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The Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) is a customs document that identifies a traveller's motor vehicle or other valuable equipment or baggage. It is required in order to take a motor vehicle into a significant but diminishing number of countries around the world.
Contents
Usage
The Carnet allows travellers to temporarily import their vehicles, or other items of value such as broadcasting equipment, without having to 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 or item not be re-exported from that country. Persons who temporarily import their vehicles or items into countries where the Carnet is required must agree to obey the laws and regulations of that country and particularly the conditions of temporary importation.
The Carnet contains relevant information about the items or vehicle – make, model, colour, engine capacity, seating capacity, registration number, owner and value.
In order to obtain a carnet, the owner of the items is required to provide a security based on the countries traveled to, age and market value of the items. Generally four types of security are acceptable from motoring organisations:
Motorists can typically obtain a Carnet de Passages en Douane from their national automobile association or touring club. The U.S. and Canada are a notable exception where a private company experienced in ATA Carnets, boomerang carnets, was appointed as the national guaranteeing association for CPDs in 2015. Additionally, the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) recently stopped issuing CPDs. UK residents can apply for CPDs through other guaranteeing associations including those in the EU and US.
Countries where a CPD is required
The map below is based on the Overlanding Associations website, which is daily updated with additional information.
Varying sources differ slightly on exactly which countries require a carnet, however generally the following countries require a carnet for private vehicle entry.
Africa
Required for
Recommended for
Americas
Note that as of 2016 the Carnet is rarely used on the South American continent, in spite of the lingering perceptions suggested by entries here
Required for
Unless Canadian, recommended for
Asia & Middle East
Required for
Recommended for