Way to Russia Talk Lounge

DITTRICH

A series of general questions about the formalities of taking my own car into russia and driving it about. Don't worry, it not an expensive one!

1Documents I think I need - is the list correct?
Car Registration document - original - proving car is mine.
Third party russian insurance contract - original - probably ingostrakh
Foreign Driving License card - Original
International Driving License? card - Original
Russian visa (izveshenie - private visa)
I also have a russian license! but I think it better to have both just in case. Would I do better to show the russian one if I get asked to stop by the GAI/GIBBD?

2 For which of the above documents do I need a certified translation into russian. I have found contradictory advice on the internet so need clarification.
Does the russian consulate in London provide this service?

3 Does my car registration number have to be stated on my visa?

4 Where can I get an exmple of the customs declaration form on which I have to guarantee to re-export my car within 6 months. Is this just the standard customs declaration or is it a special form.

5 Do I need to take a valid MOT certificate? (equivalent of russian technichishy osmotre)?

6 Which Finnish border crossing is the best one to use?
Vaalimaa (main one)
Nuijimaa (closer to laapenraanta)
When do they open / close? what are the waiting times like?
What is the procedure/process on the russian side of the border?
Are there any times to avoid?
I ask because the webcams at the border only seem to show the finnish side and there always seems to be queue of trucks at Nuijimaa waiting to enter russia.

7 There are some stories on the net about the safety of the highway between Viborg and st petersberg - is this something I need to worry about?

Other points. I have driven in russia before - moscow and surrounding oblasts and primorski krai, but not across borders. I speak russian reasonably well.

Sorry, so many questions, but I want to get it absolutely right first time. In 2008, when asphalt is finished on the moscow-vladivostok highway, I shall be going!
Thanks for your patience and all advice gratefully received.
Rgds
Les

paulr · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 6:40 pm Post subject: Travelling by car to Russia

Dear Les
I read your message with interest and noticed that you have not had any replies yet. I am sorry about that as I would like to know the answer to the questions you have asked too! We are hoping to take an accessible minibus into Russia from the UK next Spring (2005) and with it a load of equipment for disabled people. Our destination is Chelyabinsk, South Urals. We are not sure about feasible this is - especially as we cannot afford to be stung for import tax! I would be interested in any general advice you can obtain about taking a vehicle into Russia or point me to a source of accurate information.
My wife and I have have worked in Russia for 18 months on VSO and can speak a little Russian so we are aware of the general hazards!
Regards
Paul

Simeon · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 11:10 pm Post subject: Car to Russia via Finland

I have over the past years made 6 trips to Russia and Sankt Petersburg from Sweden via Finland. Used both the Valimaa/Torfjanak and the Nujimaa/Bruschnishnaya crossing point.
Found the later the quickest. Valimaa could mean hours waiting.
Nujimaa has alwas been very quick with almost no que.
But, at last trip I got into difficulties. At previous crossings I always got a Customs Document valid for 2 month use in Russian Fed. but this last visit, end of August, there was this new rule for TEN days only.
That rule may well get you into trouble.
It is possible to buy an extension at GIBDD on Schosse Revolution 114 in Spb for USD 45 but not until your visa have been registred with OVIR. That may take longer than these ten days. Then your car is illegal in Russia and may be confiscated.
The maximum time for using a foreign car in Russia is 6 month.

I travelled the road from the border to Spb several times and never faced any problems. By the way a new road brings you around Viborg.

Insurrance is purchased at the border. Price is acceptable however not low.

Fire extingiusher and First Aid kit is mandatory.

S.

DITTRICH · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: Car to Russia via Finland

WayToRussia · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 1:01 am Post subject:

Actually, this 10-day rule is a bit weird and I don't think it's true. The customs give permissions for 1-month entry usually for foreign cars. A member of our WayToRussia.Net team has a car registered in Latvia (it has EU number plates), and all he needed to get to Russia was his standard set of documents (registration document = techpassport for the car, his driving license, MOT certificate (tehosmotr) made in his country, and the 3rd party insurance valid in Russia - he purchased his in a bank in Latvia. He was then given a permission to have his car for 1 month in Russia. When in Moscow, he went to the local customs office and prolonged his car customs permit to 3 months. It would be a real pain-in-ass if he didn't talk to one officer there who kindly agreed to make the registration for a fee Cool

Once he has this 3-month customs permit for the car, all the time he will be crossing the Russian border again, he will be supposed to get a 3-month permit automatically.

