Thank you for your emails regarding the RAC Carnet Scheme, I’m sorry for the delay in my response. I have now looked into the queries you have raised and would like to confirm the following



You are correct that in 2013 as part of an overall review of the Carnet scheme we removed the option to secure carnets via cash deposit and bank guarantees. This was for commercial reasons as the time taken in processing carnets and claims that were secured by this method and the relatively small numbers of individuals who chose to take up those options made these options financially unviable for us.



The Carnet scheme is operated under an international Customs Convention and operated by the FIA. In participating in the Carnet scheme, RAC is bound by the terms of that convention and the rules of the FIA. All clubs have recently been reminded by the FIA that the letters of non-objection should only be issued in exceptional circumstances and we therefore have no option to comply with this. I have checked with the team and there have are no other circumstances, apart from international rally, when we would consider issuing a letter on non-objection.



In operating the Carnet scheme we are essentially performing a public function of general economic interest and are therefore not carrying out a commercial activity that would fall under EU competition rules – issuing clubs do not compete against each other in an economic market for the issuing of carnets in the same way that individual EU Member State government entities do not compete against each other for the issuing of passports to their citizens. You mention RAC holding a monopoly on carnets. We are the only organisation that issues carnets in the UK, however, it is up to the FIA to appoint other issuing authorities and prior to their withdrawal from the scheme the AA were also providers of Carnets.



I hope this answers your questions but please get in touch if we can help further.


Kind regards


Louise Campbell
Customer Care Officer