Consumer advice for travelling abroad

European travelling advice

Taking a rental vehicle abroad is simple and straightforward provided that a few simple rules are remembered and that you have the right documentation.

That includes the essential Vehicle on Hire Certificate obtainable from your rental company. Without it, and following an incident, your vehicle could be impounded by police or other authorities until ownership is clearly established.

If you plan to take your rental or leased vehicle abroad, you must inform the rental or leasing company. You need to ensure that you have permission from the company and have all the necessary documentation, in order to avoid possible vehicle seizure and fines.

Specific requirements vary from country to country and are subject to change over time, but in all EU countries you will need:

• Motoring breakdown cover
• VE103B certificate (Vehicle on Hire certificate)
• International motor insurance
• Full driving licence (both parts to be carried at all times)
• Passport

Your rental or leasing company should be able to help provide you with a VE103B certificate, motor breakdown cover and international motor insurance. An increasing number of Members use the BVRLA's Drive Europe service which provides complete driver pack covering all countries on the itinerary. Click here for more information.

It is your responsibility, as the driver, to ensure that you and your vehicle carry everything you need. For more information and fully up-to-date details please refer to the RAC website (www.rac.co.uk) and click on ‘European Motoring Advisor’ or go to the AA website (www.theaa.com) and click on ‘Motoring Advice’ and then ‘European Driving’.

Returning from Europe in a rental or leased vehicle

In addition the BVRLA has also produced a leaflet aimed at CV operators who are Returning from Europe. It gives advice on how to avoid penalties from illegal immigrants. This guide is relevant to all rental and leased vehicles being taken abroad from BVRLA Members.

While the civil penalty for bringing in clandestine illegal immigrants may no longer be headline news it is still critically important to prevent illegal immigrants using your rented vehicles and causing you penalties!
Click here to download the pdf leaflet by and find out how.

VE103B

Why do customers need it?

Vehicles travelling in mainland Europe must carry the vehicle registration document. An exception is made for vehicles on hire, where for obvious reasons rental companies will not want the registration document to be carried by the customer in the vehicle. In this circumstance, a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (VE103B) must be carried. This is the only legal substitute for the registration document (V5). Photocopies or faxes of the V5 and a letter of authority are not legally recognised alternatives.

What is it?

The VE103B certificate is the only authenticated registration document substitute. The certificate contains details of the vehicle taken from the V5, along with the name and address of the hirer in order that a person in authority can verify that the person driving the vehicle has permission to do so.

What happens if a hire vehicle is caught without a VE103B?

The consequences of a vehicle being caught without any registration documents will vary depending on factors such as the country, the law enforcement agency and even the time of day in which the vehicle was stopped. The driver may be fined or the vehicle may be impounded – in 2005 the BVRLA heard of five such incidents and there will have been others, as well. The simple fact is, without a VE103B you and the rental vehicle is unprotected and vulnerable to any inconvenience

How do you make sure you have a valid VE103B certificate?

Contact your leasing or rental company – as registered keepers of the rental vehicle only they can make the necessary arrangements for you.