Iran-Turkey-EU-UK Trip
 

Hi Everyone,

I am relatively new to the group and seek your expert advise as you guys might have come across these questions many a times. My Queries are pertaining to 4x4 Overland trip so excuse my post since it's not for Motorcycles, hope this will be ok with the Forum.

While I am researching for over a year and gathered enough some but feel it’s always disparate and incomplete. We are family of 3 (Indian nationals) residing in the UAE planning our multi-country road trip (UAE to Scotland) for about 35 days in summer of 2019, most likely mid-July 2019. We shall be driving a Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 2010 (which will be done about 220,000 kms by then) for the entire trip and shipping it back to the UAE from UK in a container. For ease of understanding and getting your responses right, I am splitting my queries in 4 parts i.e. Iran, Turkey, EU and UK.

1. IRAN – Bandar Abbas-Shiraz-Isfahan-Zanjan-Tabriz-Bazargan ~2400kms
We shall commence our journey from Dubai, UAE (ferry from Sharjah’s Port Khalid) to Bandar Abbas port in Iran by an evening ferry. The ferry leaves at about 9pm arriving Bandar Abbas by approx. 8am.
-Has anyone who has taken their 4x4 via this route? Apart from routine paper work from UAE i.e. police clearance and Carnet for Iran, is there any specific document needed?
-Any idea how much time it takes for such clearance? Will help us plan the journey ahead, although I am factoring 1 full day for this.
-Any contacts at Bandar Abbas who could help us with custom clearance, knowing the way it works, would be ready to hand out a few $$$ for work getting done quickly
-What’s the scene with American vehicles in Iran on temp import? Any restriction/issue/concerns?
-Possibility of getting insurance in Iran or is that a way too much to ask for?
-Fueling options in Iran, I’ve heard about some petrol cards, do they still exist or can we refuel at any gas station as we do in rest of the world?
-Also read Iran roads are usually good and people with great hospitality. Any pointers for guest houses or home stays would be welcome
-any suggestion for route optimisation is also welcomed
-Exit from Iran to Turkey at Bazargan border v/s Serow v/s Kapıköy Border Gate


2. TURKEY ~2100kms
-entry from Iran to Turkey, any pointers/connections to make the passage smooth
--we’d be entering Turkey with on-arrival visa option with our Schengen tourist visa. This info needs to be verified with Turkish embassy in the UAE, will keep posted after verifying
-CPD or green card or insurance in Turkey. I have been informed by Turkish Touring (Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu) about no need for CPD in Turkey, however insurance is must. Any links or advise to get insurance done in advance would be great help
-How about tolls, any way to buy pre-paid toll stickers for non Turkish vehicles or would there be booth with manual payment or ways to dodge them

It's not clear whether US manufactured vehicles are allowed in Iran, even on temporary import. It might be hard to find information on this as few overlanders use them. It's probably best to ask the ADAC (German automobile club) if they have heard of anyone having issues with this.

Thanks. I checked with ATC IRAN seems temporary import of American vehicles in Iran is prohibited until further notice.

Will keep plan be to ship to Turkey Izmir or Antalya.

Hi
Also planning to do a similar trip in July 2019 in a 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero, when I contactacted shipping companies to transport car from Dubai to Turkey, was recently told that can can be more than 3 years old and if you choose Greece tec. Port duties etc. very high. Are you still planning to go through Iran?

What does this mean?