Log Book abroad

[spospe]

I have been advised by the Caravan Club that when touring abroad, I must carry the vehicle log-book at all times.

 

You would have to be stupid to leave the log-book in the 'van, yet what are you supposed to do with it? It is a somewhat bulky document and the thought of carrying it everywhere with me is not a pleasent one.

 

Can I ask what other board users do in these circumstances and also is it a requirement to carry the wretched thing in the first place, or is the Caravan Club being a little alarmist?

 

Thanks for any advice ......... Michael

 

[LordThornber]

Michael, I presume you mean the VO5 document, we have a photocopy that's all and have been asked for it only once in ??? number of trips.

 

It was and still is, (we camp there regularly), a clear requirement of the site when booking in.

 

Martyn

[malc d]

spospe - 2008-11-20 9:54 AM

 

I have been advised by the Caravan Club that when touring abroad, I must carry the vehicle log-book at all times.

 

You would have to be stupid to leave the log-book in the 'van, yet what are you supposed to do with it? It is a somewhat bulky document and the thought of carrying it everywhere with me is not a pleasent one.

 

Can I ask what other board users do in these circumstances and also is it a requirement to carry the wretched thing in the first place, or is the Caravan Club being a little alarmist?

 

Thanks for any advice ......... Michael

 

 

 

It is a legal requirement in some countries that you carry the log book.

 

You already have to carry passports and insurance ( neither of which I would ever leave in the van ) so one more document doesn't make much difference. I normally use the kind of 'wallet' that straps around the waist, commonly known as a 'bum-bag'

 

It's a bit of a nuisance at times but I soon get used to it when away.

 

:-(

[Klyne]

We always take ours with us. I have always understood it to be a requirement, particularly in France but like many things we take with us you may never be asked to show it!

 

David

[BGD]

Certainly it is a clear legal requirement in Spain to carry with you in your vehicle their equivalent of the V05 document, at all times.

 

Here in Spain, photocopies of that document are absolutely NOT acceptable.

 

My guess is that if you were unlucky enough to get a pull from the Policia or Guardia Civil in your UK Motorhome whilst touring in Spain, they'd in practice want to see the ORIGINAL of your V05 document, if they asked you for proof of ownership.

Photocopies of ANY driving/vehicle related document are NOT accepted here (unless you've had them previously notarised and stamped by a Traffico office....which is a balls-achingly convoluted task)

 

(In practice the only things I've ever been asked for here, for any vehicle/motorbike I've ever been stopped in/on at any of the very regular roadside "document check" temporary checkpoints they set up over here, is driving licence, and proof of insurance)

 

 

[Patricia]

I have a French registered car and it is a legal requirement in France that ALL documents are kept in the car. Without them it is a big fine and there is no time allowance to present it to the police. Same with their equivalent of the MOT: has to be done before or on the specific date (even if locked in a garage) or otherwise a BIG fine (not sure how much). I was threatened with a fine of over £100 once because I didn't have my licence with me. Very officious until I mentioned I had left it in my house "just over there" when he broke into smiles and invited himself for a drink! I didn't get issued with the fine but neither did he actually come round.

[rupert123]

It is a requirement to carry the original in some countries. What is the problem with leaving it in your van, just make a photocopy and leave this at home. If the original is stolen just apply for a new one when you get home.

[chas]

Photo copies of driving documents are not accepted in E.U countries as mentioned, and this brings up the question of an old thread of whether to have a bolted down safe installed in the motorhome. The thought of carrying around all documentation when out and about on foot is imo just too daft to contemplate. You would be a prime target for being mugged. I would say the odds of loosing the lot is far greater than having the van broken into and a bolted down safe released and carried away by Johnny foriener.

In this country I believe you have 5 days to produce any documentation at your nearest police station if required.

[david lloyd]

Not only do we carry originals of such documents (in a safe) but also photocopies of relevent docs just in case the originals are stolen - these would be useful in such circumstances when seeking help from the British Embassy etc.

 

David

[chatterdog]

i carry all my origional documents but have copies of them all as well. The copies are to hand and the origional docs are stored in the van in my safe place. I have done the same with our passports/driving licences and the dogs pet passport and chip info.

[LordThornber]

Perhaps I should say at this juncture that the photocopy was perfectly acceptable in France when produced.

 

This was possibly because it was requested by a site owner - not a member of the Gendarmerie.

 

Michael made no mention in his original post as to whom the document was having to be produced for.

 

Martyn

[Patricia]

When visiting the Prefecture in France to obtain a residency card I carefully collected together all the originals of documentation they required. After waiting in a very long queue for ages I was asked for photocopies of these documents and as their photocopier had broken down I had to leave the building to obtain them. I then rejoined the queue, at the back of course, for another very long wait. They looked at me as if I was mad handing over the originals - they didn't even look at them!!

[spospe]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I have never been asked to produce the VO5 (I still call it the 'log-book'), or any other document when abroad.

 

My original post said "that you would have to be stupid to leave the log-book in the van" and this was based on advice given to me regarding making things difficult for thieves to sell-on the vehicle if it were to be stolen.

 

Basic advice in the UK when buying a vehicle (especially privately) is to walk away if all the documentation is not present and correct. If your car was nicked with the VO5, then the thief would have an easier job of selling it on to some poor soul.

