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Car finance ›
Can you take a car on finance abroad?
Updated: Tuesday, 16 January 2024
When you first buy a new car on finance, you may not be considering driving abroad, but things change. You may end up planning a trip abroad and want to take your vehicle with you.
However, it isn’t as easy as simply taking your financed car overseas. Depending on your lender and the type of finance you have, there are several things you may need to do so that you don’t accidentally breach your agreement.
In this guide, we explore everything you need to know about taking a car on finance abroad. We can’t speak for other lenders, so it’s always best to check your agreement or contact them if you’re not sure.
Can I take a car I financed with Moneybarn abroad?
If you’ve bought a car on finance with us, you can take your vehicle abroad. If the car will be outside the UK for more than 15 consecutive days, you must get our written consent.
What should I do if I want to take my financed car abroad?
Whether you can take your financed vehicle abroad depends on how long you plan to leave the country. If you’re going on holiday, you will likely need permission from your finance provider. If you plan on being abroad long-term or moving permanently, you’ll likely need to settle or terminate your car finance agreement before leaving the country.
However, we can’t speak for all lenders. Every type of finance is different, and so is everyone’s car finance agreement. Before planning your holiday or trip, check your finance agreement or speak to your lender to see what you must do before taking your car abroad.
For most types of car finance (Conditional Sale or CS, Personal Contract Purchase or PCP, and Hire Purchase or HP for example – see our handy guide on the types of finance available), the finance company is the legal owner of the car. This is why you must have consent from the finance company to take your vehicle abroad.
If you’re travelling into mainland Europe, you’ll need to carry the vehicle logbook (V5C certificate). If you want to take a rental or lease car abroad, you must get permission and what’s known as a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103B).
The VE103B is issued by the British Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and is an acceptable substitute for the V5C. It enables the police and other authorities to verify that the person driving the vehicle has permission to take the vehicle abroad.
Can I move abroad and bring my car on finance with me?
You should contact your finance provider if you’re considering moving abroad and taking your vehicle. This is because you will need to settle the agreement early before taking the car with you.
As well as the terms of your finance agreement, there are other practical considerations you’ll need to consider, such as:
1. Servicing the vehicle
Some car finance deals come with a service plan, which means you could already pay for maintenance and MOTs. Moving abroad will likely make maintaining these service plans difficult or unnecessary.
2. Driving on the left-hand side
Your current car will be right-hand drive, so getting used to driving on the other side of the road is something you’ll have to get used to.
3. Whether you'll need a car
Public transport and infrastructure may be more efficient and cheaper than in the UK, so you may not need your car as much as you do in the UK.
4. Cheaper alternatives
The country you’re moving to may offer alternative options to your current car finance plan. For example, you could purchase or lease a vehicle in that country to save money compared to your existing car finance agreement.
5. Notify the DVLA
Once you’ve settled your finance early and own the car outright, there is a process you need to follow for taking your car abroad.
As per the rules stated on the GOV.UK website, you must tell the DVLA if you want to take your vehicle outside the UK for 12 months or more. This is known as a ‘permanent export’. To notify the DVLA of permanent export, you’ll need to:
- Complete the permanent export section of your vehicle logbook (V5C) and detach it from the rest of the document
- Send the completed permanent export section to the DVLA and include a letter if you’ve moved abroad and want any vehicle tax refunds sent to your new address
- Retain the rest of the V5C to register the vehicle in the country you’re taking it to
What paperwork will I need when taking my financed car abroad?
If you want to drive abroad and use your financed car, you’ll need to request a Vehicle on Hire certificate from the finance company, as they are legal owners.
This certificate contains details of the vehicle and the name and address of the hirer. If you don’t get permission from your finance company and a VE103B before travelling abroad, they may terminate your agreement, and the vehicle could be impounded.
