Carnet - RAC or ADAC?
 

Dear all,

Trying to get together some of the paperwork I'll be needing for my trip across Africa at the end of the year and have heard there are a couple of different ways to obtain the vehicle carnet.

I have a UK registered Landover to which the document applies, but does anyone have any experience of applying for their carnet through the ADAC in Germany as opposed to the RAC route in the UK?

From reading the website of one this forum's subscribers (totally forgotten who it is!! apologies) I remember reading that if you go through the German route the costs can be reduced by something like 80%!

Can someone shed any light on this for me?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

Hi,

maybe it was our website; www.popadd.com/overlandy2006

Def go to ADAC!!!!!!!
RAC asking silly money. All details on our website.

Have fun preparing!

Lizzy and Roel

Adac
 

I'm in with Roel...after getting my first carnet from the Canadian Automobile Association, and my second from ADAC, I can only say: go ADAC. I never obtained a carnet from RAC, I can only say ADAC was great. Fast, much less expensive and it was done right from the get go. Bon voyage! H.

Hi

ADAC without a doubt I followed Lizzy and Raols advise and Stephani at ADAC was fantastic when I got to munchen it was all ready and we were off with a full 25 page carnet.

RAC are over priced and take for ever.

Actually, RAC are very quick. Sent off the forms, got a quote by return-literally a day or so later. Called them up, paid (gulp!) and the Carnet arrived next day.

I don't understand why ADAC are cheaper than RAC because the real cost is not the RAC's charges but the Insurance premium and both the RAC and ADAC Carnets are underwritten by the same (British) insurer.

Q

ADAC it is.....
 

My thoughts were leaning towards the ADAC route based on what other people have mentioned in passing and this seems to confirm that.

As a UK based individual with a UK registered bank account and vehicle is the process still fairly pain-free. I can see there being a few problems trying to get monies transferred etc?

I have the application form all ready to go, its just making that final committment!

Thanks for all of the advice, very warmly received.

Ben

Carnet ~ is it worth it~ ???
 

Ive just received an e-mail back from the ADAC, Regarding my Africa trip. 25 page carnet was 3000 Euros But I have to get a letter or similar from the RAC stating that they have no objections to me getting it from the ADAC.

But at the same time Ive read posts on here stating that the Carnet isnt needed for a large part of Africa (well on the route I have planned anyway).

And you can get a similar peice of paper from border crossings all be it that they may have some restrictions in place regarding the amount of time you may spend in there country.

If this is the case why do so many people spend out money getting the Carnet in the First place???.

Any info if the above is still the case would be greatly appreciated, I dont mind spending time hanging around at crossings if it's going to save me ££££'s that could be put to better use.

Kind Regards. Darren

RAC versus ADAC for carnet
 

We have a German registered camper and will be getting our carnet de passage from ADAC. Unfortunately our UK friends traveling with us got a ridiculous quote (800% of the value of their camper) from RAC. When I asked our ADAC representative if they could get their carnet from them, she said they would need a letter from RAC stating it was okay. Apparently ADAC doesn't want to "step on RAC's toes" so they are requiring this. Has anyone gotten this letter from RAC?

never got a letter just delt directly with ADAC RAC you pay for the insurance then oly get half back ADAC you get all the deposit back. ADAC 7000 pounds and RAC 150 000 pounds deposit or RAC Insurance 8000 pounds.

Transfering the money is simple take the ADAC bank details to your bank then they wire transfer the amount for you costs about 25 pounds.

talk to the RAC......
 

we use the RAC and have never had any problems - after being 4 and half years on the road. We valued our motorbikes ourselves and this valutation was not queried by them.

we deal with the ever helpful and friendly Paul Gowen at the Carnet dept at the RAC.

make sure that you have a chat with him before making any final decision.

We found that it was essental and a great time saver to have a carnet whilst travelling through Africa. By having one you are less likely to be asked for all sorts of additional 'payments and costs' at the borders. The border officials are also becoming more used to seeing them these days and therefore accept them more willingly than previously.

hope that your trip goes well.
Lisa

My sentiments exactly I am lucky enough to work (for the time being) just accross the road from the RAC building in Bristol and met Paul Gowen yesterday, he is extremeley helpfull, freindly chap :thumbup1: and when it is all explained you do get a great deal of your money back on return of a completed document. I think after speaking with Paul you would change your mind and go with the RAC as with my experience they pull all the stops when required to ensure your paperwork is ready when you need it. Personaly I think it is a first class service.

