Taking a vehicle out of the UK

Skip to contents of guide

For less than 12 months

What you need to do depends on whether you’re taking:

  • your own vehicle abroad
  • a hired or leased vehicle abroad

Taking your own vehicle abroad

You must take your vehicle log book (V5C) with you if you’re taking your vehicle abroad for less than 12 months. You may have to show it if you’re stopped at a port or while driving abroad.

Your V5C must show your most recent address in the UK.

Apply in advance if you need to get a V5C or update your V5C before you travel. It can take up to:

  • 5 days if you apply online
  • 4 to 6 weeks if you apply by post or if you’ve changed your address or name

UK law still applies to a UK-registered vehicle if you take it abroad for less than 12 months. That means you need to make sure:

  • your vehicle is taxed in the UK while it’s abroad
  • you have a current MOT
  • you have UK insurance

You’ll also need to make sure you meet any international or national conditions for licensing and taxation.

Check if you need to pay import duty

You may need to pay import duty on your vehicle if you take it outside the UK. Check with the authorities in the country you’re taking your vehicle to.

You do not need to pay import duty to take your vehicle from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or the EU.

If you’re going to a non-EU country that charges duty, you can buy a CPD Carnet. This lets you take your vehicle into the country temporarily without paying duty. It can also make crossing the border simpler.

You’ll have to pay a fee and a deposit. You usually get the carnet within 4 weeks of applying.

Taking your vehicle to Liechtenstein, Mexico or Somalia

You must take an International Certificate for Motor Vehicles (ICMV) with you as well as your V5C.

Apply for an ICMV.

Bringing your vehicle back untaxed

If you bring your vehicle back to the UK untaxed you cannot drive it back into the UK - it’ll have to be transported and a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) must be made straight away.

Taking a hired or leased vehicle abroad

You’ll need a VE103 vehicle on hire certificate to show you’re allowed to use a hired or leased vehicle if you’re driving it abroad.

You can get a VE103 for a fee from the:

Taking a hired or leased vehicle to Liechtenstein, Mexico or Somalia

You must take an ICMV with you, as well as a VE103 vehicle on hire certificate.

You need to ask the company you hired or leased the vehicle from to apply for an ICMV.

  1. Step 1 Check where you can use your licence

    1. Check the rules for using your driving licence abroad

    You may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive outside the UK.

    1. Check if you need an IDP
  2. Step 2 Apply for an international driving permit (IDP)

  3. Step 3 Get insurance

    1. Check if your vehicle insurance covers you for the countries you're driving through

    Check this with your car hire company if you’re hiring a vehicle.

  4. Step 4 Prepare the documents you need to take with you

    1. You are currently viewing: Check what documents you need to take a vehicle out of the UK

    If you're hiring a car you may need to share your driving licence information with the hire company.

    1. Get a 'check code' to share your driving licence information

    If you got your licence in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to show the rental company your paper counterpart instead.

  5. Step 5 Check the rules for the country you're travelling to

    The rules for driving may be different in the country you're going to. For example, drink-driving rules might be different or you might need to carry extra equipment in your car.

    1. Check if you need to display a country sticker on your vehicle
    2. Check what you need to do if you’re driving in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
    3. Check the travel advice for all countries

    When you have your documents, insurance and any extra equipment you need you can drive abroad.