Carnet De Passage

CARNET DE PASSAGE (CARNET) AFRICA and SOUTH AMERICA

What is a Carnet?

Think of it as the vehicle passport. A Carnet allows travelers to temporarily import a vehicle or motorcycle for a limited period of time without the need for payment of customs duties, sales taxes or leave a cash deposit at the border. It is in essence, an international guarantee for payment of customs duties and taxes to a government should the vehicle not be re-exported from that country.

CARNET DE PASSAGE IN AFRICA

If you are planning to drive your vehicle into most African countries you will need a Carnet. It is an essential and expensive document for anyone driving a vehicle across Africa. In certain African countries, the CPD is not officially required, but is still asked for to facilitate temporary importation of a vehicle.

CARNET DE PASSAGE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

As stated we had heard conflicting information about whether a carnet would be required in Central and South America. We had heard of overlanders being refused entry into certain countries so decided to asked the Canadian Automobile for their advise, here is their answer. Read it and make your own decision.

Dear Janet:

This is what I tell all of my clients who will be traveling through South America.

All of our information states that most of the countries in South America (SA) require the Carnet and we push to issue the documents but then this happens.

We will send you down with a carnet today and you will travel all the way through SA without being asked for it.

We will send your identical twin sister tomorrow and she will not be able to enter one country without it.

We have carnets that are returned to us totally filled with stamps from all the countries and our clients are thanking us for having issued the document.  Then we have totally empty carnets returned to us and our clients are saying it was a waste of time.  This has been happening each year for the last 15 years that I have been issuing these documents.

We think it depends on the guard on the day.

We have had clients go all the way through and then were unable to get out of Peru because they did not have the Carnet.  They were stuck there for 3 weeks until we could get the document to them.

We once had a client stuck in Ecuador for 2 weeks for the same reason.

If I was the one traveling I don’t think I would take the chance of leaving without it.

Regards
Suzanne Danis (Mrs.)
Canadian Automobile Association
International Documentation Specialist
1145 Hunt Club Road
Suite 200
Ottawa ON K1V 0Y3 Canada
Tel: 1 613 247 0117 x 2025
Fax: 1 613 247 0118
e-mail: sdanis@national.caa.ca

We have not taken a Carnet De Passage with us to South America. However we have made arrangements so that if we require one we can easily obtain a Carnet quickly. If we have learnt one thing it is make sure you have all the correct documentation and don’t give any official any reason to give you a hard time.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR A CARNET DE PASSAGE

Motorists can obtain a Carnet de Passages en Douane from their national Automobile Association or touring club.

The following organizations are authorized to issue a Carnet and are able to answer any questions you may have:

North America – Canadian Automobile Association

United Kingdom – RAC

All persons who will be driving the vehicle are required to have their name on the document. It is strongly suggested you include all drivers in case of an emergency and one driver is not available.

Many border officials do not know how to fill in the carnet and will require your assistance and it is important and your responsibility that it is filled in correctly.

Apply for the Carnet as early as possible as it can take months to get.

Update August 2011

We are currently in South America in Peru and as of yet have not met anyone with a Carnet or have we been asked to provide one.