Driving in European countries
Before August 2nd, 2021, drivers were required to have a Green Card (International Motor Insurance Card) to travel in the European Economic Area and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. As The AA explain, while you no longer need a Green Card, you still need to take:
- The certificate of motor insurance
- The V5C logbook or VE103B
- Your driving licence
Driving outside of Europe
To drive abroad outside of Europe, you must carry:
- Your full UK driving licence
- A copy of your DVLA driver record and a licence-checking code
- The vehicle’s registration document (V5C) or a VE103B
- The certificate of motor insurance
- An international driving permit, where necessary
- Your passport
- Details of your travel insurance cover
- A visa, where necessary
Before travelling abroad, you should inform your car insurer, as this may be part of the insurance cover agreement. This is according to GOV.UK. All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third-party cover to drive in the following areas:
- The EU (including Ireland)
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Serbia
- Switzerland
You may need to carry a Green Card if you wish to drive elsewhere. You can request these from your insurer. You will need a Green Card to travel to the following countries:
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Moldova
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Iran
- Israel
- Morocco
- Tunisia
Car finance from Moneybarn
We specialise in bad credit car finance, so if you’ve been refused by other lenders or have less-than-perfect credit, we could help. Try out our car finance calculator to see what your agreement could look like.
Representative 30.7% APR.
FAQs about taking a car on finance abroad
Can I take my financed car to Europe on holiday?
Finance companies typically allow you to take a vehicle abroad, but you must notify them before you go. To take a rental or lease car abroad, you must get what’s known as a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103B).
If you finance your vehicle with Moneybarn, you can take your vehicle abroad, but you must get our written consent if the car will be outside of the UK for more than 15 consecutive days.
Do I need to tell my car insurance company about going abroad?
Before travelling abroad, check the details of your car insurance policy. It will outline the process you need to follow for notifying your insurer, and whether your insurance is valid abroad.
Additionally, if you are travelling abroad to the countries below, the GOV.UK website explains that you will need a Green Card from your insurer:
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Moldova
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Iran
- Israel
- Morocco
- Tunisia
Can I take my car abroad if it was purchased with a personal loan?
If you have purchased your car with a personal loan, whether you can drive it abroad depends on the type of personal loan. If you have a secured car loan, you’ll likely need permission from the finance company. If you have an unsecured loan, you are the vehicle’s legal owner and should be able to drive it abroad without any problems, but its best to check your loan agreement to be certain.
You will also need to check whether your car insurance is valid abroad, and you may need to notify your insurer that you intent to take the car abroad too.
When you first buy a new car on finance, you may not be considering driving abroad, but things change. You may end up planning a trip abroad and want to take your vehicle with you.
However, it isn’t as easy as simply taking your financed car overseas. Depending on your lender and the type of finance you have, there are several things you may need to do so that you don’t accidentally breach your agreement.
In this guide, we explore everything you need to know about taking a car on finance abroad. We can’t speak for other lenders, so it’s always best to check your agreement or contact them if you’re not sure.
Can I take a car I financed with Moneybarn abroad?
If you’ve bought a car on finance with us, you can take your vehicle abroad. If the car will be outside the UK for more than 15 consecutive days, you must get our written consent.
What should I do if I want to take my financed car abroad?
Whether you can take your financed vehicle abroad depends on how long you plan to leave the country. If you’re going on holiday, you will likely need permission from your finance provider. If you plan on being abroad long-term or moving permanently, you’ll likely need to settle or terminate your car finance agreement before leaving the country.
However, we can’t speak for all lenders. Every type of finance is different, and so is everyone’s car finance agreement. Before planning your holiday or trip, check your finance agreement or speak to your lender to see what you must do before taking your car abroad.
For most types of car finance (Conditional Sale or CS, Personal Contract Purchase or PCP, and Hire Purchase or HP for example – see our handy guide on the types of finance available), the finance company is the legal owner of the car. This is why you must have consent from the finance company to take your vehicle abroad.
If you’re travelling into mainland Europe, you’ll need to carry the vehicle logbook (V5C certificate). If you want to take a rental or lease car abroad, you must get permission and what’s known as a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103B).
The VE103B is issued by the British Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and is an acceptable substitute for the V5C. It enables the police and other authorities to verify that the person driving the vehicle has permission to take the vehicle abroad.
Can I move abroad and bring my car on finance with me?
You should contact your finance provider if you’re considering moving abroad and taking your vehicle. This is because you will need to settle the agreement early before taking the car with you.
As well as the terms of your finance agreement, there are other practical considerations you’ll need to consider, such as:
1. Servicing the vehicle
Some car finance deals come with a service plan, which means you could already pay for maintenance and MOTs. Moving abroad will likely make maintaining these service plans difficult or unnecessary.
2. Driving on the left-hand side
Your current car will be right-hand drive, so getting used to driving on the other side of the road is something you’ll have to get used to.
