Carnet de Passages: A UK Guide for Overland Vehicle Travel

A Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) is an international customs document that allows a vehicle to be temporarily imported into a foreign country without paying that country's usual import duties and taxes, on the understanding that the vehicle will be re-exported within a set period. It functions similarly to an ATA Carnet used for commercial goods, but is specifically designed for motor vehicles, and it's recognised by customs authorities in a wide range of countries, particularly across the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia.

The carnet essentially acts as a guarantee to the destination country's customs authority that if the vehicle isn't re-exported as declared, the appropriate duty will be paid, which is why it requires a financial security deposit or bond to be lodged before issue. For UK vehicle owners, a carnet is not needed for straightforward permanent import or shipping arrangements — it's specifically relevant to those driving their own vehicle overland through multiple countries and intending to bring it back to the UK afterwards, such as overlanders, expedition drivers, and long-distance touring motorists.

Carnet requirements vary significantly by country and can change over time, so it's essential to check current requirements for every country on your route before departure, not just your final destination. Broadly, many countries across the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia require a carnet for temporary vehicle import, while most of Europe (within the EU and associated agreements) and North America generally do not require one for temporary tourist visits.

For UK drivers planning overland trips — for example, driving from the UK through Europe and onward into Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, or across parts of Africa — a carnet is often required for the non-European legs of the journey. Route planning should include checking each country's specific requirement well in advance, since carnet issuance itself can take time and needs to be arranged before departure, not en route.

In the UK, Carnets de Passages are issued by the RAC (Royal Automobile Club), which is the UK's authorised issuing body under the international carnet system administered globally by federations affiliated with the FIA and FIA-recognised motoring organisations. Applicants need to provide vehicle details, proof of ownership, and lodge a security deposit or indemnity — typically as a percentage of the vehicle's value multiplied by the highest import duty rate among the countries on the intended route, since the deposit needs to cover the worst-case duty liability.

Because the deposit is calculated against the highest-duty country on your route, even a single high-duty destination can significantly increase the security required for the entire trip, so it's worth planning your route carefully and confirming rates in advance. Processing times can take several weeks, so applications should be lodged well ahead of a planned departure date, and it's worth budgeting for the deposit to be tied up for the duration of the trip until the carnet is discharged on your return.

Once issued, the carnet must be presented and stamped by customs officials at every border crossing on your route, both on entry and exit from each country requiring it. It's essential to ensure the carnet is correctly stamped at every crossing, since a missing stamp can create serious problems when the carnet needs to be discharged (closed out) on your return to the UK — an incomplete carnet can result in a claim against your deposit even if the vehicle genuinely was re-exported as intended.

On returning to the UK, the carnet must be formally discharged with the RAC, which involves presenting the stamped document showing the vehicle's complete journey and confirming it has been brought back into the UK. Only once discharge is confirmed will your security deposit be released. Given the potential complexity and financial exposure involved, it's worth keeping meticulous records throughout the trip, including photographs of each stamped page, in case any discrepancy needs to be resolved with customs authorities after the fact.