where I would again need a Carnet .
In the UK , both the AA and RAC , who used to be the defacto source for Carnets , have withdrawn the service . They cite diminishing demand and diminishing return on capital employed . My pre-departure research uncovered that more and more countries are removing the need for a Carnet , preferring deregulation and adhocracy .
So , I went back to the FIA website and followed the link to the Dubai information . I read all the way to the end to find that I must be a Dubai resident to use their service . Ditto India , my next destination .
That just leaves a company called CARS in the UK to turn to : http :// www . carseurope . net / carnet-depassage-en-douanes-cpd /
I am pleased to report that their service is fantastic . With cordial efficiency and a genuine desire to help me out of a tight spot , they completed my application promptly and dispatched my Carnet to get to me as I reached Iran ’ s southern port , just in time for my passage to Dubai .
You can buy either a 5 , 10 or 25 page Carnet depending on the number of countries you intend to visit , or expect to ask you for a Carnet . That ’ s not too expensive . However , the sting in the tail is the deposit . The system requires the value of your vehicle to be deposited in cash , through CARS . Gulp ! If you fail to get the Carnet completed correctly , you risk losing this deposit . Alternatively you can pay an
Insurer to deposit that bond for you . That ’ s the expensive part ! MH
Your country ' s governing body will be able to tell you more . In Australia , it is the Australian Automobile Association ( AAA ), Traverse will run a feature on this in a coming issue .
TRAVERSE 55