3. Whether you'll need a car
Public transport and infrastructure may be more efficient and cheaper than in the UK, so you may not need your car as much as you do in the UK.
4. Cheaper alternatives
The country you’re moving to may offer alternative options to your current car finance plan. For example, you could purchase or lease a vehicle in that country to save money compared to your existing car finance agreement.
5. Notify the DVLA
Once you’ve settled your finance early and own the car outright, there is a process you need to follow for taking your car abroad.
As per the rules stated on the GOV.UK website, you must tell the DVLA if you want to take your vehicle outside the UK for 12 months or more. This is known as a ‘permanent export’. To notify the DVLA of permanent export, you’ll need to:
- Complete the permanent export section of your vehicle logbook (V5C) and detach it from the rest of the document
- Send the completed permanent export section to the DVLA and include a letter if you’ve moved abroad and want any vehicle tax refunds sent to your new address
- Retain the rest of the V5C to register the vehicle in the country you’re taking it to
What paperwork will I need when taking my financed car abroad?
If you want to drive abroad and use your financed car, you’ll need to request a Vehicle on Hire certificate from the finance company, as they are legal owners.
This certificate contains details of the vehicle and the name and address of the hirer. If you don’t get permission from your finance company and a VE103B before travelling abroad, they may terminate your agreement, and the vehicle could be impounded.
Driving in European countries
Before August 2nd, 2021, drivers were required to have a Green Card (International Motor Insurance Card) to travel in the European Economic Area and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. As The AA explain, while you no longer need a Green Card, you still need to take:
- The certificate of motor insurance
- The V5C logbook or VE103B
- Your driving licence
Driving outside of Europe
To drive abroad outside of Europe, you must carry:
- Your full UK driving licence
- A copy of your DVLA driver record and a licence-checking code
- The vehicle’s registration document (V5C) or a VE103B
- The certificate of motor insurance
- An international driving permit, where necessary
- Your passport
- Details of your travel insurance cover
- A visa, where necessary
Before travelling abroad, you should inform your car insurer, as this may be part of the insurance cover agreement. This is according to GOV.UK. All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third-party cover to drive in the following areas:
- The EU (including Ireland)
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Serbia
- Switzerland
You may need to carry a Green Card if you wish to drive elsewhere. You can request these from your insurer. You will need a Green Card to travel to the following countries:
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Moldova
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Iran
- Israel
- Morocco
- Tunisia
Car finance from Moneybarn
We specialise in bad credit car finance, so if you’ve been refused by other lenders or have less-than-perfect credit, we could help. Try out our car finance calculator to see what your agreement could look like.
Representative 30.7% APR.
FAQs about taking a car on finance abroad
Can I take my financed car to Europe on holiday?
Finance companies typically allow you to take a vehicle abroad, but you must notify them before you go. To take a rental or lease car abroad, you must get what’s known as a Vehicle on Hire certificate (VE103B).
If you finance your vehicle with Moneybarn, you can take your vehicle abroad, but you must get our written consent if the car will be outside of the UK for more than 15 consecutive days.
Do I need to tell my car insurance company about going abroad?
Before travelling abroad, check the details of your car insurance policy. It will outline the process you need to follow for notifying your insurer, and whether your insurance is valid abroad.
Additionally, if you are travelling abroad to the countries below, the GOV.UK website explains that you will need a Green Card from your insurer:
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Moldova
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Iran
- Israel
- Morocco
- Tunisia
Can I take my car abroad if it was purchased with a personal loan?
If you have purchased your car with a personal loan, whether you can drive it abroad depends on the type of personal loan. If you have a secured car loan, you’ll likely need permission from the finance company. If you have an unsecured loan, you are the vehicle’s legal owner and should be able to drive it abroad without any problems, but its best to check your loan agreement to be certain.
You will also need to check whether your car insurance is valid abroad, and you may need to notify your insurer that you intent to take the car abroad too.
For a better road ahead
Moneybarn is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, the official trade organisation of the motor finance industry. The FLA promotes best practice in the motor finance industry for lending and leasing to consumers and businesses.
Moneybarn is the trading style of Moneybarn No. 1 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04496573, and Moneybarn Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 02766324. The registered address for these companies is: Athena House, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3LJ.
Moneybarn’s VAT registration number is 180 5559 52.
Moneybarn Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702781)
Moneybarn No. 1 Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702780)
