Travelling in a Lease Car
A guide to going abroad
Can I take my lease car abroad?
Yes, you can take your lease car away with you. You'll just need to get in touch with your finance company to get authorisation and the documentation you need.
What do I need to do to take my lease car abroad?
When you take a car abroad you usually need to take the original registration documents, however with a lease these are kept by the funder. Instead you'll need to get a VE103 certificate, which confirms you're authorised to have the vehicle.
We’ve spoken to each of our funders to get a little more information from them about the process you'll need to follow in order to get the required documentation. Please note that if your lease is funded through manufacturer finance then you need to contact them directly and their contact numbers are listed below.
Please be aware that if you're travelling to a city that requires an emission sticker you may need to input the details of the VE103 in order to obtain this, so remember to allow time if necessary.
Take a look at your funder below to see their advice:
Contact Details:
If you have any further questions about taking your lease car abroad then please feel free to contact our Support Team on 0330 221 000 (option 3). Alternatively, you can contact your funder on the number listed below to speak to them directly.
- ALD - 08000323277
- Alphabet - 03700120301 (option 8)
- Arval - 03706004499 (option 5)
- Audi Financial Services - 03700102007
- BMW Financial Services - 03705050150
- LeasePlan – 03444935811 (option 4 then option 1)
- Leasys - 03445614611 (option 1 then option 4)
- Lex Autolease - 03448796633 (option 3)
- Mercedes-Benz Finance - 03708470700
- Mobilize Financial Services - 01753260976
- Nissan Finance - 03330090231
- Novuna - 03444632900 (option 1, then 4, then 2)
- Santander - 03301348751
- Seat Financial Services - 03703334446
- Skoda Financial Services - 03703334449
- Renault Finance - 03330090233
- Volvo Financial Services - 01926401203
- Volkswagen Financial Services - 03700102022
- Wessex Fleet - 01722322888 (option 3)
Driving Abroad
When you’re travelling abroad you may need to take additional items with you that you wouldn’t necessarily have when driving at home.
You should always have a GB sticker on your car if you're travelling abroad. Please note that for some countries if you have a GB number plate you may still need to get a GB sticker in addition to this.
The government has confirmed that post-Brexit you'll need to have a GB sticker on your vehicle if you plan to take it to Europe if it doesn't have the GB identifier on the number plate. In Spain, Cyprus and Malta you'll need to do this even if you have a GB identifier on your number plate.
The only exception to this is is you plan to travel to Ireland, where UK vehicles won't need to have a GB identifier.
Following the UK's departure from the EU in January 2021 you'll be required to carry a physical copy of a green card insurance certificate for any vehicle or trailer you plan to travel with. It'll be your responsibility to contact your insurance provider to ensure you receive this documentation prior to travel.
Some countries also require you to have a clean air emission sticker on the vehicle showing the emission levels for the car. Please check if this is required before you travel.
It's not a legal requirement in the UK to keep a vehicle safety kit in your car when driving but in some other countries it is. Please check before travelling if you need a safety kit and purchase one if you don't already have one in your car.
Just like in the UK other countries have regulations on children in vehicles, which include the use of booster seats, seat belts and even where in the car they can sit. You'll need to check the rules before you travel.
If you're travelling in the winter, or to a particularly cold country, check their rules on winter appropriate tyres and snow chains.
Before you travel
Please remember to check the below before you go on any long journey, especially if you're travelling abroad:
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- That you have enough fuel
- That your oil is topped up
- That your fluid levels are topped up if necessary
- That all your lights are working (please note you might need to take a full set of spares when travelling depending on the country you are visiting)
- Your tyre tread depth and tyre pressure
Other things to consider
It'll be your responsibility to ensure the vehicle is insured for the duration of your trip. You might want to check with your insurance provider whether the country you're travelling to is covered already by your existing policy or if you need additional insurance. Please also check what will be covered by your provider as many downgrade the level of cover when driving abroad.
If you plan on travelling with a trailer or caravan then you might need to take out additional insurance for this as well.
If you're travelling with your lease vehicle it'll be up to you to obtain any driving permits you require. Please check before you travel if you'll need any.
Before travelling you should familiarise yourself with the driving laws and regulations of the country you're visiting.
Please note that there's often a time limit on the length of time you can have a lease vehicle out of the country for. You should check with your funder what their limit is to make sure your trip doesn't exceed this.
Provided none of the details have changed, most VE103 certificates last for 12 months. Please check with your funder if you've any concerns over the length of time your certificate will be valid for.
Do you have more questions about travelling abroad, or just want to discuss what you need to do? If so just give us a call on 0330 221 000 (option 3) and speak to one of our friendly Customer Service Advisers.