Automobile and Touring Club

The Carnet de Passage en Douane, or CPD, is the international customs document which covers the temporary admission of motor vehicles. The CPD is still required in numerous countries around the world for the temporary admission of private automobiles, commercial vehicles or other categories of motor vehicles.

The CPD, created in 1911, first entered use in 1913 as a document serving to simplify customs formalities for motoring tourists and travellers.

The CPD is used within the framework of the United Nations Customs Conventions of 1954 and 1956, which cover respectively the temporary importation of private and commerical road vehicles. The CPD also forms part of the 1990 Istanbul Convention, administered by the World Customs Organisation. Under these international conventions, the CPD facilitates the temporary importation of motor vehicles by providing security for the payment of any customs duties and import taxes chargeable should the vehicle not be re-exported

The clubs and associations of the AIT and FIA play a major role in the international application of the CPD system. These associations guarantee and issue.

In countries where the CPD is required for temporary importation, the guaranteeing association must undertake to pay to its customs authorities the import duties and taxes levied by those authorities due to the non re-exportation of a vehicle temporarily imported under cover of the CPD. The relationship between customs administrations and guaranteeing associations is defined in the international conventions (UN and WCO). The relationship between the guaranteeing and issuing associations as well as that between the issuing associations and the carnet holders is set down in the AIT and FIA Guarantee Agreement.

The CPD provides assurance that the vehicle it accompanies is covered by an internationally valid guarantee. The CPD, which is normally valid for one year, may be used during its period of validity in the countires where the document is required or where it may facilitate entry formalities. The period of temporary importation is fixed by the laws or regulations of the countries visited.

The CPD cover shows the name of the holder, the name of the issuing association, the international organisations - the AIT and FIA - under which the network functions, and the validity of the document. The inside front cover bears a description of the vehicle covered under the CPD. The back cover lists the countries where the carnet may be used and the names of the guarantor association in that country. The inside of the back cover includes instructions and information essentially for the holder.

The CPD is printed in English and French and is of standard A4 dimensions. Carnets may have 5 to 25 pages inside, each of which with a detachable importation and exportation voucher and a counterfoil which remains attached to the CPD. A separate page is used for each country entered or re-entered. Each importation and exportation voucher contains the vehicle particulars listed on the inside cover, the full name and address of the carnet holder, the name of the issuing association and the expiry date.

Upon entry of a vehicle, the Customs Officer stamps and signs the importation voucher of the CPD and notes the date and name of the Customs Post. The Customs Officer then enters the date and name of the Customs Post in the space provided on the exportation voucher. The Customs Officer also completes and stamps the left part of the counterfoil. The importation voucher is detached from the CPD and kept of file.

Upon exit of a vehicle, the Customs Officer stamps and signs the exportation voucher of the CPD and notes the date and name of the Customs Post. The Customs Officer completes the right part of the counterfoil, stamps, dates and signs. The exportation voucher is detaches and returned to the customs post of entry, so as to furnish the authorities with the necessary proof of re-exportation.

In the event of a claim from the customs authorities (which must be notified within one year of the expiry of the carnet in accordance with the terms of the international conventions) due to the non-discharge of a CPD, the guarantor association has one year in which to provide proof of re-exportation of the vehicle.

Customs stamps of countries subsequently visited and other documentary evidence may constiture proof of re-exportation, as provided for in the international conventions. Proof of re-exportation may also be provided in the form of the 'Certificate of Location', included as the last page in teh CPD, which may be completed by a customs official, police, judicial or other authoirty of another country. A model of the 'Certificate of Location' is included as an annex to the 1954 and 1956 Conventions of the UN and the 1990 Istanbul Convention of the WCO.

Although the AIT and FIA advocate the temporary admission of motor vehicles free of import prohibtions and restrictions, but subject of course to re-exportation, there are still many countries around the world which prescribe that such vehicles be imported under cover of a guarantee (such as the CPD).

Where the CPD is required, there are distinct advantages for the customs administrations: the CPD eliminates the need for cash deposit and reimbursement formalities as well as national temporary importation documents.

For the tourism industry, the CPD helps to ensure that travellers and their vehicles can cross national borders with greater ease, fewer formalities and without on-the-spot payment of additional fees or guarantees.

1. Each page of the carnet provides for the temporary importation of the vehicle into one of the countries mentioned and not deleted from the back cover. The period of temporary importation is fixed by the laws or regulations of the country visited.

2. On entry, the customs detach and retain the importation voucher, indicate on the exportation voucher the name of the customs office of importation and the number under which the carnet was registered, they must also stamp the counterfoil (importation) with the official stamp of the office indicating the name of the customs office of importation, the date of entry and the signature of the customs official. The holder of the carnet must ensure on the spot that all entries are properly recorded in the document and, if necessary, have it completed or corrected.

3. On exit, the customs detach and retain the exportation voucher, they must stamp the counterfoil (exportation ) with the official stamp of the office, indicating the name of the customs office of exportation, the date of exit and the signature of the customs official. The holder of the carnet must ensure that all exits are properly recorded in the document and, if necessary, have it completed or corrected.

4. The period of validity of the carnet lasts for a maximum of one year. If necessary, a request for the carnet to be extended must be sent to the association in the country visited, or if such an association does not exist, directly to the issuing association, In all circumstances, the holder must ensure that he complies with the conditions of temporary importation.

5. The carnet is the property of the issuing association, and must in all cases be returned to it, duly regularised, at the latest on the date of expiry. It is recommended that the holder should not part with his vehicle ( sale, destruction, etc) before being released from the contractual liabilities which he has incurred with the issuing association.

6. Any change to be made in the carnet, either regard to the holder (name, address, etc) or the vehicle (change of engine, colour, etc) must be previously authorised by the issuing association, or through the association in the country visited. These changes must be approved by the customs in the country visited.

7. The carnet must not be used for any country where the holder is normally resident. The vehicle temporarily imported under cover of a carnet must not be loaned, abandoned, hired, sold or otherwise disposed of without the prior agreement of the customs administration of the country visited and of the issuing association.

8. Prior to expiry of transit period validity issued by customs, it is important to refer to the concerned authorities to assist you and provide guidance for the extension of vehicle transit period validity in a manner that your vehicle would not be subject to violations of traffic laws or customs regulations, and also to avoid any penalties that may be of 100% of the customs duties value and at the same time not to have your vehicle seized by the concerned authorities (traffic - customs ).

9. It should always be remembered that vehicle theft shall not relieve you of customs duties payment and in case if the car is completely destroyed due to accident, you are requested to report such occurrence and immediately notify the club related to us following to the vehicle delivery to customs in order to relieve you and you should complete the necessary procedures with customs in order to enable you to refund your warranty from the issuing club.

10. The vehicle may only be sold, assigned, or used by any other person only after settlement of custom, duties as per regulations in force to this effect. Failure to comply accordingly will hold you legally liable before the concerned authorities (customs - traffic).

11. You have always to remember that Carnet de Passage is solely of the club priority, and should be returned thereto upon its expiry in order to be duly discharged and free of all customs liabilities along with the guarantee receipt, otherwise you will be held liable by the club and customs authorities.

12. In the event of vehicles property transfer to another person, the said Carnet de Passage would no more be deemed valid and should be returned to the club, which will enable us to return your guarantee.

13. pon the loss of your trip ticket, a certificate of customs department should be produced confirming that the vehicle has returned to U.A.E or otherwise a location certificate from traffic department stating that the said Vehicle is actually in the U.A.E.