With summer upon us many people will be looking forward to getting in their cars and taking a trip across the channel, but have you informed your Contract Hire or Car Leasing provider?
We all spend lots of time looking at what route we will take, where we will stay and how much money we need. But for most of us with a vehicle on a Contract Hire agreement or a Personal lease have we remembered to contact our car leasing provider in advance. It is important to do this as you will need to gain the lease providers permission to take the vehicle out of the UK and for them to arrange a VE103 document. Simplistically this document is evidence that you are not the legal owner of the vehicle but as the user your Leasing provider has given written authority for you to take the vehicle outside of the UK.
As this is very often outsourced by the Contract Hire company it is advisable to give your lease provider as much time as possible, I would suggest at least three weeks in advance of your trip.
What else should you take in consideration?
It is obviously important to have a full driving licence and it is worth checking whether the country or countries you will be visiting have any additional requirements.
Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?
If the answer is yes, did you know that in Spain, Switzerland and Liechtenstein you will be breaking the law if you do not have a spare pair with you whilst driving?
What about your Sat Nav, does is it have European fixed safety camera information included?
If so be careful as in some areas these are illegal and can result in fines. If you have speed camera detector then you could really get yourself in trouble. Just owning a radar detector is illegal in nine European countries, including Belgium, France, Switzerland and Austria, and using one in a moving vehicle is not permitted in 16 countries including Spain, Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands. Penalties can include a fine, driving ban and even imprisonment.
If you are thinking of letting the younger members of your family drive again you will need to check if they are legal many countries have different age limits so again best to check. In the UK 17 is the legal age but in much of Europe 18 is the minimum age.
Car Insurance- Are you adequately insured?
Always check with your Insurance company that your cover is sufficient for using your car whilst on holiday especially if you are taking it outside of the euro zone. You may also need to have more than a cover note with you.
Hopefully this may just may jog your memory and allow you to have a great holiday and not suddenly realise the ferry leaves in two hours and you haven’t got all the necessary paperwork!
With the holiday season in full flow many of us will be making longer journeys than perhaps we normally take, how many of us consider just how tired we might be? Recently published research by Brake and Direct Line shows the vast majority admit driving while tired, and drivers don’t know the difference between fact and fiction on tackling sleepiness at the wheel.
