# Carnet de Passages for Leased Motorcycles – Full Guide

- Link: https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/guides/carnet-de-passages-and-leasing/
- Published: 2025-05-19T19:07:59+02:00
- Author: Filip Chochół

Ten wpis jest również dostępny w języku:  [⌊Switch to Polski⌉Polski](https://warsawtravelers.pl/poradniki/carnet-de-passages-i-leasing/)

 Table of contents

## Hello!

Riding a motorcycle around Europe is pretty straightforward — all you really need
is a passport, insurance, and a full tank of fuel. But at some point, you start 
craving something more. Something that can’t be squeezed into a weekend trip. A 
journey where crossing a border isn’t just a formality, but a real process in itself.

That’s exactly why we decided to prepare for a trip beyond the European Union. But
before we dive into the route, the places, and everything we’ll experience along
the way – we need to start with the basics: paperwork. Because without the right
documents, you won’t get much farther than the nearest Schengen checkpoint. And 
one of the key pieces of that puzzle is the **Carnet de Passages** – especially 
if, like us, your motorcycle is leased.

This post kicks off a series where we’ll walk you through the entire prep process,
step by step. No fluff, no sugarcoating – just how it really works.

## What is a Carnet de Passage?

[The Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD)](https://carnetdepassage.org/) is basically
a passport for your vehicle. It allows you to temporarily enter many countries outside
the European Union without having to pay import duties or taxes at the border. The
document is issued for a specific car or motorcycle and serves as a guarantee that
the vehicle will be taken back out of the country you’re entering.

In practice, the CPD works a bit like a guarantee. If you don’t leave the country
with your vehicle, the organization that issued the document may be held responsible
for paying the customs duties on your behalf. In our case, since we’re based in 
Poland, that organization is PZM (Polski Związek Motorowy). If you’re applying from
another country, the equivalent would be your national automobile club.
That’s why
a security deposit is required when applying for the CPD — sometimes quite a hefty
one. It’s refunded after your trip, as long as you return the document properly 
stamped and complete.

The CPD isn’t required everywhere, but in many countries — especially in Asia, Africa,
and the Middle East — you simply can’t enter with your own vehicle without it. So
if you’re planning a trip beyond Europe, this is one of the first things you should
look into.

 [ ⌊Poland Warsaw Carnet de Passage document for motor vehicles and trailers with CPD number and validity dates⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/carnetdepassage-005-mfrh-original-scaled.jpeg)

## Leased vehicle and Carnet de Passages

If your vehicle is leased, getting a Carnet de Passages becomes a bit more complicated—
but it’s definitely still possible. It just involves a few extra steps and a bit
more paperwork, since the vehicle isn’t technically yours. We’re describing the 
process for a motorcycle, but the same principle applies to cars, vans, or even 
trailers.

### Is this even possible?

Yes, it’s definitely possible — but a lot depends on your leasing company’s internal
policy. The key thing is what’s written in your contract. If there’s no mention 
of taking the vehicle outside the European Union… that’s actually a good thing. 
Seriously. That was the case for us — the absence of any restrictions on non-EU 
travel worked in our favor.

But the contract is one thing — the company’s attitude is another. And that’s where
things can get tricky. A CPD isn’t something you can sort out with a quick email
or a few clicks. For most leasing companies, this is an unusual request. They usually
don’t have a ready-made process or template for it. Some will be helpful and sort
it out without much hassle, while others might drag their feet or ignore you altogether.
This isn’t like requesting a standard document to travel within Europe — it takes
more persistence and patience.

### Who owns the vehicle in the context of CPD?

With a leased vehicle, the legal owner is the leasing company — you’re just the 
user. And that’s exactly why you can’t apply for a Carnet de Passages on your own
without their permission. The leasing company is technically the one “lending” you
the vehicle for temporary use outside the country, and the CPD needs to reflect 
that.

So when submitting your documents to the Polish Automobile and Motorcycle Association(
PZM), you’ll need to include not just your own details, but also the written permission
from the vehicle’s owner. Without that, the CPD simply won’t be issued.

