Into Russia from Latvia - insurance and customs
 

We are due to cross into Russia from Latvia in the next few days, anyone have up to date info on whether it's possible to get insurance at the A13/A116 border, if so, where?
Also what sort of customs checks are made? We heard that some food imports from EU countries were banned?

Andy

All meat and dairy are banned.

OK, but how much checking do they carry out?

In My case, I just had to open the lid and that was it

This is all pretty new! So its going to be an interesting report from you about it!! I'm curious myself, and I have to congratulate the powers in the EU for creating this situation (for reasons I am not going into here this round of sanctions has, temporarily at least, stuffed a lucrative line of export for me in the 'real' world and has further damaged my long term plans to get out from under the yoke of the EU permanently).

A fair bit of checking I would say, I remember crossing the border between UK/Ireland during the Foot and Mouth disease and they did a pretty thorough look in all the cars etc most of the time.

Politically speaking its a big thing this trade embargo at the moment. Its worth eating what you have, buying more food in Russia isn't going to be a problem so is it worth getting grief for a few sausages??

Depends who makes the sauages :innocent:

I dont think that it is the point if you have 3 sausages and a bread.

The embargo is more a political thing and affects the big export companies.

So I would not care.
In Case of emergency jut eat it at the border:rofl:

OK so we eat all the meat & cheese at the border - that's sorted :) I'll report back on what they actualy do in the way of searching.

Now, what about vehicle insurance, is there an agency at the border where we can buy it?

We crossed 4 days ago from Russia and they confiscated all our milk including a box of dried milk we got from Tescos in England before the trip. Tins of casserole, margarine which was very annoying since we stocked up just before the border. I also foolishly filled 2 jerry cans with diesel which they made me pay duty on.


The Russian crossing only took 10 minutes while the Latvian one was over two hours. I felt sorry for the 5 mile line of trucks waiting at the border.


Boycie

You crossed from Russia to Latvia? Were the confiscations and duty charge made by Latvian customs?

Yes, the Latvian really suck.

They take the most time.

I remember when they asked me last year, if I have gasoline with me, I said sure, how do you think my Bike would run without it.

And so on.......

They really suck.

I love how people assume the Russian customs are bad and EU customs good. Too much propaganda I suspect.

Russian customs is generally pretty smooth. The Latvians (EU) have a well deserved reputation of being "prize tools" at Russia-EU borders.

I can only echo Walter's reply. We found the Russian customs efficient at all the borders we used. They we very friendly at Erdeenstay leaving Mongolia, although at that crossing I think they are just pleased to see anyone.


Boycie

In all Finland-Russia border crossings milk, cheese and other food products can be imported to Russia as previously if we speak about amounts which are seen to be going to personal usage. I think border crossings expecially near St.Petersburg are probably most modern ones and sees biggest amount of border crossers of all Russia border crossings (except airports) so they know quite well what is allowed or not. Actually some people from St.Peterburg are now starting to buy those products which are under embargo from Finland as they visit here regularly.

I crossed from Kazakhstan inti Russia. Nothing was checked and no vehicle insurance asked for. I bought the vehicle I insurance on e in Astrakhan for Russia only. They do not issue one covering Europe from there. But the European Green Card vehicle Insurance covers Russia too.