Howdy all. I have had a chat with the RAC yesterday re: Carnets. I have been told by Sue (as mentioned by Grant on *Carnets - UK - RAC) that they have their own formulae to work out costs, etc. Also, don't forget the individual cost of the actual Carnet paperwork. It comes in 3 seperate pads and they are:
1, 5 Borders - £25
2, 15 Borders - £80
3, 25 Borders - £90
I believe that you buy the carnets from the RAC Birmingham and the Insurance from RAC Bristol BUT don't quote me on this: I had a long time on the phone and might easily have misunderstood the fine details.
Here it is: in 3 possible pay methods:

1, Bike value x5 (full refund on return) so a £1000 bike would be £5000. . .

2, Insurance - 10% of that, get back 50% of deposit on return: so, give insurance company £500, production of legal carnets on return and you receive £250 (not bad!)

OR

3, Get a bankers promisory draft which will ensure that you will forfeit (BIKE VALUE X5) if you do not return. This is a TIME document so should you be held up anywhere and cannot get back here by the agreed date then you just lost your money...

Normally Carnets are valid for 12 months but can be extended, talk to Sue at RAC (She knows of, and respects, this site. She told me that the RAC use this site regularly to 'keep up' with current trends. She is a very helpful person)

(I think I will use the insurance method for my trip to Thailand next May)

Sue's number to the RAC is on Grants Carnet Page,
Hope this is helpful, Oletimer (George)


[This message has been edited by Oletimer (edited 18 November 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Oletimer (edited 18 November 2003).]