 [ ⌊Warsaw Carnet de Passage document page listing participating countries and associations, shown on a blue background⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/carnetdepassage-004-mfrh-original-scaled.jpeg)

## What needs to be done – step by step?

It’s a lot, we know — honestly, if you have the option to buy out your motorcycle,
that’s probably the faster route. 😅 Leasing has its perks, but it definitely comes
with a few extra hurdles. Anyway, back to the point…

### Lessor’s consent

We totally get the appeal of leasing and the tax benefits that come with it — we’re
taking advantage of that ourselves, so no judgment here. But if you’re planning 
to take your vehicle outside the European Union, the lease agreement alone just 
won’t cut it.

A lot of people mistakenly assume that a standard authorization to use the vehicle
abroad — the kind you can download from your leasing company’s portal — is enough.
Unfortunately, it’s not. When applying for a Carnet de Passages, you need a very
specific document: a notarized authorization signed by at least two official representatives
of the leasing company, as listed in the national business register (KRS in Poland).
And this step is often the hardest part of the whole process.

In our case, the motorcycle ([which we talk more about in a separate post](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/our-motorcycle/))
is leased through **Impuls Leasing Polska**. Even during the purchase stage, I mentioned
to the sales rep that we were planning trips outside the EU and asked if the company
had any objections. As you can probably guess — everything sounded great… right 
up until the moment we actually signed the contract.

In July 2024, I sent the first email requesting the necessary documents. And then…
months of radio silence. Until **April 2025**, there were no real steps taken — 
just vague promises like “the board is open to it,” “we’re reviewing the matter,”
or “you’ll get an answer soon.” But nothing ever actually happened. Even filing 
an official complaint didn’t help move things forward (though in theory, it could
have been used later as part of a case with the Financial Ombudsman, had the company
continued ignoring their legal obligation to respond).

So what actually worked? Calling them out publicly. I left a comment on a LinkedIn
post from the company’s vice president — a post where they were proudly talking 
about their personalized approach to customer service. I explained our situation
politely, without any hostility. I never got a reply, but the impact was immediate:
the very next day, I was told that the company’s representatives had already scheduled
a notary appointment. Two days later, the documents were ready for pickup. I later
thanked the VP — if that outcome was thanks to her, then I genuinely appreciate 
it. But still… does it really have to come to this?

### What documents should be prepared?

 1. A general authorization to use the vehicle abroad (in both Polish and English) —
    this one will be needed later for legalization, which we’ll cover at the end of
    the article.
 2. A separate, more detailed authorization outlining the lessee’s responsibilities
    related to the CPD. This document must list the specific countries you plan to 
    travel through — you can’t just write “worldwide”.

The content of the second document must include mandatory provisions, such as:

**_Terms of authority and responsibility_**

 1. _The authorization remains valid for the entire term of the lease agreement._
 2. _The lessee shall bear full legal and financial responsibility for the vehicle 
    during its use outside Poland, including:_
 3.  a. _Insurance,_
     b. _Compliance with customs and traffic regulations,_
     c. _obligations arising from customs clearance and Carnet de Passages (CPD)_
 4. The lessee is fully responsible for the formalities of CPD – applying for its issuance,
    incurring costs and legal obligations arising from the use of the vehicle in the
    above-mentioned countries.
 5. If the lease agreement expires during the CPD, the lessee assumes full responsibility
    for the vehicle and its return to Poland.

We do not take responsibility for whether the content described here will be accepted
in your specific case. Every leasing company has its own internal procedures, and
PZM may also have additional requirements depending on the situation. We’re simply
sharing how it worked in our case and what kind of document was ultimately submitted
to PZM Travel.

 [ ⌊Jadzia i Filip on road in Warsaw Travelers, standing with motorcycle tour bikes outdoors in jackets⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/warsaw-travelers-jadzia-and-filip-001-mfrh-original-scaled.jpeg)

### Application to Automotive club

You can find the application form on the official website of **PZM Travel**, in 
the section dedicated to the [Carnet de Passages](https://www.pzmtravel.com.pl/strony-informacyjne/dokumenty-celne).
The form itself isn’t complicated, but gathering all the required attachments — 
especially for a leased vehicle — takes some attention and patience.

For a leased vehicle, submit:

 * application (in two copies),
 * A copy of the vehicle registration certificate,
 * A copy of your passport and driver’s license,
 * A copy of your current Automotive membership card (if you have one),
 * A copy of the lessor’s current copy of the National Court Register ([downloadable from the National Court Register](https://wyszukiwarka-krs.ms.gov.pl/)),
 * lessor’s consent – in the form of a document signed by the company’s representatives
   in the presence of a notary, which we wrote about earlier,
 * three photos of the vehicle:
    - Diagonally in front,
    - Rear with a visible license plate,
    - VIN number (preferably from the body),
 * confirmation of payment of the guarantee deposit,
 * confirmation of the document fee.

In the application itself, you need to indicate:

 * **all the countries** through which you plan to travel – if you are going one
   way and back through the same country, just enter it once,
 * **vehicle owner data** – that is, the leasing company’s data (name, address, 
   tax ID, etc.),
 * **Details of the vehicle user** – that is, the person who physically rides the
   motorcycle and requests the document (that is, you),
 * **Vehicle data** – including equipment (enter everything that is attached and
   is not removable by design – trunks, crash bars, grips, additional lights, etc.),
 * **The value of the vehicle** – preferably according to a national insurance quote,
 * **Contact to the vehicle user **– phone number and e-mail,
 * **details for the return of the deposit **– account number and details of the
   account owner to which the amount is to be returned upon return.

You can either deliver the application in person to the PZM Travel office or send
it by courier. We chose to hand it in ourselves — a notarized document isn’t something
we were comfortable trusting to a courier, especially considering the risk of it
getting lost in transit.

If you have any questions, it’s definitely worth reaching out to Ms. Ewa Zakrzewska,
who handles the issuance of CPDs.

### Deposit payment – how to determine its amount?

Each Carnet de Passages must be secured by a guarantee deposit, paid by wire transfer
to the account of PZM Travel. The amount of this deposit depends on two things:

 * Value of the vehicle (in PLN),
 * and the countries you plan to travel through.

In our case, we declared the value of the motorcycle as **85,000 PLN** and planned
our route only through countries in the “other” category — meaning no India, Iran,
Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, or any countries in Southern Africa. For that combination
and a motorcycle (category 1), the required deposit was **22,000 PLN**.

You pay the deposit from your own account – the leasing company is no longer involved
in the process.

#### **What does the number of cards in the carnet mean?**

When submitting the application, you choose the CPD variant:** 5-page**, **10-page**,
or** 25-page**. Each “page” covers one full transit through a country — including
both entry and exit.

So if you’re planning to travel through 5 different countries, you’ll need 5 pages.
And if you enter the same country again on your way back, you’ll need an **additional
page** for that country.

In our case, a **10-page carnet** was enough. But it’s definitely worth planning
your route carefully. While it is possible to extend the carnet, you can’t afford
to run out of pages mid-trip.

[The full fee table is available on the PZM Travel website](https://www.pzmtravel.com.pl/strony-informacyjne/dokumenty-celne),
and it’s best to check it directly at the source — the rates may change over time.

 [ ⌊Poland, Warsaw Carnet de Passage document with stamped customs entries and vehicle details including VIN W1081L⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/carnetdepassage-003-scaled.jpeg)

 [ ⌊Poland Warsaw Carnet de Passage document showing vehicle details and CPD number on stamped pages⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/carnetdepassage-002-scaled.jpeg)

#### **What does one card look like?**

Each sheet consists of three pages (copies):

 1. **Importation Voucher **– stays at the customs office of the country you are entering.
 2. **Exportation Voucher **– stays in the office when leaving the country.
 3. **Counterfoil **– this is the part that returns with stamps to the Automotive club
    and serves as proof that the vehicle entered and left legally. It must be stamped
    twice – at entry and at exit.

That’s why it’s so important not to lose any pages and always keep an eye on the
stamps – without them, there could be a problem with the return of the deposit.

### Receiving the document

From the moment the complete application is submitted, the waiting time for the 
Carnet de Passages is usually **between 2 and 4 weeks**. In our case, it took exactly
4 weeks. Once the document was ready, we were notified by email by Ms. Ewa from 
PZM Travel.

At the office, all we had to do was show up with an ID. They double-checked our 
details, we signed the receipt — and that was it. A quick, straightforward chat,
and just like that, one of the most time-consuming parts of the preparation was 
behind us.

We also learned that cases where a leasing company actually agrees to provide a 
notarized authorization for travel outside the EU are pretty rare. Which makes us
even more aware that we managed to get through something that, for many, ends in
a dead end.

## Costs associated with issuing CPD

Organizing a Carnet de Passages isn’t just about time and paperwork — it also comes
with real costs that need to be factored into your travel budget. And if your vehicle
is leased, that list of expenses gets a bit longer.

### How much does the Carnet de Passages cost?

The final cost consists of several elements:

 * **The fee for issuing the carnet** depends on the number of pages and whether
   you’re a member of PZM. In our case (a 10-page carnet, without membership), the
   cost was **1,250 PLN** (incl. VAT). If you’d like an invoice issued to your business,
   make sure to include your company details when submitting the CPD application.
 * **The security deposit **depends on the value of the vehicle and the regions 
   you plan to travel through.
 * **Optional courier fee** — we picked up the carnet in person, but if you prefer
   to have it shipped, expect to add around **40 PLN **to the cost.

### Return of deposit

The security deposit paid when applying for the Carnet de Passages is **refundable**—
but only if certain conditions are met.

After the trip, you need to return the original CPD to **PZM Travel **with all the**
customs stamps in place** — each used page must show both entry and exit stamps 
for every country. This serves as proof that the vehicle actually left each country
it entered.

Only after those entries are verified and approved by the central office (which 
forwards the data to the FIA — the international body responsible for CPDs), **PZM
will refund the deposit to the account you provided.**

This process can take up to **14 days**, so it’s a good idea to take care of the
paperwork as soon as you return. In our case, we’ll share an update once the refund
actually happens — but that’s the official procedure.

## Legalization of documents

Legalization is a whole process on its own, and we’ll cover it in detail in upcoming
posts — one for each country we’ll be passing through. But for now, it’s important
to understand that the leasing company’s authorization and the CPD application are
just the beginning.

If you’re planning to travel through countries outside the EU, you’ll need not only
the document for PZM but also a separate authorization to use the vehicle — prepared
in a language that’s understood by the authorities in the destination or transit
countries (for example, English, Arabic, or Turkish, depending on your route).

In our case, the authorized representatives of the leasing company signed two separate
documents in front of a notary:

 * **The first **— a document outlining the responsibilities related to the CPD,
   which was submitted in its **original form to PZM Travel**,
 * **The second **— a general authorization to use the vehicle outside the EU, which
   we continue to work with: it’s translated by a sworn translator and goes through
   the legalization process.

The original of this second document stays at home — **we only use certified copies**(
official duplicates confirmed by a notary), which are then sent to:

 * a sworn translator (if the document wasn’t originally prepared as a bilingual
   version),
 * a notary’s office (to certify the signature),
 * the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain an **apostille**, or to the embassy
   of the relevant country — depending on the specific requirements.

All of this takes time and proper planning, so it’s best to start early. In our 
case, the entire process began several months before the planned trip.

We’ll cover the details of translations, legalizations, costs, and practical tips
in a separate post coming soon.

 [ ⌊Warsaw legalization documents from Iraq with consular authentication stamps and signatures⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/carnetdepassage-001-mfrh-original-scaled.jpeg)