 

As you can see my reasoning behind not liking to carry the VO5 is simply that of making life as difficult for a thief as possible, but having said that perhaps the issue is not too important when abroad? After all if your 'van is stolen in France, where will it be sold? (if the answer is the UK, then my original concern would still apply).

 

Anyway, thanks again for the input ............... Michael

[Keith T]

Our practice is to keep the original V5 in the safe in the motorhome, but also take photocopies, including the passport, plus vehicle and travel insurances, We would then normally keepour passports with us, when leaving the motorhome, plus if away from a campsite, the copies of the other documents. We also take photocopies of all documents and leave these at home.

I do have to agree that to leave the V5 documents in any car or motorhome seems to be against any better judgment, and it would be interesting to know how the locals over there cope with these rules.

[Guest Tracker]

We got stopped in Spain and asked for our log book and insurance.

We were in the car and we had left the documents in the apartment for safe keeping as there had been a spate of car break ins in the area.

The conversation with the Policemen was difficult because they (allegedly) spoke no English and we spoke no Spanish, but I eventually got them to understand that as our apartment was only a mile away I could wait with them whilst Dot went home and fetched the papers for them to see.

That seemed to satisfy them and after much finger wagging we were sent on our way.

We now carry all the documents all the time in every country!

[Brian Kirby]

To reiterate, the vehicle documents - meaning VO5 (log book if you prefer), MoT Test Certificate and Certificate of Insurance should be carried in the vehicle and must be presented on demand to police or customs officials.  It is generally recommended that originals are presented as copies may not be accepted (whether they are will depend on the individual and the circumstances).  Take, and keep elsewhere in the vehicle, copies of all these, and if possible leave copies with friends/relatives in UK so that, if necessary they could be faxed/posted to you.  Otherwise just leave the copies at home.

You should always carry your passports on you.  Most, if not all, Europeans are required to carry their Identity Cards at all times.  We do not have these so our passports are our identification documents.  As with the vehicle documents, take and keep copies of these.

[colinfrier]

Hi

Yes you are supposed to cary originals but many where I live in Spain only cary photocopies which can be almost as good as originals.

As brian says it will vary with the Guarda officer most accept copies its up to you.

Colin

[bob b]

I made a false bottom in one of my overhead lockers and stained it match the woodwork. It's such a good fit that I need to slip a blade under the edge to lift it. Even with close scutiny it looks original.

It's only about an inch deep, but enough to keep the original vehicle documents, passport & some cash safe and out of sight. 

[mirage]

We keep all vehicle documents in a small concealed safe - nothing is foolproof but should be strong enough to stop a visit from an opportunist camp site thief. Passports always stay with us.

[Rapido-lass]

We keep all original documents & passports in the safe in the motorhome while travelling abroad, and keep a file with copies of all documents in a more accessable place both in the van and at home. In certain countries where you need to carry ID, I carry a copy of my passport with me.

[BGD]

Tracker - 2008-11-20 5:38 PM

 

We got stopped in Spain and asked for our log book and insurance.

We were in the car and we had left the documents in the apartment for safe keeping as there had been a spate of car break ins in the area.

The conversation with the Policemen was difficult because they (allegedly) spoke no English and we spoke no Spanish, but I eventually got them to understand that as our apartment was only a mile away I could wait with them whilst Dot went home and fetched the papers for them to see.

That seemed to satisfy them and after much finger wagging we were sent on our way.

We now carry all the documents all the time in every country!

 

 

Good advice Tracker.

 

People should remember when visiting here that in Spain, the language is Spanish.

Not English, or German, or French etc.

 

Spanish Police, and Guardia officers are Spanish.

They will speak Spanish ("Castellano"; and often one of the regional sub-languages as well, depending which region they are in), 'cos almost always that's the only language they know.

They can't as a rule speak any English at all.....it's not the language of their country, it's a foreign language.

 

So maybe have your phrase book to hand, or try to learn even just a little Spanish before you come if possible.....it'll help with your communication in bars, restauarants, hospitals etc as well as with any officials here.

 

 

[david lloyd]

Just as an aside to this it is now becoming more important to carry some documents even in the UK - especially the insurance certificate which needs to be produced if the (not infallible!) ANPR camera says your vehicle is uninsured.

 

David

[Rapido-lass]

If you mean the number plate recognition thing in police cars in the UK - even producing the original insurance document doesn't stand as some dubious people have then cancelled policies and kept the paper work so it looks like it's legit (please don't think I'm suggesting anyone here falls into that catagory) The police tend to deal direct with the insurance companies and speak to someone regarding status of insurance.

[malc d]

Rapido-lass - 2008-11-21 3:14 PM

 

If you mean the number plate recognition thing in police cars in the UK - even producing the original insurance document doesn't stand as some dubious people have then cancelled policies and kept the paper work so it looks like it's legit (please don't think I'm suggesting anyone here falls into that catagory) The police tend to deal direct with the insurance companies and speak to someone regarding status of insurance.

 

 

As someone mentioned on this forum not long ago the police check against a motor insurance website to see if you are insured in U.K. and you can check for yourself to see if you are on there.

Have a look at ' www.askmid.com '

 

 

 

 

[hallii]

I have been stopped in France and Spain and asked for the Log Book (France) and Log book and insurance in Spain.

 

I doubt that photocopies would have been accepted, and, whilst polite both lots of Police were quite firm "no nonsense" sort of guys, and they had big guns. (So my wife tells me!)

 

Geoff