Driving abroad with no docs

[t1grm]

I've a new car arriving on PCH next week and I've got a road trip to Europe booked literally the day after it arrives. Normally you need a VE103 for a lease car but they have just told me they cannot issue one until after 2 weeks once they have the V5. I really don't want to cancel the road trip. Do you think I would get away with a copy of the lease agreement if I got pulled over abroad? It has my name and address, the lease company name and address and the car registration number on it.

[JakeT]

I've taken my car abroad before without the V5 since I'd just bought it. I just kept a copy of the sale receipt, and that was it.

I'd take it, take proof of insurance, and your lease docs. You should be fine.

[Pericoloso]

Just don't get pulled ,or dress it up like a WW2 tank.

[t1grm]

Yeah I have insurance sorted out so hopefully, lease contract, insurance and drivers licence should be enough.

[996TT02]

How long is a piece of string type question. In the main, if pulled over, you will need to show all documentation. You may not ever get pulled over, indeed chances are very high that you won't, obviously, unless doing something stupid. If you are, a lot will depend on how understanding your new friend is. I would go for something in writing that explains why you don't have a V5 in your name, this should help greatly. Personally I don't think the risks are high but it's your decision. In Italy last May I accidentally forgot all my paperwork and when I realised, I was pretty uncomfortable about it because the Italians are great lovers of paperwork, and also of very frequent roadside checks (for the paperwork). On the flipside they are usually amongst the most flexible and understanding.

[t1grm]

Yes obvs if you don't get pulled it's a non issue.

[Mo28]

Have you got permission from the lease company to take the car abroad?

[Baldchap]

I've just driven to the south of Spain in a spanker without a V5. Obviously insurance is online now, so easy, and we just took the invoice from the dealer. People in Europe must buy new cars so I'm sure this wouldn't be an issue unless you fail the attitude test.

Saw one police car over the whole journey and broke the speed limits on mainland Europe for virtually every mile driven. I wouldn't worry too much.

[so called]

Baldchap said:

...........and broke the speed limits on mainland Europe for virtually every mile driven......

Spanked the spanker.

[t1grm]

Mo28 said:

Have you got permission from the lease company to take the car abroad?

Well they are aware of the trip but say they can't issue a VE103 so if the car get's impounded any costs are on me. So I suppose that's a yes.

[tog]

I got pulled over in a borrowed van in France at a police roadblock. I said I didn't have any documents apart from my license. The gendarme conferred with a colleague, shrugged and waved me on. Clearly she had better things to worry about than chasing a foreigner for a few missing docs.

[t1grm]

I think I'm just going to risk it and go with as much car related documentation as I can. I have a laptop full of emails relating to the car purchase and the VE103 request. Whether the police will be interested or not is a different matter.

I'm having a ding dong argument with the broker because this is basically all down to them. The dealer has had the car since 2nd July and the lease company has already said they will immediately prepare a hand written VE103 (against standard process) if the broker provides them with a simple letter/email the following information:

Date of registration: – from dealer
Make: – on order confirmation
Model: – on order confirmation
Type: – in public domain
Body Type: – in public domain
VIN: – from dealer
Max permissible mass: – in public domain
Vehicle Category: – in public domain
Cylinder Capacity: – in public domain
Colour: – on order confirmation
No of seats: – in public domain

However the broker has refused to provide the above information until 2 weeks after delivery when the car is on their systems. I have provided the same to the lease company but they won't take it from me. It has to come from the broker. So as far as I am concerned this is a purely bureaucratic roadblock being caused by the broker.

[A1VDY]

I do Belgium, France, Germany, Austria and Italy on a regular basis. All I've ever needed or been asked for in the last 10 or so years is driving licence and insurance, plus mot if over 3years old. I also carry an IDP, available from the post office for £5.50. Its not essential but explains your driving licence in different languages which can be of help..

[CABC]

unless you fail the attitude test it sounds like you have enough paperwork to cover ownership/right to drive.
They're more likely to hit you for 135 of you finest euros if you don't carry a passport in some countries. easy hit.
135 for driving in flip flops too

[SuperPav]

Been loads of times without paperwork, never asked for it out of the blue. Obviously if you haven’t got all the papers or the obligatory hi viz jackets etc, then I’d recommend you don’t speed as that’s really the only time I’ve been asked for docs.
Having said that we were once in a car that had no papers and my mate got pulled by the French for speeding and realized he didn’t even have his license on him! They took his passport while we drove to get cash from a nearby village to pay the fine, and then let us crack on.

And as others have said, don’t get irate if you do get stopped, try your best to apologise and explain and you should be fine.

[NSS89]

T1grm,
Hope your well. I was reading about your France incident where your car was impounded. I’m in the exact same position and struggling to find a reliable and reasonably priced lawyer. Would you be able to share the details of that lawyer with me please. It’s been 2 weeks the car is stuck there and I have been there twice to try and get it. Please help!

[832ark]

Got pulled in Belgium for a very minor speeding infringement. All very friendly, but he wanted the V5C as well which I provided. He said how common it was for him to pull over Brits who didn’t have their V5C and that they got an additional fine.

[robin conway]

I got fines €150 for not having my original V5C in belgium. NOT A COPY ON YOUR PHONE. Must be original