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Regarding your details on the website about taking a vehicle overseas, you should note that the Carnet De Passage En Douane is not necessary in many countries, particularly USA/Canada and all EEC countries.

The Carnet is an outdated requirement that is gradually being done away with.

Gary

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 14 December 2009

I have asked the NZAA Carnet officer Alan Chesterman to answer this question as he handles Carnets on a day to day basis.

The use of the Carnet De Passages En Douane (Carnet) for the Temporary Export of a vehicle licensed for the road in its Country of Origin, is still strong in many areas of the world.

They are used between Australia and New Zealand on a regular basis both ways. South America use them through a number of their countries and are requested on arrival and departure. Canada is party to the Geneva Convention and issues, as well as uses, the Document.

Europe has been freeing up its requirements for some time and can be driven through without the need of the Carnet in a number of countries. We have people return having not used the Document, but just as many saying they have.

The main comment being that the Carnet contains all the vehicle's information from the Country of Origin and proof it is still licensed for the road there, and is created by a credible organisation. It can, and has been, accepted by countries not officially party to the Carnet agreement in Geneva.

The comment from the Secretariat in Geneva is one of awareness of the current situation, but also very aware as we are, that a country can change its customs rulings on "The Day" while you are stood at the Boarder waiting to cross with your vehicle.

Many people still request the Carnet document from the New Zealand Automobile Association fully aware of any anomalies.

Thanks for the opportunity to reply - Alan Chesterman

Final comment - I must say it's incredible the journeys many people are currently undertaking and the countries they are visiting or travelling through in motor cars and on motorbikes, particularly Africa and the Middle East.

From my experience there have been more people grateful for having a Carnet than those who believe it was a waste of time. I know the lengths Alan has gone to prove to customs officials a vehicle has entered or departed a particular country.

By supporting these people via the Carnet documentation, the NZAA has been able to help people avoid massive financial penalties and seemingly corrupt practices in some countries.

The Carnet may be outdated in some countries but in others it is treated similar to a human passport and you should not be without it, in our opinion.

When I calculate the time we spend on Carnet documentation versus the income generated, it becomes very clear that this is very much a service we offer more than a huge income or profit stream for the NZAA.

If i take my car to Australia using a carnet for twelve months the decide to stay and want to keep my car the permanently what is the process?

In general, if we know that a vehicle does not come back to New Zealand, we don’t issue a carnet.
Carnets are for temporary importing only, vehicles must be returned to New Zealand.

Carnets are valid for up to one year and in some cases can be extended for another year.
If you are thinking of exporting a car permanently, you should down load an “Application for a Personally Imported Vehicle” from www.infrastructure.gov.au and apply to the correct department in Canberra.

The Australian authorities are not as “open minded” towards privately imported cars as their NZ counter parts. We know of cases where they made near impossible.

If they would let you convert a temporary imported car to a permanent import, the Australian Tax Office would send us an invoice for the import tax. This is the reason why need a bond from the applicant when we issue a carnet.