I am planning a trip from Singapore to Switzerland: current plan is SGP - Malaysia - Thailand - Bangladesh - India - Nepal - India - Pakistan - Iran - Turkey - Bulgaria - Serbia - Hungary - Austria - Switzerland. My bike's registered in Singapore, and I'll be importing it into Switzerland at the end of the trip (and leaving it there).

Unfortunately the AA of Singapore (The Automobile Association of Singapore - Carnet de Passages En Douane) will only issue a Carnet if you bring your bike back at the end; failing to return the bike will lose you the bond. They insist that if I don't want to bring the bike back, I have to export it from Singapore. While I do indeed want to export it from Singapore in the long run so I can import it into Switzerland, I do need a Carnet to get me through the many countries between SGP and Switz. that demand one.

Any ideas how I can get a carnet and export the bike at the same time?

Cheers
G

Generally carnet issuers want to see the carnet stamped in and out of the countries you have visited, not the bike itself. Technically perhaps (I don't know) the bike should be back home, but I don't see why. It is your property.

See if you can find some others who have used a carnet in your country to confirm that the issuer wants the carnet, not a view of the bike.


Talk to the Swiss registration people too - perhaps they will stamp your carnet "out" as part of the registration process; thus satisfying the requirements of your issuer. That is to sat, an in stamp into the EU and an out stamp.

Simon

__________________
Simon Kennedy
Around the world 2000-2004, on a 1993 Honda Transalp

Hi, you need a carnet for the Middle East you don't need one for europe as you can drive through most of the check points unmolested, so as long as the last sheet that is stamped with both in and out stamps then no problems.

Hi,

when we returned to Belgium after a two year Africa trip we could only get our bond back from the Belgian AA if the last page of our carnet was completed by Belgian customs department. On this last page the customs had to declare that the car was back in Belgium. Mind you: the local customs guy stamped and signed the carnet taking my word that the car was back, he never saw it.
Anyway, all this to say that i don't think it's enough if the last country requiring a carnet puts as well in as out stamps.
Greetings,

Koen

Hi....we are also curently planning the same trip from Singapore back to Europe but also via Africa. We do have the same problems with the carnet. Wonder if we can catch up with you some time? cheers, kamil

hi guys,
seems i'm not the only one out there.
please let me know how the carnet issue turned out for you guys, since
i wanna start my trip in april from kathmandu, but dont have the carnet so far....

thanks a lot and good luck!

Phil
Phil Dera Photography

Yes, I too would like to know how best this one-way carnet issue could be resolved. My intention is to ride my New Zealand-registered Transalp from where it is now (in NZ) overland to my home here in the UK - and then keep it here permanently. I guess I’ll then re-register it with the DVLA, which no doubt will involve fees, import duty, VAT etc.

Let us all know how you get on.

Thanks

__________________
Right Way Round ...

dont know about the carnet but to register a foreign bike in britain costs £60. you turn up at dvla office with mot done on chassis number,insurance,log book from country of origine. fill in some forms and pay for road tax. that's it! sometimes they want to see the bike but it's very rare nowadays.

Cool! - thanks ..

That's far more painless than I thought it might be. No VAT then, eh? .. even though the bike would be imported from a foreign country?

KEITH

__________________
Right Way Round ...

Hi

For those HUBBers based in GB that I have met & know me, I receive a large number of emails & cannot always reply immediately. It is not possible for me to always offer a response to relevant HUBB postings, however, I do view on a regular basis & in some instances, I will reply from RAC viewpoint & add comment on issue policy as it applies to all affiliated carnet issuing clubs. It may also assist & guide for future queries !!

I noted this thread & hope the following will be of guidance.

Yes, generally, carnet issuing clubs like to know that the vehicle is returning to the country of origin/registration so that on receipt of carnet (showing evidence of movement through each country of transit) the security can be released.

Where a one way trip may be involved, it is worth contacting the club in the country where you are based for guidance who will then liaise with the club of final destination as to possible issue options. I can think of instances where this has worked, e.g. RAC issued a carnet for a NZ national with a GB registered car returning overland back to NZ.

Generally, carnet issuing clubs are flexible & we do seek/exchange advice & help each other for the benefit of the traveller. Under the terms of our carnet issue contracts, we ("the clubs") usually only provide carnets to those nationals resident in the country of vehicle registration (i.e GB nationals with GB registered vehicles). There are exceptions & as a courtesy the potential "issue" club will email the "country of vehicle registration" club for permission/agreement.

So...
Phil in Kathmandu, contact ADAC. RAC has issued carnets for Nepalese registered bikes being exported, but as per HU information, carnets CANNOT be issued for Indian registered bikes.

Geoff in Singapore : go back to AA of Singapore & discuss with them on what terms the "export" is arranged & how this relates to the physical carnet issue, e.g, would the carnet issued show the existing Singapore plate or a special export number ?

Keith1954, please call me (01454 208304) & we can liaise with AA of NZ.

Regards

Paul

__________________
Paul Gowen
Senior Travel Administrator - RAC Carnets
RAC UK

Thanks Paul. This issue has been on my mind for a while now.

I will, if I may, call you later in the week.

Cheers

KEITH

__________________
Right Way Round ...