Way to Russia Talk Lounge

sanderbozuwa · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:50 am Post subject: Road trip through russia

Hi,
I am planning a road trip from The Netherlands to Vladivostok with a friend (back from there by plane), and we are considering a few options how to do this. Can anyone give us advice what the best option is?
1) Buy a car in Holland, drive it to Vladivostok and sell (leave) it there;
2) Buy a russian car with russian license plates in Russia close to the border, and drive it to Vladivostok;
3) Rent a car in western Russia, and drive it to the far east (not sure if this is possible).
The first option is probably easiest, but we worry about being stopped at any intersection for bribes, and paperwork hassle when trying to get rid of the car in Vladivostok.
Who can advice us?
Thx!
Sander

Paul Holmes · Lounge Wizard Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 1012

Watch the movie call The Long way around
Basically read about the Road of Bones

vox16 · WayToRussified Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 325

sanderbozuwa · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject:

thanks for your replies!

I think we can manage de de-registration in the Netherlands but it is an issue indeed.

Can someone also advice us whether the bribes will be a bigger issue driving around with dutch plates vs russian licence plates. May be, bribes are not so much of a problem anymore in 2008 Russia but I would like to get some info on that.

thanks!
Sander

vox16 · WayToRussified Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 325

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

Dear Sander,
I'm going to deal with your options in reverse order...

3)renting:the russian market for car rentals is fairly developed in moscow and it is possible for a foreigner to rent a cheap korean or russian car from a russian rental company which is cheaper than the international rental chains like hertz and so on. However, the big problem is that your are unlikely to find any rental company that will allow you to pick a car up in moscow and drop it off in vladivostock. Just looking at the distances involved will tell you something about why. Most sane people travelling to vladivostock travel by air or train. Only nutters travel by car or motorcycle AND i include myself in the nutter category too. You will NOT find a rental company willing to do what you want.
2)foreigner buys a russian car: i will not even begin to describe he paperwork and bureacracy involved with this exercise suffice to say that it is possible BUT takes time which you DO NOT HAVE. I should point out that I have never done this myself and only have the posts on this site to form a judgement BUT some of the posts are credible and I believe them. So take it from me this option is out too.
3)taking a foreign car into russia:this is your only option and the details of what to do are handled pretty well elsewhere. You will have to extend the temporary import certificate (10 working days) issued at the border. It will be extended for the duration of your visa or registration whichever is shorter. The registration system changed in 2007 and its now debateable which date they would use - probably the visa date - because the new visa system doesn't show how long you are staying in one place, merely when you arrived there. The next problem is what to do with the car at the other end since you do not want to ship it back on the railway to moscow (5,000usd last time I checked several years ago). Various solutions have been proposed on this forum but no-one has ever posted about successfully completing what I am about to say. Normally you have to take the car out of the country. Not doing so might affect your chances of getting visas and clearing customs in the future. Again no-one has experienced this but it is possible in my view. So your option is to have the car "stolen" report it and obtain a police report for this. Whether the customs would accept this I don't know - maybe. Note on entry your visa is stamped with a date and a little "car" symbol so when you leave they'll know how you came in. Would I do all this? Probably not and I am fairly experienced for a foreigner.
Finally a note about your concerns about "bribes" and so on. You would be driving on foreign plates with an international driving permit and your car registration documents. Keep your foreign license with you but never show it - show the idp. Use colour good colour photocopies of your registration documents. Your average cop will not really know the differences. Take a deep breath. You will get stopped now and again. They will check your documents - mostly the temporary import certificate. Also, because you are not overly familiar with the rules of the road or the signs which can be very very confusing, you will make mistakes and get stopped for them. For russians, they would get their licenses confiscated or maybe even 15 days in jail (that is hot off the press) or even make a "contribution" to the holiday fund, but you as an ignorant foreigner will in all probability be given a lecture on what you did wrong and then let go. Contrary to those who suggest playing completely dumb, I believe a few words of russian do go a long way in these situations if you are a foreigner - so use them.
All the documents and insurances are dealt with on the site. Finally, there are posts on the site by one or two DUTCH people in the transport section- it may be worth sending them a personal message and have a chat with them in your own language. Note I also posted to most of those threads so search my posts and you will find them.
Regards
Les

Voyager · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:14 am Post subject:

