Is a Carnet required anywhere in Europe?
 

Hi,

I am begining to plan a bike trip route for a holiday - hopefully next year in Europe. Can anyone confirm if I need a Carnet to visit any Europe countries (including eastern europe), also russia, turkey or Greece? I would ship my Australian registered bike to Europe for the trip. I have read on this site that I will need the Green Card insurance, just need to confirm about the Carnet requirement.

Thanks
Skillo

According to the website www.aitgva.ch/AIT_Site/Public/InterDocs_countries.htm a carnet is required in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Netherlands, and Turkey. It isn't required in Russia.

There is a _ after AIT and Docs in the address above but it's obscured by the underline, which I did not type in and don't know how to get rid of.

===========by Grant, Admin=========
Correct link - don't know where Mike got the above link - is (as noted on the links page)

http://www.aitgva.ch/AIT_Site/Public..._countries.htm

(The underlining is automatic with ALL links, and is part of making the link live)

===========Grant, Admin=========

Hope this helps.

Mike
Idaho

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 24 November 2004).]

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 03 December 2004).]

Hi Skillo

I must step in quickly on this one & correct Mike !!

A carnet is NOT required for temporary import of a motorcycle or car into any European Union (EU)member state or other European country. Also not recognised in Russia.

The information on the AIT website link indicates that a carnet is only required for certain categories of vehicles entering the listed countries. See footnote 4 as directed from the heading "Europe (4)"

For further guidance contact your local AAA constituent state club - RACQ

Regards

------------------
Paul Gowen
Travel Research
RAC UK

Really appreciate the replies, thanks. Just one question & please excuse my ignorance, is Turkey part of the EU? And do they require a Carnet for entry of a motorcycle?

Skillo

Hi liketoride2, I may have found the answer to my Turkey question on website you listed, but the the link didnt work for me, this one I found info on http://www.aitgva.ch/AIT_Site/Public..._countries.htm

I will also do as suggested by RACPG and confirm with the RACQ or AAA.

Thanks again.
Skillo

Paul, thanks for the correction. Sometime back I had printed the webpage sited, but somehow missed printing the footnotes; thus my error. The info you provided will be useful to me when I cross Europe next summer and I am appreciative.

Skillo, sorry the link didn't work. I don't know why it doesn't, unless it needs the http in front of the www. If, after investigting furhter, you find out anything different from what's been posted on this thread, please let us know.

Happy travels.

Mike
Idaho

In 2001 we needed a carnet for Turkey on our Australian registerd bikes but a German friend with a German registered bike did not need his carnet for Turkey.
We did not use the carnets for Greece or Italy or France.
We are on our way there again now , tomorrow will cross into Thailand from Malaysia so stay in touch and we can update you as it happens.

Skillo,

That's a NO to both your Turkey questions. They would like to be in the EU, but it'll be a while yet.

You shouldn't need a carnet. I didn't need it in '89 coming from Iran. I'm very surprised about David & Cheryl's experience. I suspect that if they ask for it and you have it they will stamp it. Normal procedure is nowadays a piece of paper you sign saying you will re-export your bike. They entered something in my passport in '02, but I can't read it. I guess it's a reference to said paper.

------------------
Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

Hi Skillo,
Might as well put another bit of wood on the fire.
Just crossed from Iran to Turkey on non European bikes and there was no way to get the bikes in off carnet. I tried hard as I wanted to leave the bikes there but they new we had a carnet because of Iran. I never say never but there didnt seem to be anyone willing to bend the rules for me. The government is pretty keen on getting into the EU and were sticking to the rules, they said.
You may manage if you prove you dont have a carnet but how to get through Iran tho?
Good luck
Andy

Thankyou all for your replies.

As suggested in an earlier post, I contacted the AAA here in Aus and a very helpful lady by name Peppina sent me some information which I will include a few parts here. The document I was sent is part of something Turkey has supplied to the AIT and contains other useful information about licences and what you must do in event of accidentbreakdown of temporary imported vehicle. I will e-mail this to Grant as he may be able to link it somewhere on this site.

I don't need a carnet for any european coutries, even with a non-european registered bike (you all told me that already!)

Turkey is listed under "Europe" on the Carnet-Form list (not "Asia & Middle East"). I needed to know this because some web info lists a carnet required for Middle East. Turkey recognises the carnet, but only require one for certain categories of vehicles.

Visitors may import a vehicle without Carnet document for up to three months; in the case of visitors entering Turkey more than once a year, the total period of stay must not exceed six months per year: (mopeds & motorcycles are included). Particulars of the vehicle are mentioned on the importer's passport or identity card and the vehicle must be exported by the same person.

Vehicle Insurance - Third party insurance covering personal injury and damage to property is compulsory (minimum amounts of cover are listed). Visiting motorists driving vehicles registered in the following countries may use a valid Green Card when driving in Turkey: (note: most European coutries seem to be listed). The Green Card must cover the whole of Turkey, i.e. both the European part and the Asian part (Anatolia).

Visiting motorists not covered by the paragraph above and not in possession of a foreign insurance policy validated for the whole of Turkey must take out short-term insurance. This may be obtained from the TTOK head office in Istanbul, or the frontier offices at Kapikule, Ipsala and Dereköy, or at the TTOK offices in Ankara and Antalya, or at the ports of Izmir, Mersin or Iskenderun.

Hope this helps some travellers out, but it doesn't explain the problem at the Iran border crossing.

Skillo

Grant and/or moderator of this forum,

The document I refer to in previous post is a MS Word file 6 pages (about 2000 words) that was e-mailed to me. I don't have a link, just the file. How do I get this to you so you can decide if its useful enough to put it on this site? Should I just copy & paste the whole thing somewhere? (nice replies now you here!)

Skillo

In 2001 I needed a carnet to enter in Turkey from Iran with an italian registered motorcycle. It was no problem because we had the carnet in advance, arriving from Iran.

The carnet is not required if you enter in Turkey from Syria or from EU countries, by road or ferry-boat, at least for EU registered bikes.

[This message has been edited by pietro.spera (edited 03 December 2004).]

From Russia to Turkey to Greece last year. None of these countries asked us for a Carnet.

As far as I am aware from the other members of the team who went on through to holland they were not asked once and it is not required.