• Travel
• Into Africa
• Carnet - Requirements and Pricing

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. 

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 authorised issuer of the FIA Carnet to citizens of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. 

A Carnet is Required for Travel in:

• Africa: 
• Zimbabwe (recommended) 
• Zambia (recommended) 
• Malawi (recommended) 
• Tanzania (recommended) 
• Kenya (compulsory) 
• Uganda (recommended)
• Sudan (recommended) 
• Egypt (compulsory) –deposit  equivalent to 200% value of vehicle required
• West African countries (recommended) 
• Europe (CPD not required) 
• Countries in the Middle East (CPD not required) 
• Syria (compulsory) - deposit  equivalent to 200% value of vehicle required
• South America (CPD not required) 
• Australia and New Zealand (compulsory) - deposit  equivalent to 100% value of vehicle required
• Malaysia - deposit  equivalent to 300% value of vehicle required

If a South African registered vehicle is being shipped or flown out of South Africa on a temporary basis, the Carnet will facilitate customs formalities for both the export and re-importation of the vehicle in South Africa. 

How to Apply for a Carnet de Passage?

Before an application for a Carnet is processed, we will require:

• A fully completed application form:
  CDP Application Form
• Copy of applicants ID or Passport.
• Copy of vehicle registration papers and trailer, if applicable.
• Carnet fee - please refer to Price List below.
• Cash / Bank guarantee.

All application documents to be faxed to +27 (011) 799 1041.

Cash Security / Bank Guarantees

With every Carnet application that is received, a financial guarantee needs to be lodged with AASA. Security may be lodged by either giving a cash or bank guarantee.

Cash Security 

This may be done by EFT, credit card or cash. This cash security is held by AASA in a non-interest bearing account until such time as the used Carnet is returned to AASA head office and is properly discharged.

Our banking details are as follows:

Bank Guarantee

This option is only available to SA citizens. Indemnity form may be downloaded and then completed by the bank.

This will need to be endorsed by a South African Commercial Bank and then original submitted to AA head office. Applicant will need to provide the bank with the value required on indemnity. For value of guarantee, please refer to guarantee guideline below.

For confirmation on guarantee required, please contact:

To determine the guarantee value required, the following will be taken into account:

• Country where vehicle is registered.
• Is 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 guarantee)
• 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 guarantees required by the AASA. This guideline is ONLY applicable to SA citizens or permanent residents travelling with SA registered vehicles.

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 2013

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, Carnet may take a couple of days to be processed. It depends on how many applications we have on hand. If document is required urgently, you will be required to pay the cost of a courier service (unless the Carnet is collected from AA Head Office at Kyalami).

Releasing of Guarantees on Discharged Carnets

When you have returned home from your trip you must courier (to ensure prompt delivery) the Carnet back to AASA head office in order to have the cash guarantee / bank guarantee discharged. 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 recommended 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 guarantee will be carried over to the new Carnet.

• Into Africa
• Cross-Border Information
• Carnet - Requirements and Pricing
• Border Post Hours
• Carnet de Passages
• Comesa Insurance
• Third Party Insurance
• Permanent Importation