The ultimate guide to driving your lease vehicle abroad

Ready to pack up your lease car and take a road trip abroad this summer?

Planning an adventure overseas? 

Whether you're catching a ferry, cruising through the Channel Tunnel, or heading off on a full-blown international road trip, you’ll be glad to know — yes, you can take your lease car with you.

No need to mess about with car hire or re-learning how to drive with everything on the "wrong" side. Your lease car's ready for the ride.

Of course, there are a few extra things to think about (it’s not your car, technically), but nothing a little prep won’t fix.

From legal bits to local rules, we’ve got you covered with a simple checklist to make border crossings a breeze.

Because let’s face it — the only thing you should be worrying about is snacks and playlists.

Your checklist for taking your lease vehicle abroad:

Full, valid UK driving license

Make sure you take your full UK photocard driving licence with you when driving abroad.

If you’re ever stopped by the police in another country, you’ll need to show it for inspection — and having the real thing is essential, not just a snap on your phone.

If you don’t have a photocard license, but have a paper license, you may need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP).

VE103 and VE103B documents

Taking a car you own abroad? All you’d need to take is the V5C. AKA, the vehicle logbook.

However, when you lease a car through contract hire, your finance provider keeps the V5C because they’re the registered keeper. 

You’ll need to contact your funder at least two weeks – preferably longer if possible – before you leave to get permission from them to take your lease car abroad.

Additionally, if you have any questions or need help, you can ask your funder and they’ll be able to guide you in the right direction.

Your funder will then be able to issue you the VE103 and VE103B documents.

The VE103 is a certificate that proves you can take your lease vehicle out of the country. The VE103B, otherwise known as the Vehicle on Hire certificate, replaces the V5C and confirms your name and address, as well as the length of your car lease deal.

The VE103 certificate is valid for 12 months, but bear in mind you might only be allowed to take your car out of the country for 60 days. 

If you’re planning to be out of the country for an extended period, you’ll need to talk to your funder about any potential restrictions.

Your finance provider might charge you for these documents, which can be around the £12-£15 mark.

Appropriate insurance and breakdown cover

Before you set off on your summer road trip, you’ll want to check whether your insurance cover is extended to outside of the UK.

Some insurance companies can lower your level of cover while abroad to just a basic cover.

Similarly, you’ll want to check that your breakdown cover extends to outside of the UK.

Although it’s not a legal requirement, it can save you a lot of money if you happen to breakdown abroad.

Annual mileage allowance

When you take out a car lease deal, you’ll select your annual mileage allowance up front.

This normally ranges between 5,000-30,000 miles per year, but if you exceed your overall allowance at the end of your lease contract then you could be charged excess mileage.

For example, if you take out a two-year lease on a 5,000 miles per annum contract, and by the end of your deal you've driven more than 10,000 miles, you’ll be charged per mile for whatever you've gone over by.

It’s worth bearing in mind your mileage allowance when planning your road trip. The last thing you want is a nasty surprise at the end of your lease.

Plan on travelling a lot? 

Make sure you include this in your annual mileage estimate.

Driving your lease car abroad

Though spontaneity can be exciting, having your route planned before you leave is a smart idea.

This is so you can check the laws of the country (or countries) you’re visiting before you get there. As they say, preparation is key.

For example, France requires you to display a UK sticker on your car as a distinguishing mark. This changed in September 2021 from GB to UK, so if it’s been a while since you drove in France, it’s worth checking that you have the correct sticker.

France also requires you, by law, to carry reflective jackets, a breathalyser, a warning triangle, headlamp beam deflectors, and snow chains (when driving through ‘snow zones’).

Spain, on the other hand, needs you to display the UK sticker and have a high-vis jacket, two red warning triangles, a spare wheel and headlamp beam deflectors.

You don’t want to be caught without, so make sure you do your research and have everything you need before you travel.

Give your car a proper once-over a few days before you hit the road. 

Start with a good wash and hoover — after all, no one wants to start a road trip in a crumb-covered chaos zone.

Then, check it over properly. 

The last thing you want is to go abroad and realise your tyres are looking a bit sad.

Top up your fuel, check your oil and coolant levels (don’t forget the windscreen wash too), make sure all your lights are working, and inspect your tyres — that means condition, tread depth, and inflation.

Sort the boring stuff now, and future you can just focus on the fun stuff. 

Like the road trip snacks and the playlist.

If you’re travelling overseas for work, you might be able to take your company lease car with you.

You will need to check your company policy, and you’ll still need to get hold of the same documents as you would for a personal lease car (as mentioned above).

Three of the best European road trips

We couldn't let you go without a little inspiration...

Before you zoom off, we had to share three of our favourite European road trips. They’re easy to reach from the UK in your lease car, and packed with jaw-dropping scenery, winding roads, and just the right amount of adventure.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Picture this: 1,600 miles of winding coastal road, stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula up north to charming Kinsale down south.

You’ll pass through postcard-perfect spots like Donegal Town, Galway, Kilkee and West Cork — with pit stops at natural wonders like Barleycove Beach, the Slieve League cliffs, the Erris Head coastline, and of course, the iconic Cliffs of Moher.

Hop on a ferry from the UK and you’re good to go, all from the comfort of your lovely lease car.

We’re sold. You?

Harwich-Hook of Holland-Amsterdam-Antwerp-Brussels-Ghent-Bruges-Dunkirk-Calais-Dover

Ready for a road trip that spans the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France?

Technically, this route’s a six-hour drive — but we’d recommend stretching it into a week to truly take in the sights.

Start with the charming canals of Amsterdam, then cruise to Brussels to soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

Next, visit Bruges for stunning medieval buildings, before wrapping up with Dunkirk and Calais, steeped in rich history.

It might not be the classic "wind-in-your-hair" kind of road trip, but exploring beautiful cities and immersing yourself in the local history is pretty hard to beat.

And getting there? Easy — just hop on the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, then return via Calais to Dover. Simple.

Santander – Roscoff

Ready for an epic French road trip? Drive the entire western coast from Santander to Roscoff.

Fair warning: this one’s a bit of a commitment.

The ferry to Santander takes a solid 24 hours, and if you’re tackling the full coast in one go, it’ll take around 11-12 hours of driving, plus a final six-to-eight-hour ferry from Roscoff to Plymouth to cap it all off.

But what a journey it would be.

With stops in stunning towns like Bordeaux, La Rochelle, and Rennes, plus plenty of national parks and beautiful beaches to explore along the way.

This could easily turn into a summer holiday for the books.

Ready to hit the road?

So, there you have it — everything you need to know to drive your lease car abroad and make the most of your international road trip.

Whether you're cruising along the Wild Atlantic Way, exploring Europe's charming cities, or soaking up the coastal beauty of France, there's an unforgettable adventure waiting for you.

A little prep goes a long way, but once you're all set, you can focus on the most important things: the open road, great company, and creating epic road trip memories.

So, pack your bags, get your car ready, and get ready for the ultimate summer adventure. 

Bon voyage!