What are the key benefits of using an ATA Carnet to transport your motorsport vehicle?
- ATA Carnets simplify customs procedures and reduce border delays, making travel much more efficient and straightforward
- ATA Carnets help you to avoid paying import tax and duties, making your journey more affordable
- ATA Carnets are valid for up to a year in over 80 countries (see the full list of countries here), and within this period you are able to import and export your vehicles as many times as you need to
ATA Carnet for motorsport
An ATA Carnet is often recommended for use when taking race cars abroad. It is a physical document that you take with your goods when you are temporarily moving them out of the UK and into other countries, and it significantly reduces the difficulties and costs associated with taking cars and bikes.
Business West provides a bespoke ATA Carnet service to support the motorsport industry.
What is an ATA Carnet?
An ATA Carnet is a physical customs document that aids the temporary export of goods from the UK and into other countries that are part of the ATA Carnet scheme (see the full list of countries here). ATA Carnets are often used by motorsport and racing professionals who are taking their cars and bikes abroad, as it allows for tax and duty-free movement through customs.
ATA Carnets are cost-effective
Using an ATA Carnet can be incredibly cost-effective, as it saves you having to pay import duties to overseas customs authorities.
For example, if you use an ATA Carnet to take your car abroad, you are not required to pay import duty.
However, if you do not use an ATA Carnet to take your car abroad, you will need to pay import duty in every country you travel to. The price of import duty varies depending on the country and the goods value. The higher the value of the car, the more duty you will need to pay.
ATA Carnets are time efficient
Without an ATA Carnet, it could take you many hours to pass through overseas customs with your car. This is because you will need to complete full customs declarations, and customs officers may need to inspect your goods and decide whether to allow them into the country or not. Every country has different customs regimes, so the length of time it will take to pass through borders will vary.
Using an ATA Carnet greatly speeds up the process at the border, as all documentation is prepared and ready for customs when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ATA Carnet to transport a car to the EU for motorsport?
Yes, it is recommended that you use an ATA Carnet to take your car to the EU for motorsport.
Do I need an ATA Carnet to take my personal car abroad?
No. If you are taking a personal car overseas and driving it there yourself, then you do not need an ATA Carnet.
ATA Carnets are NOT suitable for the following vehicles:
- Vehicles to be used for transporting goods or people on open roads (e.g. cars for personal/leisure use)
- Public road breakdown vehicles
- Vehicle carriers
- Earth-moving vehicles (i.e. diggers and cranes)
Carnets are also not suitable for vehicles to be displayed at private exhibitions in shops or in personal/business settings with the intention of sale. However, vehicles to be displayed at public trade fairs and exhibitions are allowed to be listed on a Carnet, as long as the Carnet holder provides an exhibitor permit for the specific exhibition event.
If you have any queries about your situation, please contact our team.
Do I need an ATA Carnet if I am transporting a prototype/adapted vehicle?
Unique or adapted vehicles (such as broadcasting cars, exhibition trailers and catering vans) can be listed on a Carnet, as long as foreign customs confirm they will accept the vehicle on an ATA Carnet in advance. In this case, these vehicles can also be driven on public roads.
What do I need to list on my ATA Carnet?
When you apply for your ATA Carnet, you need will need to list everything you are planning to take abroad with you. This includes all cars and motorbikes, as well as all extraneous pit stop equipment, spare tyres, toolkits, and more.
You should not list any disposable or consumable equipment on your Carnet, such as tyres, oil, or disposable fire extinguishers.
Please see our guide to writing a general list for a motorsport Carnet for more info.
If my car is damaged or stolen, what do I need to do?
Everything that is listed on your ATA Carnet must be returned to the UK, if possible.
Therefore, if your car is damaged but still returnable, you should do your best to return it to the UK and explain to Customs what happened.
However, if your car has been destroyed, scrapped or even stolen while you are abroad, you will need to do one of the following things:
- You will need to obtain proof of the scrapping via a certificate or duty-paid receipt, and this will need to reference the ATA Carnet number
- Or, if your car is stolen or destroyed, you will need to obtain a police report, which also needs to reference the ATA Carnet number
It is important to note, however, that even if a police report or scrap certificate is obtained, Customs may still uphold a claim on your vehicle. Additionally, regardless of whether or not your car has been scrapped, you will need to make sure that all extraneous equipment on your list is definitely returned to the UK.
Where do I need to get my ATA Carnet stamped?
If you are travelling through the port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead, you will need to attend an Inland Border Facility (IBF) and have your ATA Carnet checked and stamped before reaching the port.
If you are exiting the UK via any other port or airport, the ATA Carnet can be processed at the border itself.
Apply for an ATA Carnet today
Start creating and submitting your ATA Carnets today. To apply for your carnet, you'll be taken to our easy-to-use export documentation platform, eCert.
ATA Carnet FAQs
Our Carnet team have put together the most frequently asked questions they get asked about Carnets. Why not check them out to see if we can solve your question right now?