I have checked some pricing for a Carnet here in Norway - and with the Norwegian value of a newer BMW 1200 adventure the price for the carnet would end up around €9500 ($12.000 USD). I can't afford to put in all this money for a carnet - or even worse - get charged with 300% of this if the bike get stolen. (Due to heavy taxing a new bike in Norway is normally near double the price than in most other countries)

So let's say that I go from Turkey to the Iranian border and give it a try without a Carnet. If I can't get in to Iran without a carnet it might be an alternative to find a safe route to Azerbadjan and take the ferry over the Caspian sea (Baku - Turkmenbachy)? Anyone done this? Can the neccessary visas be arranged on the borders or do I need Visas to all these countries to make this happen?
Georgia (or Armenia), Azerbadjan.

IF neccessarry I will start the Visa process to the countries this week:
- Russia
- Iran (Picking up in Istanbull during the trip)
- Kazakhstan (Can it be arranged somewhere along the way?)
- Mongolia (Can it be arranged along the way?)
- Uzbekistan (Can it be arranged along the way?)
- Turkmenistan (Can it be arranged along the way?)

That must be the carnet bond you´re referring to. It willl be returned, once the bike is back home, and you have the certificate of location stamped (on the last page of the carnet). And the bond could usually be arranged as a bank guarantee. That will naturally cost something every month, and then you pay a fixed amount for issuing the carnet (I payed something like 200-300 euros).

If you take good care of your bike, the chance to have it stolen in some faraway country is quite small, I think. When there are close to zero big bikes around, it is no use to steal it for spare parts (like they do in Europe, for example)... and the thief also could not ride the stolen bike, because for the same reason, it´d catch so much attention. For night-time, you´re often allowed to keep it in the backyard, or sometimes even in the reception area of the accommodation.

But if you were still unfortunate enough to have your bike stolen in a carnet-country, you´d need to get a police report of the incident, and then you should get the bond released with that. This could be problematic in reality, I think.. or at least it could be a very, very long process. But having to pay 300% of the value – not sure, if I´m buying that. (But luckily I haven´t been in that situation myself, so this is just speculation!!)

Personally I would not base trips of this caliber around the carnet-thing. There´s always some annoying paperwork to deal with, no matter where you go. Besides, carnet is something, that you typically arrange BEFORE you even leave home. So it is a relatively small pain in the proverbial behind, once you are underway.

Pecha72: Thank you cery much for your quick respond. Apreciate it !!!
Carnet bond: Yes, that is correct that this is the size of the bond - which as a private person - has to be paid in advanced. A bank guarantee might be an option I have not thought of. A company will usually get a credit if the rating is well.
30% of the value of the equipment + around 300 Euros + some small fees. All in All for a new big bike - it will completely ruin my travelbudget just for one country (Iran). Guess I will try without it and see how it goes and rather plan an alternative route nearby if I can't get to Iran without an Carnet. As give it a shot and see how it goes Was hoping someone here had experiences with getting into Iran wihtout carnet lately
300%: Just something I read somewhere at the forums. Not first hand information.

I don´t think it should ruin anyones trip budget, if you are able to arrange the bond as a bank guarantee. (There could also be an option to do it like an ´insurance´, but about this I know nothing – I just remember this being discussed here some time ago; I´d advice to ask your AA about those options).

I haven´t calculated the exact figures, but 4 years ago I think I certainly payed less than 1000 euros total (or maybe even less than 500), when I had the carnet, valid for 1 year, to take my bike to Iran, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia & Australia. And this includes everything (all issuing fees, and also all interests & fees associated to the bank guarantee, that I had for it). What your bank will charge you, will naturally depend on many factors, you´ll need to ask them about it. The bond for an almost new Suzuki DL650 was 5000 euros here in Finland, so that was the amount of ´loan´ I had to take.

If money is short, then another thing to seriously consider is getting a cheaper travel bike. Generally less to worry about financially, as bikes will have a tough time on trips like this.... and it could also affect your carnet bond size. People do big trips on many, many kinds of bikes, the big GS´s aren´t the only ones, that are capable.

