driving abroad - V5

[ChimBungee]

I plan to do my next trip to Munich with my car and asked myself whether I'm required to take the V5 with me.

DVLA doesn't seem to offer any other kind of doc that proves ownership and having the V5 with the car doesn't seem to be a good idea.

That question might seem strange, however, in Germany I was used to have a V5 equivalent and a registration document that you produce when you're pulled over.

[canam]

Theoretically you should have the V5 with you, and as you know, the Germans are very keen on this. But I have never been asked to produce one. Sod's Law, though...........
Also, if the vehicle is not registered in your name you need a letter of permission from the owner.

PS, if you haven't already been there, try the BMW Museum. It's only in a temporary building at the moment, but well worth going.

>> Edited by canam on Saturday 18th December 00:05

[Zod]

take a photocopy. No one in Germany carries an original Fahrzeugschein or Fahrzeugbrief.

>> Edited by Zod on Saturday 18th December 00:27

[ChimBungee]

canam: I am from Munich, it's actually worthwhile, not to forget the Deutsche Museum for some vintage cars

Zod: in Germany noone will ever have the Fahrzeugbrief (V5) in the car, but you are obliged to have your Fahrzeugschein with you. A photocopy will not be accepted for sure.

That's what actually worries me, in the UK there's no document that simply proves ownership. My genes, ehm education tells me NEVER to have the V5 in your car

What did you do when you went to Mainland?

>> Edited by ChimBungee on Saturday 18th December 01:06

[dcb]

canam said:

Theoretically you should have the V5 with you, and as you know, the Germans are very keen on this. But I have never been asked to produce one. Sod's Law, though........... Also, if the vehicle is not registered in your name you need a letter of permission from the owner.

I agree with this. I go to Germany sometimes, and my information is that the registration document or hire certificate is required.

Can't see the fuss about carrying the doccy on my person. Keep a photocopy elsewhere.

Never been asked for the papers either, but then I've never been involved in an incident which required the action of the German police.

Knowing the love of paperwork in Germany, I imagine that the first thing a German copper is going to do is to ensure all your paperwork is in order.

If you need help on what to visit in Munich, let me know. Augustiner bier garden just west of main train station the best - no tourists.

[Zod]

ChimBungee said:

Zod: in Germany noone will ever have the Fahrzeugbrief (V5) in the car, but you are obliged to have your Fahrzeugschein with you. A photocopy will not be accepted for sure.

Yes, you're right about the Brief, but I never carried the original Fahrzeugschein. My dealer was the one who put the photocopy in the car and told me to keep th original safe.

[hugoagogo]

Officially you need your original Fahrzeugschein in the car (and passport and licence) but in practice, photocopies are accepted if everything else appears in order (not tried it with a copy of the licence, but I was given a 7-day producer once when I'd left the licence in England, they CAN stop you from driving away though without it). It can be used as an excuse to take you in though.
Driving a UK car, I'd bring a good copy of the v5

[pdV6]

The other silly thing is that the one thing a V5 doesn't actually do is prove ownership. It nominates a registrered keeper, i.e. the one to hassle for speeding fines etc. AFAIK there's no actual documentation (other than a sales invoice, assuming you have one) to prove legal ownership of a UK-regitered vehicle!