what is a carnet?
 

happy new year bikers...I am new this site today, and not that ofay with computers, but I have been riding bikes for 40yrs, just done a trip around Northern Thailand..now I want to do a trip from Singapore to Laos, but no nothing of what is needed or to expect..I am reading all the threads here I can, and the word carnet keeps popping up..what the heck is a carnet?? besides being one of those rope nets that wharfies use to load and unload cars from ships holes...why do these things need or dont need to be stamped at asian border crossings?

carnet
 

Maaka

Have a look at the left hand navigation pane under Planning, Paperwork. Here it will explain about a carnet and also give you lots more info.

Marty

Its just a financial gurantee to a government that you will pay any taxes/import duty if you fail to take the bike out of the country.

Generally carnets for tourists are only adminsitered by motoring clubs (commercial carnets are another thing), you just pay them to issue the carnet and then either buy insurance or put up a bond to the value of the carnet. The value of the carnet is based on the maximum amount of tax you would pay in the countries you are visiting - eg Egypt has/had 300% duty on the value of the vehicle.

Egypt try 800%

Depends where you get your Carnet.
My French issued one had NO extra loading for Egypt. That and writing back the value of the bike meant I only had to lodge €2500 with the bank to get one.

Cheers,
John