DITTRICH · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:46 pm Post subject: ...thank you

..just checked in and it's good to see you think the 10 day rule isn't true. I have found no other evidence to suggest that this rule exists. What it probably is that they only give temporary import permit for the period of your visa. 30 days I can live with for now but my private visa (izvesheniye?) is normally for about 45 days - so I ought to be able to get 45 days! I guess I will find out for sure at the border! Russian Tamozhnya Eh! Rolling Eyes

When I cross over I'll write up the trip and post.
2005 Moscow
2006 Moscow+?
2007 Vladivostok (+Vostochny!)
Rgds
Les

****was your "car importing" friend a russian national?****

Simeon · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:48 am Post subject: Travel by car to Russia

Just checking in after a long time.
Nobody seems to believe me when I told about the TEN days permit
given at Bruschnishnay crossing last year in September.
But I got a copy of the document issued, "Udostoverenie" and it got clearly printed a date that was valid for ten days only. I have been raising hell about this rule in a letter to the Russian Embassy in Stockholm and they told me that they were going to look into this situation. Maybe something has changed. According to the GIBDD website, text in English, six month should be granted or up to maximum of the end of the visa.

DITTRICH · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject: GIBBD url address?

Simeon
Could you post url of this specific GIBBD website page please so I can use it at the border if necessary. Probably won't work if they are difficult but you never know until you try.
Regards
Les

qwaal · Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 11:59 pm Post subject:

I have found that customs regulations don't just change from time to time but are actually different on different border crossings. Apparently some border crossings are allowed to make their own rules on certain things. For example, crossing from Latvia to Russia (with a British car) the main border (Terehova-Sebezh) issues a customs pass for 1 month free of charge, but the minor borders to the north both issue a 2 month customs pass but charge for it (they also both have toll roads immediately from the border in Russia, whereas the Sebezh border's road is free).
The customs permission can be renewed once in Russia indefinitely. There is no actual limit on how long you can keep a foreign-registered car in Russia. However, they will only ever give you a permission for the length of the registration of your visa. Since the maximum registration they usually give nowadays is six months, that effectively means that every six months you have to renew the customs permission at the customs offices (I am about to do this tomorrow for the second time. It takes a day of moving bits of paper from office to office).
Also, one interesting fact, for what it's worth: although of course you now legally need insurance to drive in Russia, the customs people don't require to check the insurance certificate in order to issue the permission to have the car in Russia ('that's a GAI requirement, not a customs requirement' we were told). Also the GAI (or DPS) now stop foreign cars much less than they used to, and often don't ask for any document other than the 'udosteverenniye' (customs permission certificate).

qwaal · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 3:33 pm Post subject:

Follow up on my last note: they do it seems officially require the insurance certificate (though there are three insurance companies selling insurance in the customs office No.4 in Moscow Tsarytsino). Apparently it was just the person we happened to deal with last time who didn't care about it...

However, another interesting fact: apparently although the customs on the border usually take away the udostoverenniye vremmenovo vvoza it is possible to ask them to stamp it with a multi-entry stamp, which allows you to use it multiple times rather than having to hand it in and then get a new one if you drive back into Russia again within the time of your visa registration. The Moscow customs office does not have the ability to give this stamp, but they say the customs on the border can give it.

DITTRICH · Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 9:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks quaal - all good information.
The information on this site was also improved considerably in Feb 2005 following my postings.
I guess I have all the information I need at this point concerning documents, border prodcedures, fuel, maps etc.
I plan to cross at Nuijimaa on sunday morning and have a nice cruise down to the dacha outside moscow.
Only problem now is 4,600 kms in 4 days (sigh).
Les

Egon · Just Starting Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

Hello
I want to go to Russia in a rent Motor home.
But what about papers? If you don´t earn the car?
I mean you need a power of Attornay from the owner of the car and from the police?
How can help me?

DITTRICH · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: Russia by a rent motor home

Tripper · Just Starting Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

All,

I am planning to travel to Russia in September by car and get the trans-siberian on to beijing and eventually end up in New Zealand. I need to either sell/ donate/ "lose" my car in Moscow. I have read some of the other posts and am aware that it seems like alot of hassle to import the car. What i need to know really is how much will it cost to get it through customs at that border to Finland and will they be asking questions when i leave russia on a train without my car?

chrisrein · Frequent Guest Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 25

I hope you have a good insurance on your motorhome, so that you won't have a problem when it is stolen on the way.
Or is it an older type?
Good trip!

greetz,
Christian