Do i need to carry my V5 Logbook with me?

[Ady77]

We are travelling to France, Spain and Italy in July , I keep reading that you need to legally carry the V5 and insurance documents with you when travelling, I am not very happy about doing this for obvious reasons, do the police really check?

 

[mccp]

We are travelling to France, Spain and Italy in July , I keep reading that you need to legally carry the V5 and insurance documents with you when travelling, I am not very happy about doing this for obvious reasons, do the police really check?

No idea about Spain and Italy, but it is customary to keep your 'carte grise' in the car in France, so you are looked upon with great suspicion if you can't produce the equivalent V5 by anyone who expects to see your documentation. I now carry both the V5 and certificate of insurance simply to avoid difficulties. I can't say that I've worried about having them in the car at all.

 

[GrannyJen]

A yes from me.

As mccp, V5 and Certificate of insurance.

 

[snowy55]

Always take my documents when traveling abroad, as far as I know it's a legal requirement.

 

[Martin]

If you dont want to take your original you can get a copy of your V5 to take with you, costs £6.95 from the RAC, looks the same as your normal V5 and accepted in Europe.
http://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/driving-abroad/voh-application-form.aspx

 

[greenfintry]

We were asked for the V5 by a gendarme in France prior to going into the Frejus tunnel. He seemed a bit disappointed that we had it, guess it's a good income stream if you haven't got it...

 

[Martin]

If you dont want to take your original you can get a copy of your V5 to take with you, costs £6.95 from the RAC, looks the same as your normal V5 and accepted in Europe.
http://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/driving-abroad/voh-application-form.aspx

Wrong link! looks like you can't get a copy of your V5 any more, the form above may be useful topeople hiring out their Cali's though.

 

[Ambler]

Are downloaded and printed (by user) copies of the certificate of insurance acceptable?
In the old days you received a proper printed one by post. Now just download and print on home printer.

 

[GrannyJen]

Are downloaded and printed (by user) copies of the certificate of insurance acceptable?
In the old days you received a proper printed one by post. Now just download and print on home printer.

Yes,

It's all I use, and the checks are all instant.

 

[rod_vw]

We always carry vehicle and insurance documents in the vehicle. However we carry copies of these along with copies of passport numbers etc. in a reasonably secure place in the van as well. We've never been asked for any of them but we are aware that most European countries require vehicle documents (and driving licenses) to be available for production on request.
One advantage for German touring is that if you have your V5C you can obtain an 'umweltplakette' (emissions sticker) from any TUV (MOT) station.

 

[briwy]

Ours are always in the van.
We scan all important stuff and keep it on our phones, tablets etc just in case anything goes missing.