Hallo

I am planning entering Russia in august on my motorcycle. I am a danish citizen, but will be travelling on a motorcycle which will be registred by a german company. I have a authorization from the german company confirming I legally can drive the bike.

Is this enough or shall I expect problems at the border when it's not my name on the registration document?

Thanks for your help!

You will need both the original Registration Document and a Letter of Authorisation from the Registered Owner listed on the Registration.

The Letter should name you as having permission to use the vehicle and take it to Russia.

It will probably take slightly longer crossing borders and at Road Police checks as they have another document to look at and cross check, but it should not be a problem.

Obviously, the Letter of Authority is best if it is in Russian (as well as other languages). PM me the details if you want it translated into Russian + Cyrillic type.

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What Tony says, but i think you'll be taking a real risk if you don't have the document translated into Russian, notarized, and apostillled. Also, the letter should be very broad, and include the ability to cross borders, sign all related documents, etc. I would have a couple of copies, just in case you lose one, etc.

Even with perfect paperwork, you can't be 100% sure that some border official wont' create problems, but you should be OK if the document is in Russian and apostilled.

Thanks very much for spending your time on answering my question. I really apreciate your help.
I will try to get my authorization document translated to russian and get it apostilled. Hopefully it will be accepted in Kazanstan and the other Stans as well.

Another challenge before departure.......

On that note, how do I get around this issue with the V5 for my new bike. The owner "kindly" let me have the signed V5 which is supposed to be sent to the DVLA and it has my details filled out on the form and signed by the previous owner. The DVLA can take up to a month to turn-around V5's with my details on. What should I do? Let me rephrase that because I know what I NEED to do, but what can I do to make sure that I can get into Russia in a couple of weeks time?

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

With DVLA there is a big difference between the Owner of a vehicle and the Registered Keeper - or even the User. They are not in the slightest bit concerned with an Owner or a User. They always look to the RK and impose their own (unreasonable) penalties on him for any transgression - including when it was really their own mistakes or their losing documents!

If the previous RK (not necessarily the Owner) has filled in the V5 as if transferring the 'RK-ship' to you you should get it to DVLA fast otherwise escalating penalties could start piling up when they think a possible transfer may have taken place. Subject to my final lines below.

To get an idea of what a terrible, inefficient, avaricious and unaccountable organisation the DVLA seems to be, read a few cases here - DVLA

Now to you and Russia.
All the RUS people are interested in is the first page of the V5 shopwing the vehicle details, numbers etc and the name of the RK that they can cross reference to your other documents.

But they are expecting to see you listed and cross reference to your other documents. The person is unaware DVLA is not in the slightest bit interested in the Owner or User!
My V5 pages separated long ago and I have only produced the main page on numberous border crossings. I would suggest removing the entire second page for the purposes of your trip and get a suitabily worded Letter of Authorisation in English and Russian.

As Motoreiter suggested, try and get the lettter Apostilised (Legalised) or witnessed/authenticated by a Solicitor - if not, remember Russian Authorities love to see rubber stamps applied everywhere. Maybe your local pub has rubber stamps!!

That still leaves the alterations to your friend's (the RK) V5 and DVLA.
Maybe it can at some time it all can be returned to them to be exchanged for a clean one, having crossed out the change and saying the transfer never took place.
I bet they charge for it though!

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What do they think of photocopies of V5s (where strangely all the information matches up exactly)?

This is an annoying situation that the DVLA would have not the slightest sympathy with. I can't see how I can avoid sending of the V5 tomorrow because I'm going to tax it tomorrow with the V5C/2 new keeper details. I will then have to get my GF to send it out to me. Otherwise this bike isn't even going to make it out of the country!

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

I'll also have a carnet with me - a great example of a doc with stamps that can be cross-referenced to their hearts' content...

__________________
Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

RUS vehicle documents are 'officially' laminated before issue.
So I once tested the system by presenting a laminated high quality colour photocopy once (EST/RUS at Narva/Ivangorod) and was immediatly asked for the original.

