What you need to know - FAQ Overlanding terms
Are you new to the world of overlanding and do you get lost in the specific terms people throw around? Let me help you out with some answers to frequently asked questions. Feel free to ask your question in the comments below!
Crossing borders is nowhere as easy as in Europe!
What is the difference between overlanding and a roadtrip?
Nothing really, overlanding is usually multiple months crossing multiple continents where as a road trip can be as short as a day. People usually try to avoid flying as much as possible. But it can anything you want.
What is RTW?
Around the world
What is iOverlander?
It is a mobile phone app and website where travellers share their location tips with each other. It’s like a bible when looking for a place tos stay, for embassies or good mechanics. http://ioverlander.com/
What is bushcamping?
Bushcamping / wild camping / free camping is pitching your tent/car/van on a spot that is not designated as such (aka a campsite or parking lot where overnighting is allowed). It’s illegal in most European countries. If you do decide to do it make sure that you leave no trail, hide so you are not visible from the road and don’t damage nature to make a spot. Be careful with fire and take all your trash when you leave.
What is the transamerican trail?
Transamerica or Panamericana is a general route from the Arctic Ocean in the north of Alaska to the South Atlantic Ocean and the island of Tierra del Fuego. Find out more about different overlanding routes in this article.
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The TAT (TransAm Trail) is an offroad trail from coast to coast in the USA for motorcycles. https://www.transamtrail.com/
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The TET is the European edition of a loop trail throughout Europe. https://transeurotrail.org/
What is the Darian Gap?
A stretch of Jungle between Central America and South America that has no road that is passable. Therefor you will have to ship or fly your vehicle around/over this piece of land.
What is SA?
Depends on the context it can mean South America of South Africa.
What are the common routes people travel?
There are 5 common routes spanning the globe, read this article to find out more!
- London to Sydney
- Amsterdam to Cape Town (African East Coast)
- Amsterdam to Cape Town (African West Coast)
- Trans American Highway
- Trans Siberian Highway
What is CdP?
Carnet de Passage
What is a Carnet de Passage?
A Carnet, Carnet de Passage or Triptyk are all the same document for your vehicle. If you want to take your car/motorcycle into a foreign country you will need to be allowed to temporarily import it so you can avoid paying the import tax of that country. Most countries will be able to give you a temporary permit (TIP) when crossing the border.
A few countries want more assurance that you will also export the vehicle again. This is where the Carnet comes in, it’s an internationally recognised document that guarantees the export of your vehicle when traveling overland.
You get it at your local automobile association and you typically pay a deposit and an administration fee to get it. The height of the deposit depends on the value of your vehicle, the countries you will travel through and the association. Some organisations also have different ways in the form of insurances but I personally don’t have any experience with that. You get the deposit back when you return the vehicle to your country.
- UK > CARS
- NL > ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club
- DE > ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club
- FR > ACAFA - Association Française des Automobilistes
- USA > ATA/Boomerang Carnets (atacarnet.com)
- AUS > AAA - Australian Automobile Association
- SOUTH AFRICA > AASA - Automobile Association of South Africa
Find out more at https://www.carnetdepassage.org/
Why do you need a Carnet?
Certain countries won’t let you temporarily import your vehicle any other way. Because you’ve paid a bond to the issuer it’s a guarantee that you will also export the vehicle again. There are not that many countries that insist on using a Carnet, but the main ones are Egypt, Pakistan, India & Indonesia. Other countries where it is practical to have one are Iran, Sudan & Thailand. Otherwise you can travel without one and make use of TIPs.
What is TIP?
Temporary Import Paper/Permit, meaning you do not intend to stay in the country and therefor you don’t have to pay the import taxes. You get it at the border, sometimes for a fee. It states the details of your vehicle and it dictates how long your vehicle can stay in the country.
Why do you need 3rd party insurance?
If you have arranged third party or all risk insurance for your vehicle from home covering all the countries you intend to travel through then you don’t. However, the average quotes you will receive with this type of coverage and the list of countries is usually very expensive. It’s cheaper to arrange 3rd party insurance per country or when traveling the east coast get a yellow card/comesa extension.
What is comesa?
It’s like a European green card. An insurance extension that covers multiple countries on the east coast of Africa. Basically from Sudan to Zambia. When entering one of these countries you get a local 3rd party insurance and then get it extended to cover the comesa countries that you intend to travel through and extend for the time you think you need. It’s cheaper and more convenient since you don’t need to find an insurance every time you cross a border.
What is the HUBB?
It’s the Horizons Unlimited Bulletin Board (old school internet slang), a forum for (motorcycle) travel addicts with plenty information about anything you want to know.
Where is the Pamir highway?
It’s in Tajikistan
What is a SPOT?
A SPOT and a Garmin (former Delorme) Inreach are GPS satellite trackers. They send your GPS location to a server via satellite where your family can see where you are. Both systems have a SOS button for when you get into trouble. Because it works via satellite it will have reception even in the remotest of places.
What is RORO?
Roll on roll off, it’s a type of shipping where you do not need to put your vehicle into a container. Sometimes people also use the term for describing a ferry.