Hello,

My husband and I are Australians who want to buy a car in the UK and drive it to Iran through Europe (incl. Eastern Europe), Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan etc. We want to leave ASAP once we have the practicalities sorted.

Our plan is to then drive back to the UK by Christmas and sell the car there (this way we don't have to pay for export etc).

It has been much more difficult than expected finding out about insurance for this, and I was hoping some of the HU readers might be able to help us. Most importantly, we want to have third party liability insurance for the entire trip.

So, our questions are:

(1) Has anyone else done this trip?

(2) Did you buy international insurance? A few insurance companies (including Clements that I read about on another HU thread) have said they will cover us for Europe and Turkey, but not Iran (or the 'Stans' area).

(3) If you did manage to buy international insurance that covered Iran etc, who did you go through and how much did it cost (roughly)?

(4) The other option we are considering is buying insurance for Europe and Turkey, then buying insurance at the border for these other countries (eg Iran). Does anyone know if this is possible, or have you done it? Is it easy enough to do?

(5) Any other tips on sorting out the practicalities for such a trip, especially around insurance, would be very much appreciated.

Please forgive us for not doing it by bike (we'd love to but need a bit more practice before we'd be comfortable riding rather than driving)!

Thanks so much!

Annabelle

Hi. In 2012 I rode a motorbike thru Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey and Georgia. I had to buy Ins at the borders of Albania Kosovo Montenegro and Turkey, all insurance was cheap ( less than 20 euros for one month and Montenegro was only 10 Euros for a month.
Turkey was more expensive at 50 Euros but it lasts for 6 months and you can leave the country and re-enter and still use the time left on it. Georgia do not ask for insurance which is just as well because no Georgian knows how to drive. Don,t know about Az or Armenia. To enter Iran you will need a cdp. At the Turkish Iranian border it's possible to buy a 2 week cdp from this guy : www.overlandtoiran.com don't know how much it is.
Georgia is a fantastic country full of fantastic people, unfailingly helpful generous and er drunk, but you can't have everything. Turkish visas are available at the border for 20 euros ( 6 month multi-entry ) if you need one. Petrol in Turkey is 2 euros a liter, the most expensive in the world I believe but riding thru Istanbul was unforgettable and amazing. Hope this rambling reply helps, Jim

Thanks for you reply Jim, it sounds like you had an amazing journey!

It's great to hear you can buy insurance at the border for Albania, Kosovo Montenegro and Turkey.

I guess the main thing we want to know is if it's worth taking out car insurance before we go for Iran when it's so expensive and difficult (if not impossible).

If we knew we could buy insurance for Iran at the border that would be awesome. It would be much easier than trying to do it from afar. Anyone got info on this?

(1) Has anyone else done this trip?

I have not done this trip

(2) Did you buy international insurance? A few insurance companies (including Clements that I read about on another HU thread) have said they will cover us for Europe and Turkey, but not Iran (or the 'Stans' area).

Most "normal" insurance will give you up to 30 days cover within the EU and you can normally buy a bolt on for more! - WHAT EVER YOU DO ASK BEFORE YOU BUY!

(3) If you did manage to buy international insurance that covered Iran etc, who did you go through and how much did it cost (roughly)?

Insurance for both Turkey and Iran is available at the border, ask the myriad of officials AND DO RESARCH BEFORE YOU GET THERE!

(4) The other option we are considering is buying insurance for Europe and Turkey, then buying insurance at the border for these other countries (eg Iran). Does anyone know if this is possible, or have you done it? Is it easy enough to do?

lots of people on here seem to have done that!

(5) Any other tips on sorting out the practicalities for such a trip, especially around insurance, would be very much appreciated.

VISA's make sure you have all of them before you go and a Carnet de Passages en Douane. sometimes called a Carnet de Passages or just Carnet!

other than that good luck and have a great time!

Thanks so much Brendan for your reply.

You say that insurance for both Turkey and Iran is available at the border, and to do research. I've been trying to find information about this and haven't had any luck. Do you have sites or other HU threads that might be useful?

Yes it's going to be a great trip! Thanks again!

