Carnet advice

[Renaultsport133]

As people are getting across now for foreign track days, what are your experiences with customs ?

Are you using a carnet ?

If NOT are you getting through ok with your car (road registered) on a trailer and a few spares ok ?

Real life experiences please, as in theory, you wouldn't cross with a few secondhand wheels and tyres/ jack/second hand spares with a view to selling them although possibly technically you should have a carnet.

[carl911rugby]

I trailered my track car to the ring in June. I had the usual spare wheels, tools and parts.
It’s road registered, so I didn’t bother with a Carnet, I just took all of my paperwork and accommodation booking.
I wasn’t stopped, or asked about it so.
I’ve done the tunnel a few times this year, and they appear very busy, I’m sure there are bad stories mind, there was another thread in this section not that long ago.

[Renaultsport133]

Thanks for your reply, i did have a look but maybe I missed it.

[carl911rugby]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Steve H]

Twice this year so far with fully liveried cars on an open trailer. Number plates were fitted and I had some paperwork but had no questions asked at the tunnel either direction.

[NIgt3]

6 times over, trailered car, road registered Never been a problem, and going by the rules it shouldn’t be!!

[Renaultsport133]

Someone i know went through tunnel no problem, open trailer, tyre rack , spares and tools but then went again 3 weeks later via ferry (Dover) and was threatened with a fine of 2500 eu. I am not clear on what justification that was but he was told to get a carnet next time.

[Wh00sher]

I decided the risk wasn't worth it to me after problems at Hull in April so I have a Carnet for all my spares.

Crossed via the tunnel last month, didn't need it but had it stamped anyway. Made the journey stress free anyway.

I'm across from Hull again in September.

It adds a bit of time to the journey, but for me the lack of worry about being turned around and missing the trip offsets it.

[anonymous-user]

I went across in July, fully enclosed Race Transporter with spares and tools. Car is registered, taxed and insured so I brought documents with me in case, but they didn't bat an eyelid (Eurotunnel). One guy actually thought the RT6 trailer was a caravan! This was on a very early crossing (5.20am).

Anecdotally I heard of someone doing the same with an unenclosed trailer later the same day who were pulled to one side and given the shakedown by the French, and told off but apparently not fined for not having a carnet (despite not needing one according to the rules).

At the moment I still think it's luck of the draw, but I'm hearing more positive stories than negative ones.

[Renaultsport133]

I spoke to someone saying that a lot of the rally boys are getting stopped but let off with a warning . Has anybody ever been actually fined or prevented from ceossing ?

[iguana]

From Pistonheads

[iguana]

From a Facebook group

[NIgt3]

Strange, because going by the offical rules, if your car is taxed, insured, mot’d and you have v5 for it, it’s meant to be able to go and come back without a Carnet. Surely if it has all those things you can just take it off the trailer, pay for another ticket and drive it over?

[Steve H]

There seems to have been quite a few reports of people getting pulled after they have left the tunnel or port rather than at the crossing.

Am I the only one finding that odd?