Purchasing a vehicle and travelling around Central Asia.
 

If you have visited Central Asia, please would you share the knowledge gained from your experience with me, by helping to answer the following questions?

1. Is it possible to purchase a vehicle in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan and drive that vehicle as a UK national using an international driving licence?

2. In which of these countries is this possible?

3. Is it possible for a UK national, driving a vehicle registered in either Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to cross the borders of any or all of these countries into one another?

4. If so, is there any administrative or fiscal documentation (carnet or local equivalents etc...) required to cross these borders?

5. On balance, in which of the afore mentioned countries (and in which city) would it be most affordable to purchase a vehicle and administratively straight-forward (in terms of time) to register it?

6. Is it possible to exit Kazakhstan and enter Russia as a UK national in a vehicle registered in either in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan?

Many thanks for taking the time to help me with my questions,

Ed

Well I don't know all the answers, but part of your questions should be answered if you read into vehicle hire.

Lots of people rent a car in Kyrgystan and take it around Kyrgystan but also Uzbekistan Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Don't know about Russia.

Many thanks for your response. On reflection, I'm sure you are correct. If someone can rent a vehicle and drive freely across the borders of all of these countries, there is no reason why a car registered to a foreigner should be any different.

Perhaps then just questions 4, 5 and 6 remain to be answered.

Are there any people who live in Central Asia or have recently travelled there who know the answers?

Again, thanks in advance for your responses.

You dont need a carnet, in none of these countries.

But I do not think you can buy and register a car in Turkmenistan.
You dont even have this much time to stay there to solve that.

I write my answer below your questions:

If you have visited Central Asia, please would you share the knowledge gained from your experience with me, by helping to answer the following questions?

1. Is it possible to purchase a vehicle in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan and drive that vehicle as a UK national using an international driving licence?

For buying, focus on Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The other two countries are more difficult.

2. In which of these countries is this possible?

Same as 1. (although I don't know about Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is a no go)

3. Is it possible for a UK national, driving a vehicle registered in either Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to cross the borders of any or all of these countries into one another?

Yes
There is one paper that is valid on ALL of the mentioned countries. It is called Davernest (power of attorney). There is two kind of a Davernest. One allows you to drive the car (not sufficient) the other is a general power of attorney which gives you full rights (that is the one you need). You can get a 3 month, 6 month and one year Davernest.
In all former CCCR countries you will have no issues with that paper. The paper will be issued at the notary office.

4. If so, is there any administrative or fiscal documentation (carnet or local equivalents etc...) required to cross these borders?

No

5. On balance, in which of the afore mentioned countries (and in which city) would it be most affordable to purchase a vehicle and administratively straight-forward (in terms of time) to register it?

Bishkek is for sure a good one. Also Almaty.

6. Is it possible to exit Kazakhstan and enter Russia as a UK national in a vehicle registered in either in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan?

Talking about the countries I mentioned above, yes.
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (plus some other countries) and Russia are in the same tax union. Therefore it is best to have a car from Kyrg. or Kaz. Tajikistan is also possible as the tax union is not important to cross boarders. But if you want to buy the car in Kyrg. and sell it in Russia, there will be no tax charge for the buyer and therefore you will have the better chance to sell.

Hope that helps

Peter from MuzToo.ch

Many thanks for taking the time to help me with my questions,

Doverennost'. :) (Доверенность in cyrillic.)

One more thing to consider: Russia has recently had some weird new regulation where entering with a doverennost' required a customs deposit - lots of people who had leased cars got stopped on the border, since they were only authorized users of the cars, not their owners. (The bank was the owner.) As with anything in Russia, how strictly this law is enforced is a question of a given border crossing and/or a given time of year.

driving foreign cars here
 

Hi Ed

Most is said, thanks to others.

In Kyrgyzstan foreigners are not allowed to posses a vehicle. Therefore, in case you want to buy a vehicle you need a reliable local. On this name registered with a notarized, so caled "General Davernest", you have all the power you need.
Important is: You need not only a "Davernest" but a "General Davernest". This can be maximum done to a length of 3 years.

You can buy a car an not changing the owner, putting it to the old's owner davernest. Although this getting fast less popular due to new law regulations and the raise of fees.

Last thing is if you are using a companies car you don't need a general davernest. You can use the official form so called "Putuvoi List". It has a similar power as the davernest and is accepted across of RU custom union as well as abutter countries in central asia.

In Kyrgyzstan I can help you through my connections. At your own in this corrupt environment is causing a lot of time. For further details you have to contact me directly via my business. I am not allowed to post any sales tag here.

Good luck,
Dave

Many thanks
 

In particular to the last three individuals to post - a big thank you, Your assistance has really helped me to understand how things work in this part of the world; information which seems hard to come by elsewhere.

ZorroMoto, I will indeed get in touch with you personally and thanks for the offer.

Thanks again for taking your time to answer a strangers' questions, you're all most kind and patient.

Ed