@annabelle

1-If your green card doesnt cover Turkey, you can buy road insurance for turkey at all gates to europe.Turkish touring automobile club offices and some private insurance booths available for this purpose. 24 hours service at gates to greece and bulgaria.no worries.
here is link to turkish automobile club address at gates for insurance policy.
http://www.turing.org.tr/tr/burolar.asp

2-when you are entering iran, some fake officers will welcome you at iran red zone area and ask your passports to do paperwork then at the end they will ask for some commission.

If you do paperwork yourself, booths available to buy insurance.At dogbiscuit gate, its the red building 150 meters down the gate.

All the best.

__________________
Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

Hi Mehmet,

Thanks so much for that, your response was very helpful!

Just three quick questions more:

(1) What is the 'dogbiscuit' gate when you enter Iran?

(2) I read elsewhere that Iran has recently closed its borders to travellers entering by car. I understand that British, Canadian and US travellers now have more trouble and need a guide (but we are Australian so this isn't a problem for us). Have you heard this rumour and do you know if there is any truth to it?

(3) We are planning on arranging our Iranian visa when we get to Turkey. I see you live in Istanbul - do you by any chance know if this is possible to do from Turkey? We'd be going through an agent rather than trying to do it ourselves.

Thanks so much for all your help, I really appreciate it.

:-)

Hi

We did UAE to UK in 2011 and spent a month in Iran and also in Turkey before coming up thro Serbia etc.

Green Card Insc for the whole trip was arranged by Home through AXA in Germany. Excellent. You may have to wait a bit for Maria Alessie to contact you as she travels a bit. From memory it cost about E350 but I would expect that to have increased.

Iran is absolutely fantastic.Fab people,FAB POLICE,fab place. We still have a half plan to return some time.

The border post at Dogubayazit is hassle free(mostly).Don't forget to spent a day or two in Doggie and eat in the small resto's along the main street.Some of the best food in Turkey.

I have also seen mixed reports about entry and guides.My own feeling is that it is not necessary as there is no admin infra to support such a system. I would personally just pitch up at the border and see what happens.If they try and give you a guide say you will decline to come in and see what happens next because they are extremely friendly people,keen on outside contact.

If you do decide not to go in then just take a different route back thro Turkey which will reward you.We completely changed our plan for Turkey due to the Van earthquake and headed North to Trebzond and then along the Black Sea. Stunning!

Do not be put off by hearsay.Just rock up yourself and seen what happens. A great country full of wonderful people and experiences.

Hi Tony,

Thank you very much for your reply. It sounds like you had an amazing trip. Despite the hassle of organising the practical side of the trip, I am so excited to see this part of the world. Iran has been on the top of my travel list for a very long time!

I just called Maria and had a good chat. The thing is we need insurance that covers us in the UK for the entire time we are travelling (even when we are not in the UK) according to a guy we spoke to at the DVLA. He said if we don't have insurance in the UK then our registration is not valid (even though we will be driving straight out of there and will be selling the car ASAP on our return). Maria and a few other insurance companies that we have spoken to say they will cover for everywhere but the UK. This is a pain because it means we'd have to buy both UK insurance PLUS insurance for the other countries we want to visit. Such a pain!

Did you keep your UK insurance while you were out of the country? Were you driving a UK registered car?

Thanks again :-)

Merhaba,

(1) What is the 'dogbiscuit' gate when you enter Iran?

Turkey has 3 bordergates with İran and northern most one is between doğubeyazıt-turkey and maku-iran named gürbulak in turkey bazargan in iran.

Dogbiscuit is the famous nickname for doğubeyazıt discovered by UK.travellers because of the hard pronouncation and wild dogs barking while you are close to the gate.

(2) I read elsewhere that Iran has recently closed its borders to travellers entering by car. I understand that British, Canadian and US travellers now have more trouble and need a guide (but we are Australian so this isn't a problem for us). Have you heard this rumour and do you know if there is any truth to it?

New rule is definitely for USA,GB, and CAN. citizens. No worries.Meet 3-4 friends each month heading asia.The problem is several corruption guys at iran sides while entering.
Motorhomes,(caravans) are prohibited since many years.

(3) We are planning on arranging our Iranian visa when we get to Turkey. I see you live in Istanbul - do you by any chance know if this is possible to do from Turkey? We'd be going through an agent rather than trying to do it ourselves.

