What is a Carnet?
The Carnet can be thought of as a “passport” for your car. It offers a guarantee to a foreign government that the vehicle identified in the Carnet, if granted temporary importation status, will be removed from the country within the time limit imposed by the respective jurisdiction. In the event that the vehicle is not removed within the imposed time frame, the country may claim from AASA all duties and taxes that would be required to permanently import the vehicle to that country. The carnet holder would be ultimately liable for these payments.
Advantages of Using the Carnet
- Using the Carnet is an alternative to leaving a cash security deposit with a foreign government.
- It facilitates entry formalities at border posts and port of entries. Most countries, but not all, allow this option.
- The Carnet eliminates the need for national temporary importation documents.
The Carnet is valid for a maximum period of one year from the date of issue. The Carnet is available to AASA Members and non-Members residing in South Africa and to applicants who have a car registered in South Africa. Non SA citizens / permanent residents wishing to apply for a Carnet for a vehicle registered outside South Africa must apply through their club in country of residence.
AASA is the only authorized issuer of the FIA Carnet to citizens of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.
How to Apply for a Carnet de Passage?
The following documents will be required in order for a Carnet to be processed:
- A fully completed CPD application form:
- A trailer or caravan will require its own carnet plus deposit
- Copy of applicant’s ID or Passport.
- Copy of applicant’s driver’s license
- Copy of vehicle registration papers and trailer, if applicable.
- Carnet fee – please refer to Price List below.
- Cash deposit
All application documents to be emailed to Bokang – bseroka@aasa.co.za and carnets@aasa.co.za
Cash Deposit
With every Carnet application that is received, a cash deposit needs to be lodged with AASA. Deposits are lodged by EFT or credit card payment. Please note that the cash deposit is held in a non-interest bearing account until such time as the used Carnet is returned to AASA Head Office and the Certificate of Location (the last page inside the carnet booklet) is stamped by either SA police or SA customs on return from the trip
Below are our banking details for Carnet payments:
| Bank Name: | First National Bank |
| Account Name: | AA of South Africa |
| Account Number: | 6248 560 8031 |
| Branch Name: | Corporate Account Services |
| Branch Code: | 250655 |
| Reference: | Please use Surname as reference |
| Swift Code: | FIRNZAJJ |
To determine the deposit amount required, the following will be taken into account:
- Country where vehicle is registered.
- Is the applicant a SA citizen or permanent resident? (Non-SA citizens or permanent residents will automatically be required to lodge a 100% value of the vehicle as a deposit)
- Countries the applicant intends visiting.
- Current value of vehicle.
- Duration of trip.
- Will the vehicle be returning to country of registration?
Below is a guideline on deposits required by the AASA. This guideline is ONLY applicable to SA citizens or permanent residents travelling with SA registered vehicles.
| Destination | CPD Requirement | Guarantee Required |
Please note the following:
AASA issues Carnets to vehicles registered in Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. This guideline is applicable to citizens/permanent residents in these countries. |
||
| Africa | ||
| Botswana | Not required | |
| Namibia | Not required | |
| Lesotho | Not required | |
| Swaziland | Not required | |
| Mozambique | Not required | |
| Angola | Not required | |
| Zimbabwe | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Zambia | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Malawi | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| DRC | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Tanzania | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Kenya | Compulsory | R10,000 Minimum |
| Uganda | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Rwanda | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Burundi | Recommended | R2000 – up to 6 months’ validity R10,000 -6 to 12 months’ validity |
| Ethiopia | Recommended | R40,000 Minimum deposit |
| Sudan | Recommended | 10% value of vehicle (minimum R20,000) |
| Egypt | Compulsory | 200% value of the vehicle |
| West African Countries | Recommended | 10% value of vehicle (minimum R40,000) |
| Oceania | ||
| Australia | Compulsory | 100% value of the vehicle |
| New Zealand | Compulsory | 100% value of the vehicle |
| America | ||
| North America | Not required | |
| South America | Recommended | 10% value of vehicle (minimum R40,000) |
| Europe | ||
| All Countries in Europe | Not required | |
| Turkey | Not required | |
| UK | Not required | |
| Asia & Middle East | ||
| Bangladesh | No longer recognises CPD | |
| Iran | AA does not validate CPD for Iran | |
| Iraq | AA does not validate CPD for Iraq | |
| Syria | Compulsory | 200% |
| India | Recommended | 200% |
| Jordan | Not required | |
| Pakistan | Recommended | 200% |
| Sri Lanka | AA does not validate CPD for Sri Lanka | |
| UAE | 200% | |
| Singapore | Compulsory | 200% |
| Thailand | AA does not validate CPD for Thailand | |
Carnet Fees
In order to determine number of pages required, you will need to calculate how many countries you will be travelling through. You will use one (1) page per country you enter (don’t forget to include countries on return trip).
Carnet documents may be purchased as a 5-page, 10-page or 25-page booklet.
Price List 2020
| Validity period | Total (R) incl. VAT |
| 5 page – 3 months | R 3,900.00 |
| 5 page – 6 months | R 4,110.00 |
| 5 page – 12 months | R 4,330.00 |
| 10 page – 3 months | R 4,220.00 |
| 10 page – 6 months | R 4,450.00 |
| 10 page – 12 months | R 4,800.00 |
| 25 page – 1 year (one fee) | R 5,370.00 |
| Courier Fees (within SA) | R 200.00 |
| Substitutions | R 850.00 |
| Letter of Grace | R 650.00 |
Processing Turnaround Time
One should apply for the CPD 1 month to 2 weeks prior to departure date. Once we in possession of all necessary documents, it takes between 2 – 5 working days to process.
Releasing of Deposits held on Carnets
Once you have returned home from your trip you need to courier (to ensure prompt delivery) the Carnet back to AASA head office in order to have the cash deposit refunded. A properly discharged Carnet should have an entry and exit stamp for every foreign country visited on the stub of each page used. The Certificate of Location on the last page inside the Carnet should be endorsed by SA Customs on entry, confirming the final destination of the vehicle. It is proof to AASA that the vehicle is back in South Africa. It may also be stamped at your nearest police station.
It is compulsory that the Certificate of Location ALWAYS be completed following visits to Egypt, India, Pakistan and Turkey, so as to constitute proof of re-exportation in case of need.
Extending your Trip
If you plan to extend your trip beyond the expiry date on the Carnet, you may contact us by email or telephonically and request a “substitution”. A fee will be charged on the new Carnet and your cash deposit will be carried over to the new Carnet.