I did the drive from Ireland to Vladivostock in 2006 , I definatly dont recommend trying to sell the car , mine was destroyed in an accident less than 150 miles from Vlad and I had to provide proof of this at the airport at Vladivostok.
When I entered Russia from Finland I found the Insurance easy to get , and I was lucky enough to get a very kind lady at the border control point who explained the form for me (its in Russian) and how to fill it in , although I'd say I was'nt too popular with the hundreads of Russians behind me who were all made to wait while she showed me how to fill in the form , also , she issued me with a temporary import cert that was valid for the same ammount of time as my visa.
You will encounter many many checkpoints from west to east Russia and pulled over many times if you have a European registered car , however if your papers are in order and you are polite you will find the Russian police very helpfull (the civillian police in the blue uniforms that is , the advice I got from Russsians is to avoid the ones in the grey uniforms if possible), most have a great sense of humour , and will get a good kick out of what you are doing (they'll think you are nuts) , and of the hundread or so times I was stopped , not once did anyone look for a bribe , not even a hint at one.
I recommend A Toyota car for a trip like this as aside from the reliability , Toyota parts are easy enough to get in Russia and Russian mechanics would have experience of working on them (they did a great job of putting my Celica back together a few times)
A good map is essential , and dont take the easy option of getting an english language one as you wont be able to follow road signs , best advise is to get a Russian language one , these are quite good and the one I got even showed petrol stations all along the route.
Finally , every Russian I spoke to along the trip all gave the same warning about bandits and professional car theives , although I was lucky enough not to encounter any , the fact that every Russian gives the same warning means that caution is advised , they will tell you a few horror stories but keep in mind that they are not trying to scare you or put you off , they are simply looking out for you , I found Russian people to be very caring , generous , considerate , polite and generally wonderfull people (makes you wonder how they put up with their government)and will help you in any way they can if they think you are genuine , in my experience they would give you the shirt off their backs if they think it would help , if you dont speak any Russian , they will usually move Heaven and Earth to find someone who speaks english if they dont themselfs , I was told that I would find no english speakers outside of big cities , however , in the small town where my car was destroyed , out of a few hundread people they found no less than 10 people to translate for us , and our first translation was to express our deepest gratitude for all the help we had recieved from people who could'nt understand a word we were saying , it was very humbling the level of support two foriegners who crash landed in the night recieved from a small Russian town.

Randy · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: Vladivostok to Spain

Thanks Voyager for the story. I am planning to drive a Jeep Wrangler, with a friend, from Texas to Spain, then back to the East coast of United States hopefully June of 2009. We will be pulling a small tent camper trailer, documenting the jorney in video, and still photographs. I have been to Russia many times, living in St. Pete for a short while, but never to the eastern proviences. All I hear from different folks is that your crazy, why, don't do it, the list goes on. Being cautious when traveling is second nature to me, but I have never had so much fear like the people who I encounter when mentioning my plans. But I do pay close attention to their warnings about bandits, and car thieves. It has been the same when I traveled across Mexico.
The problems I am having is finding good information about the road conditions between Moscow, and Vladivostok, fueling stations between these two cities, current maps of that area, and feed back from auto shipping companies from Alaska to Vladivostok. I speak some Russian language, but not good enough, so I am now taking tutoring classes to upgrade my language skills for the trip. I have also began preperations to my vehicle for the trip as well as a long 'to do' list before we go.
I would like to be in St. Petersburg by the first week in June to attend the annual Pow Wow, and to visit my family, and friends during White Nights. Any more information you would like to share, or really anyone on this site, I would like to hear it if it is constructive.

Randy · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject:

Miss typed the date I would like to be in St. Pete. I need to be there the first week in July, not June. That would be pretty difficult since I plan to leave here first of June.

Voyager · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:48 am Post subject:

So long as you dont stray from the beaten track fuel wont be a problem , but reserve is advised , I had 40 litres but did'nt need to use it , road conditions deterorate the further east of Moscow you go , but none were impassable , frozen hills were our biggest problem but given the time of year you plan to go that should'nt be a problem , I would think twice about the trailer as aside from security issues it will have a tough time on some roads , also I did'nt see too many American built cars in Russia , I would suggest a model that blends in with local traffic , you'd get away with most European models but a Japaneese model would be my recomendation