Vehicles travelling abroad

In this section you will find comprehensive guidance and information on BVRLA products designed for members hiring vehicles to customers travelling overseas.

Vehicle on Hire certificates (VE103B)

Vehicles travelling in mainland Europe must carry their 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 in the car.

In this circumstance a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103B) must be carried. It contains details of the vehicle taken from the V5, along with the name and address of the hirer and enables the authorities to verify that the person driving the vehicle has permission to do so. The VE103B is the only legal substitute for the registration document (V5). Photocopies of the V5 or letters of authority are not accepted.

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

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 VE103B your customer and your vehicle are unprotected and vulnerable to a potentially major inconvenience.

How do I order VE103Bs?

Members can order VE103B certificates through the BVRLA. They can be supplied in pads of 50, where you can choose to have your registered keeper address printed onto the forms at no extra cost for quick completion. We can also provide automated forms which are over-printed by your rental application system. An emergency next-day delivery service for single VE103Bs is available Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays), provided the order is received before 3.45pm.

To order, simply download our VE103B order form and fax it through to 01494 434499 or email to memberservices@bvrla.co.uk.

If your company doesn't have the time and resource to issue VE103B certificates, Drive Europe could be the answer you’re looking for. Check out the details below.

Sign up to the VE103B bulletin email

Now it's even easier to keep up to date with all the latest top tips and facts with the VE103B bulletin email.

Sign up today, click here to add your name to our distribution list.

Drive Europe

In partnership with All Fleet Services, Drive Europe enables you to provide your fleet customers with a truly premium service:

• Same day, first class dispatch of the VE103B certificate
• Access for your customers to a 24/7 call centre
• A text message to inform the driver that the documentation has been sent
• Customised driver pack to meet your company’s specific requirements

The new-style VE103B certificate (introduced in July 2005) requires additional information to be recorded that many members do not routinely hold. Even when they do, it can be difficult to access it quickly. However, All Fleet Services have an online DVLA look-up facility which allows all the fields on the VE103B certificate to be completed with no hassle for you.

What countries require VE103B documentation to accompany drivers of hired vehicles?

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The VE103B also applies in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Is a fax or photocopy of the VE103B acceptable?

Only original documentation is acceptable to overseas authorities. If you don't supply this you could risk your vehicle being impounded or the hirer incurring a fine.

If two drivers travel in one hire vehicle and drive separately at any one time – how many VE103B certificates do I need to issue?

A maximum of three drivers can be allocated on the VE103B form, however they must be travelling together at all times. If they travel separately in that vehicle, two forms will need to be issued.

What details need to be entered on the VE103B?

The VE103B data must exactly match the V5/Logbook document. If a V5/Logbook field is blank then leave the field on the VE103B blank as well.

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Contact:

For more information on travelling abroad, VE103B certificates and Drive Europe, call us on 01494 545703 or email memberservices@bvrla.co.uk.

Related Documents

DVLA Travelling Abroad Leaflet (DVLA Leaflet - taking a vehicle abroad.pdf)
The DVLA Leaflet for travelling abroad with a vehicle, including information on the VE103

Returning From Europe (Returning_from_Europe_07.pdf)
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.