In İstanbul no agent for iran visa.you can do all yourself.Visa ref.number is a must..
IF you buy the visa reference number online and mention istanbul as the pick up city, available to get it in İstanbul.Iran consulate is at sultanahmet,very close to st.sophia..

Be there early in the morning with the reference code number as you must finish steps until midday..first you will show it to the doorman and get a piece of paper on which bank detail of the consulate is written.Then you will go downhill about 500 mt to the bank,pay the visa fee, than back to the consulate,enter the application room,fill the form,add copies of the pasport,bankreceipt,1 photo,. thats all for the first day.
Generally you get your passport back after 4-5 working days.

İstanbul cons. is always crowded but you can do the same paperwork faster in trabzon, or erzurum also..No visa needed for turkish citizens so these are not so crowded.

İSTANBUL.
Ankara Cad. No.1, Cağaloğlu, İstanbul
Telefon: (212) 513 82 30
Faks: (212) 511 52 19
iranconsulateist@ircgi.org

ERZURUM
Alparslan Bulvarı, Osman Gazi mah., 201. sok., Eres Yapı Kooperatifi, D Blok, Yıldızkent, Erzurum
Telefon: (442) 315 99 83
Faks: (442) 316 11 82

TRABZON
Taksim Caddesi Kızıltoprak Sokak No: 3, Trabzon
Telefon: (462) 326 76 51
Faks: (462) 326 76 52-53

If you are going to enter georgia first,trabzon is the last seaside turkish city before the bordergate.

If İran first, you will drive through erzurum city..

In georgia noone knows what insurance is and for!!!!
In Armenia, was 15 USD. for 3 months last year.border stuff will describe you the office.Most friendly country after iran..Just be most careful for the speeding trucks on the narrow roads to İran.

All other questions welcome.
wish you happy,safe and lucky trip.

__________________
Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

Hi Mehmet and everyone else who has taken the time to write -- thank you so much for all your help! HU is a truly wonderful resource :-)

We have managed to find an insurance company (Walkabout insurance foud here) who are willing to insure a non-UK resident for a UK registered car (the only one we have been able to find after many, many hours of looking). The coverage for a 4x4 is about 600 euros (not confirmed as we haven't bought the car yet) and covers the EU.

For Turkey and Iran etc we can buy through an international insurance company (Knopf tours have been very helpful), or at the border.

Now we are at the stage of thinking about the Carnet (CDP). The RAC in the UK issues them BUT only if you are 'normally residing in the UK' (we aren't) and say it takes up to four weeks (we don't want to spend this long in the UK).

SO I know Jim in a previous post mentioned that you can buy it at the border but there are some very mixed reports on if it's possible, who to use (e.g. Overlandtoiran - run by Hossein Sheykhlou has gotten bad reviews from veteran HU users here AND Hossein Ravanyar here.

SO what I am now asking is:

(1) Is it possible to get a CDP at the border to Iran?

(2) If you have done this or know it is possible, how did you go about this and /or which service did you use?

(3) How much did it cost?

(4) How long did it take to organise?

(5) Was there issues with where you entered from / left etc?

Thanks again for everyone's help - we will get there in the end!

:-)

Hello
I was 2 times in Iran with my cars. First 2010, last trip 2 months ago.
I have never get CPD in Poland and entered Iran without it.
First time in 2010 I spent 6 hours and paid about 280 EUR for temporary custom documents made by fixers.
It was long time but Iran was wondrful and worth it.
Few months ago I entered Iran from Turkmenistan and also had no CPD.
One Iranian man (known here on HU) did all documents for my cars. It also takes 6 hours and I paid 416 EUR per 1 car.
It is long story and I think to write it here on HU but the man did the documents for 3 days (we were in Iran 11 days) and we had some troubles on border with Azerbaijan. The problem is that you can't read farsi.
Iranian custom officer from azeri border said that we paid too much and it cost 250 USD for 10 days (this is official tarrif).
But as I said above: we don't read and write farsi so there are many people who cheat us with the documents and our money.
In december I will go to Iran for my next trip and now I think about CPD.
It will be faster althought I will have to pay much money for deposit in Poland.
Another idea is enter Iran on not so popular border crossing, I strongly think to eneter from Azerbaijan but it is impossible in winter.
The fact is that is possible to enter Iran without CPD.

Bartosz
[B][url=http://www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl]Wyprawy 4