Taking a vehicle out of the UK
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.
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:
- AA
- British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA)
- RAC Motoring Services
- Road Haulage Association (RHA)
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.