If you want to avoid the massive cash deposit and paperwork of a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), you are in luck. The vast majority of the world can actually be explored without one.
In these countries, you either just ride right through (like in Europe) or you buy a cheap Temporary Import Permit (TIP) directly at the border.
1. Europe (Completely Free Zone)
If your motorcycle is registered in Europe, you do not need a Carnet anywhere on the continent. Borders are either completely open (Schengen) or require a simple passport and registration check.
All European Union (EU) Countries
United Kingdom & Ireland
Norway, Switzerland, & Iceland
The Balkans: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia.
Turkey: (Just requires your regular registration and a Green Card insurance valid for Turkey).
2. The Americas (North, Central, & South)
You can ride all the way from the top of Alaska down to the bottom of Argentina without a Carnet. Every country here uses the TIP (Temporary Import Permit) system at the border.
USA & Canada: Completely free for tourists. No TIP needed for foreign bikes up to 1 year.
Mexico: You get a TIP at the Banjercito office at the border for a small fee and a refundable credit card deposit (around $200–$400 depending on the bike's year).
Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama all issue a local TIP at the border (usually costing between $10 and $50).
South America: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. None of these require a Carnet anymore; you will be issued a free or cheap TIP at every land border.
3. Africa (No Carnet / Easy TIP Countries)
While East and South Africa heavily favor the Carnet, the entire West Coast of Africa and the far north can be done without one using a local temporary permit (often called a Passavant or Laissez-Passer).
Morocco & Tunisia: You fill out a simple, free temporary import form online or at the ferry port.
West Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Cameroon. (You buy a local Passavant at each border for about $10–$30, valid for 15–30 days).
4. Central Asia & The Silk Road
The famous "Stans" route is completely free of Carnet requirements. This makes it one of the most popular overland motorcycle routes in the world.
Georgia & Armenia
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan (Including the famous Pamir Highway)
Mongolia
5. Southeast Asia (The Easy Zone)
While parts of Asia are restrictive (like India or China), these popular backpacking and riding countries do not use the CPD system for tourists entering overland.
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
The Philippines
💡 What to bring instead of a Carnet: When entering a "No Carnet" country that requires a TIP, customs will always ask for three things: Your Passport, your bike's Original Registration Certificate (V5C/Talon), and a Driving License (plus an International Driving Permit). Always keep a few photocopies of these handy to speed up the border process!
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