But first of all (and sorry, if I´ve completely missed this): what is your route plan / where do you want to go to?? That´ll be the key factor, when talking about the carnet.

Pecha72: Apreciate your sharing
It is true that a cheaper bike will set you off with less for the carnet. I am also looking into cheaper bikes. The good thing about a GSA is that it is almost complete and there are not need for many modifications (Time and cost), but it is more expencive to buy and might be a higher risk if it get stolen during your trip - a world wide covering insurance can be difficult as it seems now.

Route is planned something like this, but I guess it will be changed some during the trip. Also in each country there will be some domestic roadtrips to explore highlights. Basically it is only Iran which requires a carnet on this trip and I guess that it might be a good idea to have a backup plan in case I don't get in there with a carnet..
RTW 2012 - Google Maps

I´m sure the GS1200 is one of the best bikes for long-distance touring. But once you´re outside the Green Card-countries, the bike itself will most likely be uninsured. Or maybe some other policy could be found for North America, but can be costly (don´t confuse this with 3rd party insurance, which is a different matter, I´m talking about only the bike itself here). And while I´m not a person who´ll rely on insurance on basically anything, its value could make me a bit nervous. I´d much rather take that risk with a bike, that costs about half, for example. But of course it will be important to go with the bike you are happy to go with. Just remember, if bad luck strikes, you risk losing it completely.

The route you have there on Google maps, I´d probably not bother with the carnet, as there are ways to get around Iran in case that it won´t work out.

(But do note, that Iran is (or at the very least it was, 4 years ago) an absolutely fantastic country to visit. The locals are just amazing. Even it the future doesn´t look very promising, I would want to return there some day. I´m really hoping there will be a non-violent solution to the current crisis).

Our trip, including Iran in (Nov. 2007), here:
MOTO1 - Matkalla

Noticed on your map it stipulates a carnet is essential for Japan. I've read that you can get in on the Sakhalin ferry without one. Want to go next year via Russia on the TSH so whether to get one or not is a big decision!!

Basically i have recently traveld to pakistan from UK and i didnt take a Carnet, but the problem starts from Turkey to Iran border, you need a carnet for iran, so i spent 13 hours on iran border i met lots of agents selling me carnets on the border for 1000euros, i finally haggled one agent down to 650euros and i went straight thru trouble free, Carnet is very important otherwise you will have the world of trouble which will ruin your mood to continue the trip, now theirs a way around it, if anyone can get a hold of hungarian or polish carnets dummys ofcourse you got your self a ticket to heaven, i met three european guys at the border of iran they had ''FAKE'' Carnets and they swimmed thru with no hassle unfortunatly i lost their contact numbers as i lost my phones in pakistan, wounder.... hope this helps....

It is my understanding from own experience, and following the forums, that Iran could somehow be possible without carnet (but can be a hassle), for Pakistan it is simply better to get one, and you positively will not get your vehicle to India without carnet.

And think twice, before you fake carnets on this route.. due to security reasons I once had to spend a night at a police station in Pakistan. Right next to my room there was the cell for the detained people, at least 50 of them behind bars in a very small space. I remember thinking I'll do my best, so that I will NOT end up locked in there with that crowd!

Oooops ok why did you get locked up in pakistan??????

As for visas - some countries won't give you a visa if you just turn up at the border and some only require visas from certain nationalities, and occasionally some nationalities can only get the visa by personal application to the embassy in their home country, so there are no rules and you have to check the requirements of each country well before you set off.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

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!

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I don't know if this is helpful, but after hearing lots of horror stories about massive Carnet bond payments I finally went to the Oman Automobile Club to ask specifically what I would need to put down to take my '13 Ducati Multistrada GT through Iran.

The answer was 700 Omani Rials which is around US$1,800. Not a huge burden when you consider the other costs of a serious transcontinental trip and that the bike carries a value here of around US$26,000.

Also, is it possible to get your bond refunded as soon as you leave Iran and send back the Carnet paperwork to the issuer, freeing up the money for the rest of your trip?