Best of luck

Steve

I recently did some rough calcs for an Egypt-return trip (biggest bond in the world - x8 - with RAC, less with ADAC) for under £10k cars, and ADAC and RAC actually worked out similar when I realised RAC refund you a bit.

Met Paul G at the HU rally this year and he said: go with ADAC, I could do with a break! so I doubt letters to keep ADAC happy would be a prob.

Will prob go with RAC to keep it simple.

Chris S

I can't comment on the RAC vs. ADAC question but having used CAA recently, they are very good to deal with. And for some reason, the bond that they request for Egypt is only 55% ("only"), strangely enough there are other countries in Africa that are higher, with a 100% bond required.

Probably mostly irrelevant for Europeans as the CAA applies to primarly North Americans or N.A. bikes.

At the end of the day, deposit is fully refundable so the issue is the ability to come up with the cash.

I've observed the same inconsistancy with teh required bond in various countries being different for different isuing countries .. very strange .... it is as though teh payable duty is variable depending on where things come from?

Hi All,

This makes very interesting reading! We have always thought that our only option was to go through the RAC. The ADAC definately looks much cheaper that the RAC when you look at the level of guarentees required like for like.

What would be good to know is whether the ADAC accepts insurance against the Carnet like the RAC does. If not then the hit to cash flow makes the RAC a better option, if you are squeezed for cash up front like we are!

Does anyone know if they accept insurance from RL Davidson?

Thanks,

Bruce

At the rısk of repeatıng what's already been saıd...
 

I thınk a lot of thıs has already been posted but...

We recently got our 2 carnets wıth ADAC ın Munıch (ın person). They were very frıendly and effıcıent.

Whıle our bıkes are regısterted ın the UK, we are New Zealanders and not resıdent ın the UK. Thıs certaınly made a dıfference ın whether we could get our carnet wıth ADAC - they wıll provıde one to those 'who cannot get one ın theır home country'.

The deposıt was EURO5000 per bıke (normally EURO3000 but we arent resıdents of the UK) and the cost per carnet EURO150.

As we had read advıce to thıs effect, we made sure that we had a EURO denomınated account so that the deposıt could be easıly repaıd when the carnet matures. However, ADAC ınformed us thıs ıs not necessary - they can deposıt ıt back to any account ın the world (you just need to pıckup the fees).

We'd say - ıf you can get ıt ın person, ıts defınıtely a lot easıer.

Hope thıs helps
Gareth and Helen

Still undecided....
 

Thanks to all for your very valid and honest opinions of your experiences with both the RAC and ADAC.

From what I have read and tried to take on-board I'm swaying towards the ADAC purely from a cost point of view as my funds are limited and tied up in having a damn good time whilst away on the road.

The contacts I have spoken to at both clubs were equally friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and a credit to their employers!

Only 55 days to go now til the off....

Ben

ADAC carnet for pretty much anyone
 

Hi Princeofmince,

Your info goes with what I found out from the ADAC in Munich today. I am from Germany and inquired about a carnet today. Cost is 3000 Euros as a deposit, plus 150 Euros for the Carnet itself. (I had told them I was living in the UK and had a UK license plate - no problem)
When I mentioned the horrendous prices in the UK, the friendly ADAC guy said: "that's exactly why people from the UK (and Holland) come to us".

In other words: sounds like anyone can get the cheapo carnet, no matter which residency status / country. Nice :)

Does anyone know if ADAC speak English> I need to call them this afternoon?

3000 euro refundable deposit sounds FANTASTIC and the carnet is 150 euros. I'm assuming thats all the costs.

I don't understand how Chris S can describe them as even mildly comparable to that of the RAC's. Unless i'm missing something.

I used the RAC (and I think HU members get a discount too) I had the whole thing done within 4-5 working days, Paul Gowen is a top man and will help you out where he can - though he is very busy at times.

(Had no experience of the ADAC to compare with though)