Expired Carnet in South Africa?
 

My Carnet expires at the end of the month. I am in South Africa. The Carnet was stamped into Namibia. I have my new Carnet that is valid from now.

But life is conspiring against me and and maybe I can't get out of South Africa/Namibia before my carnet expires at the end of the month.

What happens if I get don't leave before it expires? Will somebody make a claim? i could have organised a letter of grace from the SA AA if I had known but think it is too late.

Any ideas? getting hold of Paul at the RAC has been problematic.

I am not sure of the answer to the question, but I recommend that you call the automobile association in South Africa. They will surely know the answer and be able to help. The telphone number is 011 799 1000 or email them at aasa@aasa.co.za

Best of luck.

Hi Roamingyak.

I had a similar problem. in July 2010 I bought a British registered truck that had been in South Africa for a long time. It had overstayed its permission to be in SA by at least 6 months, and the validity of the carnet had expired also.

The RAC issued a new one (just like you have) and that was sufficient to get the truck on a ship in Port Elizabeth back to England. There was no fine or penalty and no problems. The shipping company dealt with everything and there was no problems at all.

But maybe if you leave South Africa overland it might be a problem? I don't know. But I don't see a problem as long as you have a new carnet (which you say you do).

I saw Paul from the RAC at the RGS last weekend. You probably have his contact details, but in case you don't..carnets@rac.co.uk 08000 468 375

Good luck

I can organise a letter of grace from the SA AA, but that is some hassle when I am very busy (well, relative ;-P) and it costs 50 Euros (spoke to Paul thsi morning).

(keeps thinking to himself 'why the f aren't carnets valid for 24 or 36 months!)

So what happens if I cross the SA/Namib and then Namib/Zambia border with an expired carnet - entering Zambia with the new one.

I guess if they don't notice at the border then they could put in a claim afterwards?

Hi RY-
I had a S.African registered LR in Kenya for a year during which the carnet expired. I got myself a new carnet and simply presented the old and the new carnet to customs. It was no problem. I had seen a dutch person do exactly the same in Malawi when they left their truck at the Lake for a year.

I've also done this with an Aus carnet - get the old carnet stamped ''out'' and the new carnet stamped ''in'' at the nearest customs office, send the old carnet back to the issuer and carry on travelling with the new one. Shouldn't be a problem.