I received the following response letter from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce re the ATA Carnet (my letter is at the bottom.
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From: Lise Sauvé [mailto:lsauve@chamber.ca]
Sent: 12-Dec-01 10:11 AM
Subject: Does your carnet cover vehicles?

Hello Susan,

My apologies for the delay in acknowledging your e-mail, but I have been doing a little bit of investigative work to ensure I provided you with accurate information.

To summarize my findings, vehicles are only allowed on an ATA Carnet for racing (and the like) purposes and/or if part of professional equipment, i.e. mobile unit used by TV crews and the like. Vehicles for personal use should be registered via the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA). They issue the equivalent of the AIT, that is 'a Carnet de Passages en Douane'. You will get all the information you need on these on the Internet at www.caa.ca/CAAInternet/travelservices/frmain.htm

As far as your professional equipment is concerned, this could be included on an ATA Carnet. For more information on ATA Carnets, you can visit our website at www.chamber.ca/carnet

If we can be of further help, do not hesitate to contact us.

(Ms.) L.M. Sauvé
Manager, Carnet Services
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
350 Sparks Street, Suite 501
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8
Tel: 613-238-4000, ext. 222
Fax: 613-238-7643
E-Mail: carnet@chamber.ca

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My original letter to them:

Hello, I am writing on behalf of a number of individuals who are travelling worldwide with motorcycles. These individuals are travelling on business (photography, journalism) and charitable endeavours (UNICEF and other agencies). Recently we have become aware of your service, and were wondering if it was an alternative to the Carnet de Passage en Douane issued by the
Swiss-headquartered Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) which most travellers with vehicles have been using.

Can you advise whether:
a. The ATA Carnet covers temporary importation of vehicles?
b. Whether it is accepted in all 202 countries which accept the Carnet de
Passage en Douane, or a smaller subset of that list?
c. What is the procedure and costs for obtaining the ATA Carnet?
Thanks in advance.

Susan Johnson

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 16 December 2001).]

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Susan Johnson

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com