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Carnet de Passage
Frequently asked questions
- What is a carnet ?
- Think of the document as a "passport" for the vehicle. It allow temporary importation of a vehicle, e.g. motorcycle, car, 4x4 into certain countries OUTSIDE Europe, without payment of duties & taxes upon entry. RAC hold a security to cover the risk in the form of either a bank guarantee, insurance indemnity or full cash deposit.
- How much notice does RAC require to produce a carnet ?
- We ask for a minimum of 1 months notice, due to seasonal demand, preparation of quotation & related queries.
- My vehicle is not registered in UK - can RAC still issue a carnet to me ?
- RAC can issue a carnet to a UK, Channel Islands or Irish registered vehicle. For vehicles registered in other EU/overseas countries, application should be made to the national motoring authority of that country. RAC can advise.
- How long is a carnet valid for ?
- A carnet is valid for 12 months from date of issue. Aternatively, it can be validated to start from the earliest anticipated date of arrival in a country requiring the document for temporary importation puposes.
- How do I apply ?
- Complete the RAC carnet application & indicate the method of security ( bank guarantee, insurance or full
cash deposit) & submit to RAC Carnets with copy of your passport & V5 Registration Certificate ( data pages only). If you
wish to arrange the insurance option, please complete the R L Davison Carnet Liability Proposal Form from the website
& return to RAC. Once the amount of bank guarantee has been agreed with RAC, you should contact your bank & submit our
guarantee form from website. Do not send any fees. We will send you a no obligation quotation.
RAC & its insurers, reserve the right to decline carnet issue according to risk & vehicle suitability for the journey to be undertaken. - What is the price of a carnet ?
- 5 page - £185.00, 10 page £190.00, 25 page £195.00. Each page represents an entry & exit from a country. Therefore, for an overland journey across Africa a 25 page document would be required.
- How do I pay my fees ?
- You can pay by cheque or by calling RAC Carnets on 08000 468 375 with a credit or debit card ( AMEX & Diners Card not accepted). Alternatively a transfer can be made into an RAC bank account & details will be supplied on request.
- How do I calculate my risk ?
- Refer to the security table on the Carnet notes or call RAC Carnets on 08000 468 375.
- How do I use the carnet ?
- Each page is divided into three sections; the lower section is removed by Customs on entry into a country; the middle section is removed on exit; the top, counter-foil section, is stamped once on entry and once on exit. A country re-visited during the return journey will require a new page to be stamped. It is vital that the holder gets these endorsements, particularly on exit, as they prove that a vehicle has complied with temporary import conditions and discharge responsibility for any possible future import charges.
- I will be away for the more than 1 year, how do I renew ?
- Depending on your plans, RAC will either issue a new carnet to cover further countries or it may be possible to extend the carnet locally with the assistance of an overseas motoring club. Please call RAC Carnets on 08000 468 375 to discuss your travel plans before departure.
- I am already overseas with my vehicle, how do I get a carnet ?
- Initially, from overseas, you should call RAC Carnets on +44 1603 605154 to discuss your plans. A completed carnet application form + copy of your passport & V5 Registration Certificate should be emailed or faxed to RAC Carnets. A quotation will then be prepared & sent via email. Fees can be paid by credit card or direct into an RAC bank account & carnet dispatched by courier.
- Why do you send documents overseas by courier ?
- Whilst it is accepted this is costly, please bear in mind the carnet is a valuable document. Both RAC & recipient need to track where the document is in the carrier network. If documents were sent by airmail & subsequently lost, we have to re-issue & charge again, involving administration & delay. It is a quick & secure method of delivery. RAC will provide transit time & tracking number to you.
- Can I keep the carnet as a souvenir of my travels ?
- Regretably no, the carnet is the property of the issuing association. Until the carnet is returned, RAC will not release the bank guarantee or 50% of the insurance premium/refundable deposit held as our security. Expired carnets must be returned should a potential query or claim be received from an overseas customs authority/motoring club. If you wish, please take a photocopy before returning to RAC !
- I have completed my travels, how do I get my security held by RAC released ?
- Once you are back in Great Britain with the vehicle or the vehicle is no longer in a country requiring the document, you
should return the carnet by guaranteed post to:
RAC Carnets (Returns), Great Park Road, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 4QN. If overseas, please return your carnet by secure mail or courier & notify RAC Carnets of dispatch via email.
If you arranged the insurance option with R L Davison & Co. Ltd, we will notify the insurer to refund 50% of the premium/insurance premium tax & RAC will refund the deposit. Refunds can be paid by cheque or into a bank account (please supply your bank details when returning carnet - bank name, sort code, account number & account name). Refunds can take up to 21 days to be arranged. If a bank guarantee was arranged, RAC will return the guarantee direct to the bank by guaranteed post & copy letter will be sent to carnet holder for information. The carnet must be returned to RAC within 3 months of the expiry date to ensure release of your security, etc. - My carnet was not stamped on exit from the last country we visited but the vehicle is now back in Great Britain?
- The last page of the carnet is the "Certificate of Location". This page should be completed by HM Revenue & Customs preferably at the port of arrival. This confirms the vehicle is back in UK & will be submitted back to the country as proof the vehicle has been exported should a potential claim for duty/taxes be received by RAC. Contact RAC Carnets on 08000 468 375 for further guidance.
Got a question?
Additional questions
- Where is a Carnet de Passage required? The Carnet de Passage is …
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The Carnet de Passage is required mainly in countries outside Europe. You will probably need one in Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Middle East and South America.
- How much does a Carnet de Passage cost? Prices start from …
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Prices start from £185 plus administration fees, depending on your vehicle type.
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