prove you have no outstanding loans, utilities final clearance certificates, phone clearance etc. etc.

However, one thing you don’t have to show is that you have deregistered all your vehicles here. So, you get your ‘siaha’ tourism document without mentioning that you might not actually return, then you can get your carnet (for Iran) and then you can go.

I know two people who still have UAE plates in other parts of the world although they have ceased to reside here. I also still have a bike overseas on UAE plates and I might get fined for it one day when they notice but hopefully it won’t be too much.

One last thing, all of the above concerning buying a bike in the UAE, getting the siaha document and the carnet only applies to residents. You cannot register a vehicle here at all if you are not a resident.

Nearly forgot... the important part: getting your carnet deposit back. The Automobile Club here don't want to see the bike or necessarily the rider. Just the correctly stamped (in & out) carnet. So you still need someone in the UAE to pick up your money but it doesn't seem to matter who. It would probably be best to discuss that informally before you leave the office but after getting the carnet.
Stephan

[This message has been edited by Stephano (edited 18 November 2005).]

Regarding Iran. I know some guys who took their Indian registered Enfields (and therefore no carnet) through Iran with small hassle and minimal expense, although the expense I guess would be proportional to the value of the bike. They turned up at the border and sorted out paperwork there. The same guys went to Syria and as they were on a very tight budget, i doubt they would have forked out $450.
Sean

Thanks all,
(I changed my username from Darwin to Wez, because this board for some reason will not accept my Darwin password(??) If this happens again, I'm out of this Site for good.)

Spoke with a guy who took his bike out on normal country plates, rode to Germany, and registered the bike there. When he came back, all he had to do was show the traffic dept. proof of registration in Germany and that was all.

The $450 applies only to export plates, so regular indian plates would have been just fine.

With export plates you need to hire a customs agent to deal with the paperwork, that's where the money goes. There might be some room for haggling there, I forget what was the amount that actually went to the Syrian customs but it wasn't that much. Also you'll be extremely lucky to get through Syria in 12 hours with export plates since you need to travel with a customs convoy with sloooow trucks and maybe some steep hills. Also due to the customs agent thing, you can only cross borders during office hours.

Syrians charge roughly $150 tax for diesel vehicles (as diesel is subsided and very cheap - about 6p per litre so you will soon get it back). We were also able to export 100 litres of diesel in cans on the way back to Turkey without any problems (Syrians didn't mind at all and Turkey Army check point soldiers let us through after steeling few packs of cigaretes we left conviniently on the dash...)

There is no tax for petrol vehicles though, although they will probably ask you for a present ($10 in our case). Well worth the excelent teas and fun we experienced on the check point.
We crosed to Syria by YAylagadi (Tur), and back to Turkey via Al Qamichli/Nusayibin.