After riding down from Ireland to southern Italy I'm considering taking a ferry over to Montenegro to ride up to Romania before heading back towards Ireland.

The only issue is that I've read in some places that I need to show the original vehicle registration document to bring the bike into Montenegro. As I wasn't planning to take this route when I left home and it's not something that should normally be carried, my registration certificate is back in Ireland.

So, do I really need this certificate or is there another document that will satisfy the officials that I own the bike? If I do need the certificate, will a picture or a photocopy suffice? Any info appreciated before I book the ferry. Thanks in advance!

Does your insurance cover you for Montenegro? If not you will be required to take some out at the border which you will probably need the registation document for.

I am not entirely certain of the legal situation but have always travelled with the belief that outside of your own country carrying the reg document was a requirement.

And I've always believed that registration must be carried whether inside or outside your own country. I don't know whether that's true or not, but it's been working for me for a lot of decades (so far).

I usually offer a photocopy first--I laminate or paint them with map sealer. It's a given that no matter how many times I get away with a photocopy , sooner or later I get called on it and have to produce the original. This might happen at a border crossing (Ukraine, Honduras, and Guyana as best as I remember), a traffic stop, or a shake-down-the-tourist barricade. Why chance it?

Mark

You don't need to carry one in the UK if travelling with a UK registered vehicle, the police already know whether you have a licence, insurance, MOT test or road tax before they stop you although they do like you to carry your licence to prove who you are, I don't think that is a legal requirement either.

Really? You're not required to carry your driver's license?

If, as it appears, they already know who you are and everything relevant about you, that feels damned creepy to me. How could they possibly know whether you have a license unless they also know who you are?

I'm having trouble keeping up.

Mark

You are not required to carry any documentation. They know who you 'should be' from scanning the vehicle license plate before they got out of their own car. Assuming that the vehicle has not been reported stolen then if you can't satisfy them that you are who you say you are then you can be compelled to show your documents at a local police station within 7 days.

Back in the day we were always getting 'producers' to show our license and insurance at the local station.

The UK is littered with ANPR cameras, that is automatic numberplate recognition cameras and a lot of police cars have them as well. They will flag up if there is anything wrong with the paperwork of the vehicle or registered keeper, such as an arrest warrant issued.
If you get stopped they will already know if there is a problem and I believe will have the driving licence photo of the registered keeper, they don't really like it if you don't carry your licence and if you are not the registered keeper be prepared for a few more questions about who you are.
Generally you will not be stopped for a document check if everything is in order as they will already know it is.
Big brother is here, yes it is creepy.

Normally in Ireland it's recommended to not carry the registration certificate because if the cert gets stolen along with the bike, you have nothing to prove the bike was yours in the first place. I always keep the cert in a safe place at home, away from the bike.

As for insurance, I will have to buy it at the border.

Need to decide and book a ferry soon though and I need to know that I won't be turned away at the border for not having a document.

Interesting details, and a glance into the world of total electronic surveillance--still in the future where I live, but apparently an accomplished fact in many places. Always glad to learn something new.

I did a quick check of rules in my home state of Washington: basically, drivers/riders are required to carry a license, registration, and proof of insurance at all times. There is some uncertainty as to whether an electronic copy of registration is valid (the law allows this, but this might apply only to a state-generated electronic version, which doesn't yet exist--not to an iPhone photo). A copy of a license or registration, therefore, will probably not serve; an insurance card is less critical.

On the original topic, I have definitely been required to show original documents at borders--not always, but on occasion. I've also been required to show original documents at police stops. I've got a vague memory of an overland rider being turned back at a border because they only carried a photocopy, but I can't remember whether I actually saw this or merely heard about it.

I really don't see the downside to carrying originals. Surely if the police know who I am and whether I own the vehicle in question before they flip on their flashing lights, they're capable of knowing whether a stolen bike belongs to me without my proving it by showing a registration document, right? In any case, there are times and places where that photocopy might not get you where you want to go. If you crave certainty, bring it along. And if you're ever headed for my area of the world. definitely bring all originals.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

To MY knowledge, the ONLY places in the WORLD you are not required to carry license, vehicle registration (and insurance documents if insurance required) is UK and Ireland.

EVERYWHERE else it's required, in fact in Canada the vehicle can be impounded on the spot, and you're in for a very fat fine if you don't have them.

Get used to carrying your Documents always!

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

In Australia for an Australian registered vehicle (registered in any state or territory) there is no requirement to carry the vehicle registration nor insurance documents. These days that can be obtained electronicly, highway patrol vehicles can usually bring that up on the spot, together with the owners details.

You are required to carry a licence to drive/ride the vehicle. It is an offence not to, though people are not usually booked for it but required to produce it at a local police station.

For a foreign registered vehicle they may want to see registration documents .. but there is little they can do with it. They may want to see insurance and there is something they can do with that.

Thanks Mark. Definitely no harm in having originals as well as photocopies and I'll be keeping that in mind for future trips, however for this trip as I'm already a long way from home I have to improvise a bit.

I'm going to try get a photocopy of my registration certificate emailed to me for the border crossings. I'm also thinking it's best if I take a ferry to Greece as it's an EU country I won't have any problems bringing the bike there. From there I can try the land borders to travel up to Romania via Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. That way I have a plan B of turning back and going to Romania via Bulgaria, which again doesn't involve leaving the EU so won't have the same border checks, if any. All part of the adventure anyway if there is!

I've travelled through Montenegro a few times and on every occasion I was asked to produce both the registration and insurance documents. If I recall correctly the same applies for Bosnia. Can't remember if they asked for it in Serbia.

In Albania they asked for it at the Sukobin-Muriqan border crossing, but not at the Guci-Vermosh crossing.

It was also required to enter Kosovo to buy insurance.

You could wing it, but chances are you will be asked for it at a number of borders you plan to cross.

Why not have someone DHL the documents over to you?

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Belgium to Nordkapp via Iran | Discover Overland | Destination World

OP, people are suggesting you have the documents sent to you. I don't get why you're resisting this. It's not difficult, and it'll relieve all worries while providing a lot of choices.

You could ferry to Greece, and you'd probably succeed in entering Albania from there--at least in my experience that border was pretty casual. But then what do you do if you can't enter Montenegro? Turn around and try to re-enter Greece, then take the long way around? What if Greece wants to see original documents, since you'll then be entering the EU from a non-EU state, Albania?

Unless you thrive on uncertainty---a.k.a. anxiety, which some people like for the steady stream of cortisol and adrenaline it provides--there's nothing to be gained and a lot to lose here.

I'm off my soapbox and out of the discussion now. Good luck!

Mark

I'm not resisting this, just hadn't thought of it! Also I don't have much faith in postal services. Using DHL is a good idea so going to look into that now. I have a place to stay in Bari so I can hang out there until everything is in order.

As for living on anxiety, I've considered all the worst case scenarios that I can imagine and they're not all that bad.

Anyway, going to look into DHL now and try organise someone to have the certificate ready. It'll be my first time in this part of Europe so I'm feeling pretty excited for it. Thanks for all the info!