Carne Information

The Carne is basically a “passport” for your motorbike. It is a way of travelling through countries and in a way guaranteeing the payment of import taxes. If we had to do this ourselves, we would need to carry really big wads of cash with us and the temptation for some less fortunate and less ethical characters to knick it would be huge I imagine. So instead, we have to get a carne. In the UK the RAC is able to help with this bit of paper work. You can find the phone number on their website, and speak to Paul Gowen who is really helpful and can you talk you through all the details.

Different countries have different import tax rules and costs. Egypt and India used to be some of the most expensive with 500% value of the bike. However, Egypt is now a whopping 800% the value of the bike. Mother fuckers.

Lets do the math: one BMW valued at £2000 x 800 = £16 000. This is either paid by bank guarantee or by buying insurance that is 10% of 16K. You will get half of that premium back once you successfully bring the bike back or export it. Any way you look at it, it’s a lot of money.

I really want to see the pyramids. And I really want to drive the whole way and avoid too many ferry rides but Egypt is just getting silly expensive to bike through and ripping the tourist trade off. I have heard a plethora of bad stories of corruption and hassling at borders. Tales of having pages torn out of the carne and attempts to fraudulently gain funds. The RAC is on top of this, lucky for us. I have heard Egypt is over rated. I really hope it isn’t! I seriously hope that I am going to go there expecting the worst and end up surprised and delighted by the country and its people.

For the South Africans out there, we need to look at the Home Office website and fill in all the relevant forms for importing a bike. Again, a bit of paper work that won’t hurt to read up on before setting off back home.