Maybe just photocopying them (and have the genuine owners as back up). But they are quite smart at spotting anything but the proper thing - exact colours, paper texture etc. They see enough to know what it should be.

And you will have already ridden about 1,300 miles to test it out.

Dunno...

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Why cant the RK tax it if you need tax? Even doing it online, as the automatic Insurance data base presumably only comfirms the vehicle number not the name of the insured rider - if anyone checks.

That taxes it - but you don't need tax once outside the UK. (I have quoted the legislation on other threads here). But then DVLA's 'Catch 22' comes into play - SORN. You can only SORN a vehicle if it is in the UK, but off roads maintained at public cost. There seems to be a way round that, that appears to be working, the end of my post No.89 on this long thread- http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...g-term-39472-6

You should have the Registratiion Document with you at all times all across EU Europe. But I have never been asked for one while travelling there. Sods Law opportunity?

Much depends on your route and schedule - and how long DVLA actually take issuing a new one. DHL or similar will get it anywhere within a few hours.

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Ed, there may be a better option.

I have entered and left Russia a total of about 14 times in the last 2 years, with my motorcycle, and never once have I shown them my V5. How is this possible? Because I always show them my ICMV ... (International Certificate for Motor Vehicles .... Geneva Convention of 1929 I believe). Its a tatty old yellowy document that is already translated into several languages, including Russian)

Get an ICMV and you dont even need your V5 (technically you do, but I never needed to use the original. In fact I never even carried the original. I always carried a laminated photocopy of the front page (front and back) which was stashed very very deep in my luggage and never had to come out. Paul Gowen at RAC should be able to do one up in your name ASAP if you explain the circumstances, and have it despatched to you or your mrs, who can then fwd it on.

If it were me, I would get Paul to do up 2 or 3 of them for you (you can get more than one ICMV). Contact him first thing tomorrow. He may be able to do same day turnaround on it if you beg nicely. You wont get that service and speed at the DVLA. Just hope he isnt on a 11 day break right now

PS. what did you buy?

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contact details (I assume you have them from your carnet experience), but if not ... 01454208304 or 08000 468 375 or e-mail Paul at pkgowen( aatt) rac (doot)co(dott)uk

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That could well be the way forward. At least then I can carry on with the trip, not having to wait for the docs to catch me up, and if I run into a problem I can try the IMVC, if I hit a brick wall I will just have to wait but at least I'll have some more options.

I want an XC but I wanted to get on the road more...
Thanks for your help going through the options, Dude.
I found a 2006 DRZ with 700miles for £2k and a mate (who shall remain nameless in case he gets a better offer) is lending me all the bits I need so I've already got K60 tyres, 28ltr tank, corbin seat, bashplate, SKF bearings, electrics, hi bars and it's possible that I will be on the road this week....

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

I don't know what a V5 is, but it sounds like Tony P and Colebatch are all over it.

For US riders, I have entered Russia many times using my title, rather than registration. This works fine: while they always ask why the license plate number is not on it, are are satisfied by the response that "that's just how they do it in Washngton." Also, I usually use a color photocopy on thick paper, although at least once a guy at the Ukrainian border spent about twenty minutes looking at it under some kind of infrared lamp or something, I guess looking for watermarks, etc. He was rather suspicious, but let me through. I always bring my original as well, but don't like to use it.

When you plan on using documents translated into Russian, I highly recommend getting them apostilled, rather than just notarized--the point is that the Russians have no idea what a British notarization looks like--it could just as well be from the local pub, as Tony says--and the apostille is an international certification that yes, this document has been properly notarized in the country where it originated. You might be able to get by with just a signed Russian version with a couple of random stamps on it, but I wouldn't want to take the chance. Even if someone you know has done it, the guy at the next border post might have different ideas.

It looks like this:

V5 C UK VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT CERTIFICATE

(Although they're now RED not LightBlue. Not to be too cynical but this format has changed before and I seem to remember that the DVLA agency managed to lose a massive batch of BLANK V5 forms which were then used by criminals to sell stolen cars more easily. Maybe someone left the printing room door open again )

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk