[adg_andy]

Hi guys,

It seems that you can now drive your car to Sri Lanka. here is how:

Take your car on the Scotia Prince to Lanka! - Rediff.com Business

[Prithvi]

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[n.devdath]

I took a look at the site and it says that the "drive in drive out" facility would be applicable only "if and when available". So I guess it is not yet started.

[BBR_SHR]

It also says that you need to get Carnet de Passage from AAI and get temporary registration from Sri Lanka.

[xotiq]

Any idea about the total cost involved (ferry+registration+other charges)?

[selfdrive]

Sorry to be a bit basic - but do they drive on the same side of the road as in India?
Do they have a departure/ connection from Mumbai? It would be fun to take the car all around Sri Lanka and return to Chennai and drive back to Pune on the GQ

Edit: We drive on all sides/ directions so the question should be if they keep left or keep right?

[theMAG]

For a moment there, I thought the Ram Sethway had surfaced again! But- interesting news: something I may remember on my next visit to SL.

[BBR_SHR]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

We drive on all sides/ directions so the question should be if they keep left or keep right?

They keep left like us.

Originally Posted by xotiq

Any idea about the total cost involved (ferry+registration+other charges)?

Talking in approx terms: 10K(carnet/AAi membership)+2K(reg)+5K(ferry)

[SushilBajpai]

This is exciting. My request is to post all details - as they become available - on this thread. If I get to know something of value I'll do likewise.

I am already excited about the possible trip. Is any other BHPian interested to join. We'll need some extensive planning. I hope this enthusiasm will last.

[GTO]

The article reads more like an advertorial to me.

Plus, I don't understand why you would want to take your car all the way to Sri Lanka when you can conveniently rent a Corolla for INR 7,000 a week (self drive rental)! Or a double-cab 4x4 for INR 12,000!

[PAVAN KADAM]

Wow... I am willing to buy a Battered Dolphin, drive it into Srilanka and drive out in a spankingly original Mini cooper out from there.

To the Authorities. What saaar..? Same car

[shelleve]

As posted in Times of India - Drive-in, drive-out facility offered on ferry to Sri Lanka - Times Of India

[v-drive]

Originally Posted by GTO

The article reads more like an advertorial to me.

Plus, I don't understand why you would want to take your car all the way to Sri Lanka when you can conveniently rent a Corolla for INR 7,000 a week (self drive rental)! Or a double-cab 4x4 for INR 12,000!

More beneficial for the folks travelling from Sri Lanka than from India. Most of the folks from the north sri lanka come to India to do lots of temple darshan. Works for them if they have a car and hiring in India would not be cheap probably.

Also, if you have your own car, you can start roaming the country from the moment you land. Else you have to get to a base and then hire.

[lucifer1881]

Originally Posted by GTO

...Plus, I don't understand why you would want to take your car all the way to Sri Lanka when you can conveniently rent a Corolla for INR 7,000 a week (self drive rental)! Or a double-cab 4x4 for INR 12,000!

For the same reason many of us prefer to drive to Leh or Goa or Ooty or 'it does not matter where' rather than use public transport to get there and then hire a cab to get around. We love driving. I, for one, would love to take my car to the Andamans on a ferry.

[booboo]

Originally Posted by xotiq

Any idea about the total cost involved (ferry+registration+other charges)?

- check in 4 hrs prior departure
(Tuticorin on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. and arrive in Colombo at 8 a.m.
the next day,Colombo to Tuticorin will sail on Wednesdays and Sundays at
the same timings)

- Two bags per person are allowed on the vessel

- The voyage between Colombo and Tuticorin is expected to take 10-12 hours
- (example super deluxe cabin (2 berths) to colombo : inr 5520
to tuticorin : inr 6153

- Each passenger is allowed free baggage of 100kg and an additional 100kg at
a minimal cost, which turns out cheaper than freight charges
(for fares see link:Tariffs/Deals | Flemingo Liners )

- take a look at the ride your ride will ride on (oops!)
flemingo_web.pdf

- some historic info here
(ref:V. O. Chidambaram Pillai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
V.O.C., drawing inspiration from Ramakrishnananda, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, resorted to Swadeshi work. Following requests by local citizens, he initiated steps to break the monopoly of British shipping in the coastal trade with Ceylon.
On 12 November 1906, V.O.C. formed the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, by purchasing two steamships ‘S.S.Gaelia’ and ‘S.S.Lawoe’, thanks to the assistance and support of Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghose. The ships commenced regular service between Tuticorin and Colombo (Srilanka), against the opposition of the British traders and the Imperial Government. V.O.C. was thus laying the foundation for a comprehensive shipping industry in the country, more than just a commercial venture.
Until then the commerce between Tuticorin and Colombo was a monopoly enjoyed by the British India Steam Navigation Company (BISN). This was later to be merged with P&O Lines and its Tuticorin agents, A.& F. Harvey.
The British had assumed the Indian venture would collapse like a house of cards, but soon found the Indian company to be a formidable challenge. To thwart the new Indian company they resorted to the monopolistic trade practice of reducing the fare per trip to Re.1 (16 annas) per head. Swadeshi company responded by offering a fare of Re.0.5 (8 Annas). The British company went further by offering a free trip to the passengers plus a free umbrella, which had ‘S.S.Gaelia’ and ‘S.S.Lawoe’ running nearly empty. By 1909 the company was heading towards bankruptcy

- "Carnet de Passage" document from the Automobile Association of India for approximately Rs 5,000. On reaching Sri Lanka the passenger has to approach the local automobile association to obtain a temporary registration certificate to go around the country in their own vehicle. The first passengers to avail this facility on board the Scotia Prince were two Australians who used it to travel from India to Sri Lanka. They had obtained the certificate from Australian Automobile Association.

ref:Now, travel in your own car to see Lanka - Times Of India

“The vehicles would be checked inside the ship as registered baggage which the passenger can then claim on reaching their destination,” he said.
To avail this facility, passengers (tourists) need to obtain the ‘Carnet de Passage’ document (costing around Rs 5,000) from the Automobile Association of India. On reaching Sri Lanka, the passengers should approach the local Automobile Association to obtain a temporary registration certificate to go around the country in the vehicle.
Tourists should bear in mind that they should return within six months to a year and must provide a bank guarantee. The tourists need to be a member of the Automobile Association, which would charge Rs 4,412 for a lifetime membership. They also need to get their vehicles inspected and have to declare the tools they are taking with them.

ref:Carnet de passage sri lanka - Sri Lanka News Protal & 24 hr Breaking News update | Sri Lanka News Protal - 24 hr Breaking News update

also once you are in Sril Lanka you have to get in touch with the local driving association to obtain a temporary registration.

- what is a carnet de passage
BACKGROUND
A Carnet de Passages en Douanes is an internationally recognised Customs document entitling
the holder to TEMPORARILY import a vehicle duty free into countries which normally require a
deposit against import charges for such vehicles (generally countries outside Europe).
The Carnet is issued under the auspices of two international touring organisations the AIT and
the FIA. A large number of automobile and touring clubs throughout the world are affiliated to one
or both of these organisations and issue the Carnet on their behalf. The AAC is affiliated to the
FIA. Each Carnet is valid for a maximum of one year. A Carnet holder whose journey goes
beyond one year may, in exceptional circumstances, obtain a second Carnet or an extension, by
contacting the local motoring organisation and seeking further advice from AAC.
DESCRIPTION
The Carnet is a booklet made up of either 5,10 or 25 pages. A 5 page Carnet allows the holder to
temporarily import into 5 countries or on 5 different occasions. A 10 or 25 page Carnet covers the
temporary importation procedure up to 10 or 25 times. Each page is divided into three sections;
the lower section is removed by Customs on entry into a country; the middle section is removed
on exit; the top, counterfoil section, is stamped once on entry and once on exit. A country
revisited during the return journey will require a new page to be stamped. It is vital that the holder
gets these endorsements as they prove that a vehicle has complied with temporary import
conditions and discharge responsibility for any possible future import charges. Countries not
covered by a particular Carnet are noted in a list of exclusions.
ISSUING PROCEDURE
On issuing a Carnet, a motoring organisation becomes directly responsible for the payment of
customs duties and taxes if the regulations concerning temporary import are infringed. In order to
take on this responsibility, AAC requires the applicant to meet a number of conditions: they must
be able to give a Sri Lankan address and provide a copy of their passport and vehicle registration
document/certificate.
The applicant must also provide a security. The options are:
• A bank guarantee, signed by a Sri Lankan clearing bank.
• A refundable cash deposit (300% of value of vehicle on a valuation given by the AAC’s
Engineer).
Generally, AAC requires a minimum of ONE WEEKS notice to allow for processing/issue of a
Carnet. The fee for issuing a Carnet is Rs.3000/- + VAT
DISCHARGE OF THE CARNET
On completion of a journey the Carnet holder must return the document to the AAC.
The Carnet will be checked to ensure it has been stamped correctly in and out of each country
visited to ensure no further claims can be made by foreign Customs. After verification, the
security will be released as appropriate. A carnet remains the property of AAC.
If for any reason the last page used does not bear an exit stamp, the last page of the Carnet
(“Certificate of Location”) must be completed and witnessed by an official authority (Customs,
Police or Judiciary) either in Sri Lanka or the country of final import. Failure to do this may delay
the release of the security to the Carnet holder who can still be held liable for customs duties.
If a vehicle is stolen or written off during the journey, a police report and Customs
acknowledgement must be obtained as soon as possible. AAC should be notified as soon as
possible. Failure to do this will almost certainly result in the Carnet holder being held liable for
customs duties.
- 1 - A carnet must be returned to AAC within 12 months of the expiry date, unless prior contact
or arrangements have been made regarding issue of a further carnet.
If the Carnet is not returned to AAC and the carnet holder fails to comply with the temporary
importation regulations & procedures, AAC reserves the right to withhold release of a bank
guarantee or refund of monies
to cover costs incurred.
CONDITIONS OF TEMPORARY IMPORT
The Carnet is a legal document allowing temporary importation only and, as such, penalties for its
misuse are severe. Conditions of issue, including the general regulations regarding temporary
importation, are shown on the inside back cover of the Carnet.
The main conditions are:
• A temporarily imported vehicle cannot be sold, loaned, abandoned, hired, or otherwise
disposed of without the prior agreement of the local Customs authority and the local
motoring organisation.
• The Carnet can only be extended with the prior agreement of the local Customs authority
and the local motoring organisation.
• The Carnet holder is responsible for ensuring the Carnet is properly endorsed at each
border crossing.
• The Carnet cannot be used in any country where the holder is normally resident, nor in
any country specifically excluded from that Carnet

- International Driving Permit : For the purpose of driving in Sri Lanka, a foreigner has to
produce the International Driving Permit brought from abroad to AAC headquarters to obtain
a recognition permit, which has to be carried along with the International Driving Permit for
driving there. This document is issued free.
Any foreigner who has not obtained the International Diving Permit from his country abroad
may apply to the Department of Motor Traffic (Piliyandala Road, Werahera) to obtain a
temporary driving licence. It is issued for a maximum period of 3 months only on production of
the National Driving Licence on the payment of requisite fee.

ref: Automobile Association of Ceylon - Premier Motoring Club in Sri Lanka
carnetdepassagesendouanes.pdf


- The tourists also needs to be a member of the Automobile Association which
will cost about Rs. 4412 for a lifetime membership


- total cost would thus run something like this
a) carnet de passage - abt 5000.0
b) ferry charge - abt 5500.0
c) membership AA - abt 4200.0
(ref Automobile Association
of Southern India - AASI Services)
d) return ferry - abt 6000.0
basic costs of travel will be abt 20900.0 roughly
e) fuel/food/stay costs exculded

have lots of questions that still need clarification but since i am not driving down there this basic information will suffice for now

thanks eddy - dumb of me to have missed this thread i guess!