It is a legal requirement that vehicles travelling into mainland Europe must carry their DVLA-issued V5C (vehicle registration) certificate. For rental and leasing companies, who do not want to release the V5C, the BVRLA provides the VE103B (Vehicle on Hire Certificate).
How to order Vehicle on Hire Certificates (VE103B)?
The VE103B (Vehicle on Hire Certificate) is an authenticated document and an acceptable substitute for the V5C. It is produced by the DVLA and contains details of the vehicle along with the name and address of the hirer or lessee. It enables the police and other authorities to verify that the person driving the vehicle has permission from the asset owner to do so. Certificates are supplied in pads of 25 or 50, BVRLA members can choose to have the registered keeper address printed onto the forms at no extra cost.
Single certificates are also available to purchase. These cannot have registered keeper details added and will be blank on arrival to you.
Please note that due to staff absence, orders/enquiries will not be processed on Monday 11/11/2024, Tuesday 12/11/2024, Wednesday 20/11/2024, Wednesday 27/11/2024, Tuesday 03/12/2024 or Wednesday 04/12/2024.
FAQs
What is a VE103?
As the asset owner of a rental, leased or fleet-managed vehicle you will want to know if your vehicle is going abroad so that you can ensure the vehicle is in-service and has the appropriate breakdown cover and repatriation arrangements in place. You will want to ensure also that your customer has the right documentation so that there is no delay or upset at the border. However, you will not want to give up the original vehicle registration documents to your customer. Photocopies of the V5C or letters of authority do not serve as acceptable substitutes.
Introduced in 1963 by the DVLA, the Vehicle on Hire Certificate provides the necessary authenticated proof the hirer has permission of the vehicle owner to take the vehicle abroad. It is the only document that is the legal alternative for the V5C.
What happens if a hire vehicle is stopped without a VE103 Vehicle on Hire certificate?
The consequences will vary according to 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. Without a Vehicle on Hire certificate your customer and your vehicle are unprotected and vulnerable to a potentially major inconvenience.
Which countries require VE103 Vehicle on Hire certificates, to accompany drivers of hired vehicles?
All EU/EEA member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
As well as: Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Russian Federation, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
Is a fax or photocopy of the VE103 Vehicle on Hire certificate acceptable?
No. Only the original VE103 Vehicle on Hire certificate is acceptable to overseas authorities. If you don't supply this you could risk your vehicle being impounded or the hirer incurring a fine.
What details need to be entered on the VE103 Vehicle on Hire certificate?
The VE103 Vehicle on Hire certificate data must exactly match the details on the V5C Vehicle Registration certificate. If a V5C field is blank then leave the field on the VE103 blank as well. Instructions for completion can be downloaded here.
What advice does the DVLA provide for taking vehicles out of the UK temporarily?
Visit the DVLA Website.
What if my vehicles are fleet managed?
Some members of the BVRLA act as Fleet Managers for their clients, who may not wish to issue their V5C to their employees travelling abroad. Although such vehicles are not necessarily on hire, the DVLA has granted permission for our members to issue VE103Bs to drivers taking fleet managed vehicles abroad under the following conditions:
• The Fleet Management company is contracted by the Client to manage their vehicles
• The registered keeper name on the DVLA vehicle record is shown as the Client
• The registered keeper address is shown as Care of the Fleet Management company
• An employee of the client is taking the vehicle abroad
• The client has expressed clearly that the V5C should not be given to the driver