Never again with a Carnet !!!
 

Hi,
I travelled 2002 - 2005 with two Carnet de Passage across Asia and India - two carnets, because after only 3 days I had a crash in Latvia with a drunken car driver (after midnight): broken legs, 7 months rehabilitation and then buy one more BMW R 80 GS, and of course one more Carnet.
Only in India I had problems with the custom - not for come into the country from China / Nepal, but only to get out to Pakistan across Wagah-border (Arimtsar / Lahore); there they have a very properly border procedure, even with daily parades, no exeptions possible:
They did not want to let me out of India, because my carnet was valid only one year, but my second start to travel (with a fine new Carnet) was in January 2003, 3 1/2 years before.
I told the custom officers, that of course this Carnet is still guilty, because I must bring back this "old" Carnet with a EU-custom stamp and only then I will get back my 3000 €. All my trying (also offering some money) did not help, I had to let back my bike in India - where it is standing and waiting for me until today!!
And back home in Germany, of course I did not get back my deposit money from the german auto-club ADAC - I had to wait and write and wait, etc. until 2013, then finally I got my money back, 14 years after I made the deposit of 3000 € to the ADAC (of course with no interest money!!)
Therefore never again with Carnet!! - also because I am no longer inhabitant of any country; I am a traveller for the coming ten years; the world is my home (and the roads and garages!).

Norbert Berentz
- actual in Pointe-Noire (Congo - Brazzaville), looking for an angolan visa!

Slow progress on the Carnet issues but they are working on it, I am planning on having another call next week to discuss the progress and potential solutions:

The FIA has raised these issues with our member, RAC Motoring and Services. We have discussed a number of options with the RAC and I understand that these are under active consideration.

I should also note that we are reviewing aspects of the AIT/FIA Guarantee in an effort to ensure that it is not misinterpreted and that it appropriately reflects the FIA’s objectives to facilitate the movement of motor vehicles internationally.

update posted here: https://www.change.org/p/european-co...ter/u/10331171

Thanks for your hard work on this issue Martin. The Change.org page asks for examples of being refused a letter of non objection, I quoted mine a few pages ago http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...1-9#post491951 The email was sent Jan 10th

In my own situation, I've had to go ahead with the RAC, sent them the princely sum of £3220 on Thursday :thumbdown:

Dave

I've been a member for a few years now. Let it lapse and then renew again when we start a trip there. Just call into an ADAC shop and pay my money.
True that they do like to have a German postal address to send the mail to, but they are well aware that we are Australians driving a German registered vehicle.

Used them twice - Morocco for a 150km truck ride and once in Germany. Well ahead at this stage.

Interestingly, I am based in Ireland and contacted ADAC whether they will issue a carnet, to which they've replied they will are not allowed and I should contact RAC instead.

This is quite a surprise as RAC doesn't have presence in Ireland at all, how come did they become a designated CPD organization for Ireland? Same as others on the thread, I'd really rather go with ADAC than RAC, as RAC rates are rip-off.

I will try to push a bit on ADAC because it just doesn't make sense, but in the meantime, I'm wondering if there happen to be any registry of the issuing organizations per country?

Perhaps they think you are in Northern ireland.

The other major problem with carnets from RAA is (I heard) they don't allow renewals while you are away. Need to arrange a new one and get both refunds when you return.

The world body can designate any country to issue any other country with carnets and I imagine all of this was put in place long before there was even an EU or eurozone.

That's odd. This is what sent me a few months ago.

They probably think you're in Northern Ireland as Tony points out.

So when I clarified I'm in Ireland, not the UK, they asked to send the bike registration, passport and also bike value and list of countries to them so they can see if they can issue Carnet.

Since the bike I'll take the trip on is different from the current one, I told them I'll come back once I have the actual bike, but its value will be around 5-6k EUR.

What they've replied is that currently they have a number of applications from British and Irish riders for Carnet and they're looking for the solution (I guess, thanks for the great work of people on this thread in pushing the complaint about RAC). But they've also mentioned the deposit will be 100% of the bike value + 295 EUR for the Carnet itself. Not sure if that's due to countries listed (which includes Iran, Pakistan, India) or something else, but I'll find out when get closer to the trip.

Hope the info is useful to someone!

For those looking to obtain a Carnet in North America, you are probably already aware the the CAA has now stopped issuing them.

Currently the CAA has not appointed anyone else to issues these on for North American residents.

We have been in contact with the FIA, on behalf of our some of our Overland Sphere members, they are expecting to have a solution in place some time in June / July.

If anyone in North America requires are carnet before then, please let me know and i can contact one of our FIA contacts who would be able to help you out.

Recent Experience
 

Hi All

I am currently on a long trip through Africa. Getting carnets was absolutely necessary as we wanted to start in Cape Town. The shippers would not transport the bikes without them.

So far we have not needed them for the border crossing into Namibia. We will be going to Zambia in the next week or so. In theory we won't be allowed in without either a carnet or paying temporary import tax.

Let's see what actually happens......

You don't need a carnet crossing from SA to Namibia as they are part of a customs union. You will definitely need it crossing in to Zambia. Katima Mulilo is an easy crossing, Kazungula less so.

had a good call with FIA this morning, it looks like contractual changes are in progress that will lift any barriers on EU citizens applying for a carnet from any other carnet issuer.

The changes do not mean that a carnet issuer will issue you a carnet as this is still at their discretion.

The changes are expected in sometime between Jan -June 2016.

I will send an update out on the main petition in the next few days...

There were a couple of other developments, which can be read or discussed in our group.

Also Carnets for North America, the new carnet issuer is not yet active,

If you are looking to obtain a carnet in the next 45-60 days, let me know and i can help expedite the issue through our contacts at the FIA

Just to let you know that Reggie was absolutely correct. Kazangula Ferry was chaotic but the Carnets seems to be essential. Can't imagine managing it without the fixed who latched onto us on the Botswanan side. I didn't want to cause any confusion by asking what would happen without a Carnet but as I say my impression was that it was expected that we would have them.

Carnet Update: North America

After speaking with the FIA over the last few days, it appears that the North American Carnet issuer may not be active until sometime in October (worst case), best case September. The new carnet issuer will provide the same services & rates as the CAA did.

We have been working with one of the members to secure them a carnet this month and are having problems finding a carnet issue that will

1) Issue the Carnet to a North American resident
2) still be issuing carnets in the future

The main issue for other carnet issuers is that their insurance just does not cover them for NA, this includes the ADAC.

The FIA have suggested using the Swedish Automobile association "M" https://www.motormannen.se/ however they will cease issuing carnets in the next couple weeks. They have suggested that M would continue to service any issued carnets for 12 months with a possible 6 month extension.

If you do require a carnet for travel before November, please let me know asap and we can try and expedite your carnet. Unfortunately if we miss the deadline with M you would have to wait for the new North American carnet issue to become active.