Boarder crossing from Nepal with a car, selling in India

Roadtripper

Hello all,

I have recently joined the forum, as in February I will be starting a charity roadtrip to Sri Lanka from the UK via Europe, Russia, Kazakstan, China, Nepal and India, stopping at charities along the way. I would like some information about entry into India with a car (is there a VISA involved? Insurance?) with the possibility to sell it in India before boarding the boat to Sri Lanka. If this would be too difficult, we could also take the car to Sri Lanka.

The car will likely be a Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero or a Toyota Landcruiser. We would be prepared to get rid of the car for next to nothing, as it looks as though (with the ridiculous cost of insuring it for three 19 year old guys, our car budget is getting smaller!) we will be getting it for £2.5k to £3k. However, some kind of return would be nice, although it would probably be too much effort getting it back to the UK in a container and selling it there.

Also, general travelling advice for India would be great - I have heard the roads are a warzone. Average cost for a passable hotel room would also be good (we will be camping most of the time, but a shower once a week would be nice!) and eating advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

wonderwomanusa

There is NO BOAT to Sri Lanka.

You may enter India with a car, but may not sell it. You must have a carnet de pasage for the auto, which you must take with you when you go.

Can vehicles and other items not covered under the Personal Effects be brought into India temporarily and free of duty by Tourists ?
(Carnet and Triptique)

Temporary import of the car and other goods can be done duty free under the ATA Carnet system. "Carnet De Passage En Douane" is an internationally accepted travel document for the purpose of temporary importation of private road vehicles into various countries (including India) by a tourist free of duty. This document is issued by an approved Automobile Association abroad. List of such associations is printed on the Carnet document itself. Each form/booklet bears a distinct serial number and is approved by Alliance International De Tourist. The booklet consists of a number of sheets showing the name of the carnet holder, the particulars of vehicles, engine number, chassis number, registration number, value of the vehicle and validity of the carnet. It is in French Language. Entry and exit particulars of the vehicle are recorded by the customs in various pages of the carnet. There is also a similar document called Triptique - this is given if the car owner intends to visit only one country. Carnet is given if the owner intends to visit a number of different countries.

To procure a carnet, the owner of a vehicle is required to contact the approved Automobile Association (authorised to issue a carnet) in the country he is residing. The Automobile Association on receipt of a requisite fee will issue the Carnet and the necessary documentation & certifications. On arrival in India, the owner of the vehicle is required to contact the Indian Customs at the port and fill up the requisite form. Customs officer will then inspect the vehicle and endorse the carnet and other necessary documents. Along with the particulars of the vehicle, details of journey/route, date of return etc. may have to be provided. The tourist will also be required to declare that he/she will re-export the vehicle after the permitted period. Failure to re-export will be treated as smuggling offence and will attract severe penalty. A show cause / demand notice will be served on the guaranteeing automobile association, who will be asked to pay the duty.

India is a signatory to the international convention on the "Temporary importation of private road vehicles" to facilitate International tourism. As a result, the vehicles as defined in Article 1 of the convention are exempted from payment of customs duty vide Notification No.296 dt.2nd August, 1976 of the Ministry of Finance provided that :

(1) such vehicles or component parts are re-exported within the period specified in the said notification or within such further period as the customs authorities may allow;

(2) the provisions of the said notification or of the "Triptique or Carnet-De-Passage" permit are not contravened in relation to such vehicle or component parts;

failing which the provisions of this order shall apply to such vehicles or component parts and such vehicles or components shall be deemed to be goods the import of which has been prohibited under the Customs Act, 1962.

Conditions: In general the following rules are applicable for duty free temporary import of vehicles (as defined in Article 1 of the Convention) or Fuel or Component parts (as defined in Articles 3 & 4 of the Convention) under Triptique or Carnet -

1. The importer shall :

(a) be a member of an Automobile Club or Association belonging to the Federation of Alliance Internationale De Tourisme;
(b) produce to the proper officer for the purpose of the same being duly signed and stamped by him the Triptique or Carnets de passage-en-douane issued by the Alliance Internationale De Tourisme in the form approved and issued to him by a Club or Association guaranteed by the Federation of Indian Automobile Associations and in respect of which all the rules and conditions relating to Triptique or Carnets de passage-en-douane have been complied with; and
(c) satisfy the proper officer that the vehicles and component parts, which he has imported, correspond in the respects with those described in the Triptique or Carnets de passage-en-douane and for this purpose produce the said vehicles and component parts for examination and record of particulars by such officer.

2. The period of retention of the vehicle in India does not exceed six months:
Provided that where a vehicle imported under Triptique or Carnets de passage-en-douane is exported out of India and is imported within the period of six months from the date of its exportation from India then for the purpose of determining the total period of retention of the vehicle in India after such re-import will be added to the period of its retention in India after first importation:
Provided further that where the Central Government or the Commissioner of Customs is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest to do so. it may extend the period of six months by a further period of six months.

3. Generally subject to the provisions of the convention. http://www.geocities.com/indiancusto...e/tourists.htm

__________________
The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Nick-H

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