Driving a Russian car west - madness or..?

[msmob]

THINKING of driving a RUS reg'd car across Europe to France...In the 'old days' - pre 2014' -  would have gone via Crimea ( Ukraine) to Poland from Southern Russia.

I certainly want to avoid the 'disputed areas' of Ukraine - but I'm not adverse to crossing into UA further north of the 'disputed areas', traversing Ukraine to Poland


It would  be cheaper to fly, but hey that wouldn't be such fun

I know mhr7 lives in the Rostov region and wonder if he - or other members living closer to Ukraine think it isna risk driving a RU reg'd car across UA.

[Boethius]

Why don't you go through Belarus?  A little bit further to get there, but you won't have issues in Belarus.


To add - I don't think you would have problems in Ukraine, certainly Russians who have moved to Kyiv since the war started have reported no issues.  There are many Ukrainians who live in Russia, so I assume there are Russian cars on Ukrainian roads.  However, you could run into some yob along the way, and in a car, I wouldn't want to risk that, primarily for issues of inconvenience rather than danger, as I don't think the latter would be an issue.

[msmob]

BL for me = Visa - I am already in RU and would have to go to Moscow - and more paperwork for the car ?  I don't need a visa for UA / Baltics states

[Voyager36]

THINKING of driving a RUS reg'd car across Europe to France...In the 'old days' - pre 2014' -  would have gone via Crimea ( Ukraine) to Poland from Southern Russia.

I certainly want to avoid the 'disputed areas' of Ukraine - but I'm not adverse to crossing into UA further north of the 'disputed areas', traversing Ukraine to Poland

What are the requirements to buy and register a car in Russia?

[krimster2]

by Southern Russia, are you referring to the Rostov area?  I drove with my father-in-law from Rostov to Crimea, pre-Russian annexation era, I don't know what route you're thinking of  taking to avoid the conflict areas.  you will get stopped by militsa, so be very sure to have all documents in order and some small bills handy, be really careful where you park your car overnight, roads aren't in the best shape, other drivers are insane, no manners on highway at all!  I don't know about buying a car in Russia but I bought a Mitsubishi Colt in Ukraine (not a bad little car), dealer did all the paperwork, similar process to USA and even included auto-insurance
out of curiosity, why do this?

[Voyager36]

by Southern Russia, are you referring to the Rostov area?  I drove with my father-in-law from Rostov to Crimea, pre-Russian annexation era, I don't know what route you're thinking of  taking to avoid the conflict areas.  you will get stopped by militsa, so be very sure to have all documents in order and some small bills handy, be really careful where you park your car overnight, roads aren't in the best shape, other drivers are insane, no manners on highway at all!  I don't know about buying a car in Russia but I bought a Mitsubishi Colt in Ukraine (not a bad little car), dealer did all the paperwork, similar process to USA and even included auto-insurance
out of curiosity, why do this?

Because buying a car and registering to drive to Europe is probably cheaper than buying an EU car to drive to Russia

[Bounder]

out of curiosity, why do this?

It never crossed my mind to ask this, but I guess it's a valid question.  Just seems like an adventure possibly worth having.... Only live once, right?

[krimster2]

my recollection of the Rostov-Krim trip was not very memorable, kinda boring actually, far more interesting to go visit specific places like Mangup and Sudak.  some of my favorite adventures in Krim were "bunker diving" i.e. spelunking in old abandoned WWII forts, highly dangerous, yes!  crawling over skeletons and unexploded gigantic artillery shells with just a flashlight never knowing what was just around the corner!  a single guy going into the club scene on a friday/saturday night can also be a big adventure, you might meet a gorgeous deavotchka or you might get your ass kicked by some drunk Russian soldiers, who knows, black sea has awesome diving, excellent visibility, I had a "White's" metal detector, and had boxes full of "finds", really exciting to find stuff!!!

[msmob]

As suggested - in the title - it probably isn't sane - but hey !

I have had replies on other fora and decided it is better - now - to avoid Ukraine - one needs to import and export - plus other formalities

Belarus: I'd need a visa - which as I'm already in Russia is sl. more complicated - I must stop off in Moscow

We decided that as Sochi is plus 15C and Moscow -30C and we only have all terrain rather than winter tyres - to put this lunacy off until the spring and go via the Baltic States - stopping off at Piter

The car is cheaper and if more than six months old - which it will be in April - no duty is payable  - should we decide to import to an EU nation where planning to be resident

[jone]

my recollection of the Rostov-Krim trip was not very memorable, kinda boring actually, far more interesting to go visit specific places like Mangup and Sudak.  some of my favorite adventures in Krim were "bunker diving" i.e. spelunking in old abandoned WWII forts, highly dangerous, yes!  crawling over skeletons and unexploded gigantic artillery shells with just a flashlight never knowing what was just around the corner!  a single guy going into the club scene on a friday/saturday night can also be a big adventure, you might meet a gorgeous deavotchka or you might get your ass kicked by some drunk Russian soldiers, who knows, black sea has awesome diving, excellent visibility, I had a "White's" metal detector, and had boxes full of "finds", really exciting to find stuff!!!

Damn, Sandro,

We finally know who found your medallion.

[Bounder]

As suggested - in the tile - it probably isn't sane - but hey !

I have had replies on other for a and decided it is better - now - to avoid Ukraine - one needs to import and export - plus other formalities

Belarus - I'd need a visa - which as I'm already in Russia is sl. more complicated - I must stop off in Moscow

We decided that as Sochi is plus 15C and Moscow -30C and we only have all terrain rather than winter tyres - to put this lunacy off until the spring and go via the Baltic States - stopping off at Piter

The car is cheaper and if more than six months old - which it will be in Aril - no duty is payable should we decide to import to an EU nation where panning to be resident

Come on, seriously?  Plus 15 in Sochi?  I'm in Istanbul right now where it is about zero with 40cm of snow or so....

[msmob]

Come on, seriously?  Plus 15 in Sochi?  I'm in Istanbul right now where it is about zero with 40cm of snow or so....

There's the micro-climate phenomenon for you  ..Up the coast in Anapa LOADS of snow - and -10C

Saturday was sunny and +15 and yesterday +12C

Cyprus - not SO far from snowy Lesbos - a Greek island off S. Turkey - was also +12C

[Bounder]

There's the micro-climate phenomenon for you  ..Up the coast in Anapa LOADS of snow - and -10C

Saturday was sunny and +15 and yesterday +12C

Cyprus - not SO far from snowy Lesbos - a Greek island off S. Turkey - was also +12C

Wow.  I want to come up to Sochi, it's miserable here.  Oh wait, they didn't give me my visa...

[Voyager36]

As suggested - in the title - it probably isn't sane - but hey !

I have had replies on other fora and decided it is better - now - to avoid Ukraine - one needs to import and export - plus other formalities

Why would you need to file for import if it were just visiting, in transit?
Does every EU car entering Ukraine need this too?

[krimster2]

if you really just want the driving experience in Ukraine, you can easily rent cars in Kyiv or Odessa, I've done both with nothing more than a credit card and international driver's license which you can easily get, but the driving experience will take a lot of fun out of the travel experience, very stressful

[tfcrew]

               

                        Take a cab

[alex330]

Sure, but I would go the Southern route through Turkey and stopping in Croatia.

[Voyager36]

               

                        Take a cab

From Russia to London via Prague and Paris? 

Might be a bit pricey...

[msmob]

Sure, but I would go the Southern route through Turkey and stopping in Croatia.

??

The Southern route ?

1/ The Ferries to Turkey no longer operate from Russia

2/ the route long the coast via Georgia is closed - 'Abkhazia' - no transit possible

3/ the only alternative is via the Caucasian  Mountains - v Georgia - to Turkey .. not exactly 'wise' in Winter


IF They were- I'd go via TR to Greece - hop to Italy and via the Alps to France

[alex330]

1/ The Ferries to Turkey no longer operate from Russia

2/ the route long the coast via Georgia is closed - 'Abkhazia' - no transit possible

3/ the only alternative is via the Caucasian  Mountains - v Georgia - to Turkey .. not exactly 'wise' in Winter

Somebody better update Google map before a reader takes my advice then.... 


No ferry? Is this site outdated?  http://www.ferryto.com/Turkey_Ferry.html

[msmob]

WAY out of date...this service was suspended long ago...perhaps three years or more