Company car drivers planning to take their vehicles abroad need to follow some clear guidelines to ensure they stay safe and within the letter of the law.
If the vehicle is leased or rented, a VE103 certificate must be carried at all times to provide proof of permission to take the car out of the country.
The company’s insurance cover also needs to be extended to cover foreign travel. The VE103 should be applied for at least seven days before the departure date to give the leasing company time to raise the necessary paperwork, while insurers should also be contacted well in advance.
If the company owns the car, the driver will still need a letter of authorisation to take the vehicle out of the country and this should be carried at all times.
Without the correct documentation, drivers could face long delays at the border or worse, risk having the vehicle impounded.
Drivers need to have their Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence to drive abroad on holiday.
You can use:
- a photocard licence
- a valid paper-only licence if issued before 31 March 2000, if you still have one.
If you’re hiring a car, the hire company may ask for a check code so they can view your driving record, following the abolition of the paper counterpart of all UK driving licences.
The check code provides access to your online records for third parties like rental companies, showing whether you have convictions for offences like speeding, and is valid for 21 days.
To obtain it, you will need to log on to the Government website at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licenceunder the heading ‘View or share your driving licence information’.
To access your details and generate the check code, you will need:
- your driving licence number
- your National Insurance number
- the postcode on your driving licence
You can use your Great Britain (GB) or Northern Ireland driving licence in all EU countries and in European Economic Area countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and Switzerland. However, you might also need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some non-EU countries.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you will need an IDP to drive in some EU and European Economic Area countries. There is also a long list of countries outside the EU and the EEA where you will need an IDP. Details can be seen here: https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit
The rules for passports, EHIC cards, pet travel and more may also change if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Check if you need to act now to make sure you can travel as planned here: https://www.gov.uk/visit-europe-brexit
If you’re going to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, make sure you’ve also got the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The EHIC card entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment in most European countries.
However, the cover provided under the respective national schemes is not always comprehensive – and the cost of bringing a person back to the UK in the event of illness or death is never covered, so you should make sure you have adequate travel insurance as well.
The Government has published a step by step guide to help individuals and businesses to understand what is required and what steps need to be taken when taking vehicles abroad. https://www.gov.uk/drive-abroad
