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: 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 .

Taxes if you buy a new vehicle to take abroad

If you buy a new or used vehicle to take out of the UK, you might not have to pay UK VAT or vehicle taxes such as the registration fee. What you pay and how you pay it depends on where you’re exporting to and from. Export your vehicle with the Personal Export Scheme You may be able to use the Personal Export Scheme to take a new or used vehicle: from Great Britain to anywhere outside the UK from Northern Ireland to a non-EU country When you buy a new vehicle and export under the scheme, you do not pay UK VAT . But you still have to pay vehicle taxes and the registration fee. You must be planning to leave the UK for at least 6 months with the vehicle. You usually have to be personally driving your vehicle. What you need to do Fill in form VAT 410 (your supplier will give you a copy) and give it to your supplier. You can drive the vehicle in the UK for up to 6 months after the delivery date (or 12 months for non-UK and non-EU residents) - it must then be exported. The date for export of the vehicle is shown on the VX302 (for new cars) or the VAT 410 (for used cars). After export send the DVLA the: VX302 - new vehicles vehicle log book (V5C) - second-hand vehicles If you do not export the vehicle on time you’ll have to pay the UK VAT. Export your vehicle from Northern Ireland to the EU If you buy a new vehicle in Northern Ireland to take to an EU country, you do not have to pay UK VAT if you: take the vehicle out of the UK within 2 months do not drive the vehicle in the UK unless you register and tax it Your supplier will get you to fill in form VAT 411 . You’ll have to declare your vehicle and pay VAT in the other country when you get there.

Taking a vehicle out of the UK

For 12 months or more

You must tell DVLA if you’re taking your vehicle out of the UK, including to the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), Isle of Man or Ireland, for 12 months or more. This is known as permanent export.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You’ll need to:

Fill in the ‘permanent export’ section of your V5C (log book), detach it and keep the rest of your log book - you’ll need the rest to register your vehicle in the country you’re taking it to.
Send the completed ‘permanent export’ section to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD. If your address has changed, include a letter with your new address so that DVLA can send your vehicle tax refund (if you’re entitled to one) there.
Update the address on your driving licence if you’re moving home.

If you’re due a refund, you’ll usually get it within 4 to 6 weeks. The refund is worked out from the date DVLA gets your ‘permanent export’ section.

If you’re buying a vehicle to take abroad, make sure the seller follows the correct process for vehicles that will be registered in another country. They must give you the full log book (V5C) - not just the new keeper slip.

If you do not have a vehicle log book (V5C)

Before you leave the UK

You need to get a vehicle log book (V5C) before you leave the UK. DVLA cannot send a vehicle log book to an address outside the UK.

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

When you get your log book, fill in and send the ‘permanent export’ section to DVLA.

If you do not receive it before you leave the UK, contact the driving authority of the country you’re travelling to. They’ll tell you what documents you need.

If you’ve already left the UK

Contact the driving authority of the country you’re taking the vehicle to. They’ll tell you what documents you’ll need to provide to register the vehicle there.

You also need to send a letter to DVLA to tell them you’ve taken the vehicle out of the country. Include:

your name and address
the make, model and if possible, the vehicle identification number of the vehicle
the date you took the vehicle out of the country

DVLA

Swansea
SA99 1BA

If you cannot get a vehicle log book (V5C)

Contact the driving authority of the country you’re taking the vehicle to - they’ll tell you how to register your vehicle.

Send a letter to DVLA to tell them you’ve taken the vehicle out of the country. Include:

your name and address
the date you took the vehicle out of the country
where DVLA can send the vehicle tax refund

DVLA

Swansea
SA99 1BA

If the ‘permanent export’ section is missing

If the ‘permanent export’ section is not in the log book, send a letter to DVLA to tell them you’ve taken the vehicle out of the country. Include:

your name and address
the date you took the vehicle out of the country

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BA

Moving your vehicle between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Fill in the change of address section in your log book and send it to DVLA.

DVLA

Swansea
SA99 1BA

Personalised registrations

You’ll need to transfer or retain your personalised registration before exporting your vehicle. Otherwise you’ll lose your right to the registration number.

If you’re a motor trader

You’ll need to:

fill in the ‘permanent export’ section of your vehicle log book (V5C) and detach it from the log book
send the completed ‘permanent export’ section to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD

View a printable version of the whole guide

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
Step 2 Apply for an international driving permit (IDP)
1. Get an IDP in person from certain shops that have PayPoint £5.50
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.
Step 4 Prepare the documents you need to take with you
1. 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.
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.
When you have your documents, insurance and any extra equipment you need you can drive abroad.

Taking a vehicle out of the UK

For 12 months or more

If you do not have a vehicle log book (V5C)

Before you leave the UK

If you’ve already left the UK

If you cannot get a vehicle log book (V5C)

If the ‘permanent export’ section is missing

Moving your vehicle between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Personalised registrations

If you’re a motor trader

Step 1 Check where you can use your licence

Step 2 Apply for an international driving permit (IDP)

Step 3 Get insurance

Step 4 Prepare the documents you need to take with you

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

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Taking a vehicle out of the UK

For 12 months or more

If you do not have a vehicle log book (V5C)

Before you leave the UK

If you’ve already left the UK

If you cannot get a vehicle log book (V5C)

If the ‘permanent export’ section is missing

Moving your vehicle between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Personalised registrations

If you’re a motor trader

Part of Drive abroad: step by step

Step 1: Check where you can use your licence

Step 2: Apply for an international driving permit (IDP)

Step 3: Get insurance

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

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

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check where you can use your licence

Step 2 Apply for an international driving permit (IDP)

Step 3 Get insurance

Step 4 Prepare the documents you need to take with you

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