Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    We took our Maestro efi abroad this winter, look in VTX under fleet for
    full details. They issue you with a 'green card' for the countries you
    are going to visit, and a letter of permission to take the car out of
    the country. If you want any form of recovery service (eg AA 5*) you
    have to sort that out yourself.
    
    Elaine

    I too hope to take my lease car abroad (if it arrives in time!!) so
    I've had the same sort of queries as you. In the VTX system there is a
    section on taking your lease car abroad reading that will give you some
    pointers. I also rang the Insurance Dept. and was told:

         Apply to the UK Insurance Department at least 10 days in
         advance for a "Green Card" and a "Letter of Authority". This
         can be done via mail directed to Julie Speight @REO.

         The request should contain:

         Requester: Name, Badge No., Location, Cost Centre
         Car:	    Make, Model, Engine size, Registration no.

         All drivers names

         Reason for taking the car out of the country (Business/Pleasure)

         Countries visited and dates.

    As far as insurance goes, the only thing recommended is to take out
    AA 5 star breakdown insurance or something similar. Other cover such as
    in-transit insurance etc. are already covered.

    Share and enjoy...

    	Ian Seaton.

You also need a copy of the registration document.  In some countries you
must carry a set of spare bulbs for the lights.  In other countries an
approved First Aid kit is compulsory.  Most countries require you to have
a warning triangle.

jb

    
    Wait a minute, Registration Document? Are you saying that when Fleet
    provide the Green Card and the Letter of Authority you also have to ask
    them for the registration document? Don't Fleet cover this requirment
    as well when they provide the Green Card etc?
    
    Richard
    Basingstoke

    
    If it is lease car you don't need the Registration Document, but for
    France you should really have a Department of Transport form that says
    you are the keeper of the vehicle.
    
    Digital doesn't have the Registration Document and PHH won't hand it
    over.
    
    The forms are available from the AA in exchange for a pound coin. You
    just have to provide the chassis and engine numbers of the car when
    you go and get the form.
    
    Geoff
    
    
    

    
    Further to .5.
    
    I just looked and the the name of the form is a "Hired Vehicle
    Certificate". The form number is VE103A.
    
    Geoff
    
    

    Surely the "Letter of Authority" takes the place of the registration
    document for lease cars ?
    

    
    Hi,
    
    I'm from Denmark and i have had my leased car in norway,sveden,germany,
    france,holland,Belgium. In Germany,Sveden and France i was chekked
    by the police. What you need is something that proves that it's
    'your' car and red or green incourance card. And for your own comfort
    a telephone number to call in case of break down. 
    
    Nice trip.
           Torben

If you're going to Italy did you know you can get a booklet of petrol coupons
(and a few motorway toll coupons) at a discount rate from the AA.

To get these you need to produce the car log book and your
passport (the Italian authorities are quite strict on who can get the 
coupons) at an AA office before you go. 

When I took my lease car to Italy I got PHH via fleet to provide a photocopy 
of the log book, which the AA accepted and then got the coupons and a form
Vxxx as mentioned previously.

Phil.

    These coupons are available anywhere in Europe for driving in Italy.
    
    When petrol costs 1425 lira per litre, it certainly makes sense.
    The booklet also comes with free toll coupons, though the best idea
    for that is to buy a card for using in the tolls.  Certainly saves
    having to look for momey, and Italian tolls are a LOT LESS likely
    to take plastic than French.
    
    Don't try and sell these cheap petrol coupons to someone else, as
    the registration number needs to be the same...
    
    Alsom if you are not going south of say Florence then it may not
    be worthwhile as you have to exchange the second half of the booklet
    south of there for further petrol coupons.
    
    Also, look at the places you can change carefuly.  I got caught
    out on an autoroute by assuming i could get the petrol coupons whilst
    driving North on the A1, when the place that would change them was
    going SOUTH, and there was no bridge....  Lucky that service station
    took Plastic.
    
    Nigel

    Nigel

    Sounds great, petrol is very expensive in Italy.					
    
    Thanks
    	    Jeff.

.12
    
>    Nigel
>
>    Nigel

Another shadow signer!. Won't someone explain how this happens?.

>    Alsom if you are not going south of say Florence then it may not
>    be worthwhile as you have to exchange the second half of the booklet
>    south of there for further petrol coupons.

I'm fairly sure I had the choice of three books:

Book 1 for Northern Italy, just coupons and motorway tolls
Book 2 for central Italy, same as book 1, but with an extra voucher to 
	be exchanged for another book of coupons when/if you get south of X.
Book 3 for southern Italy, same as book 2, but with another extra voucher
	to be exchanged for yet another book when/if you get south of Y.
    
(Y more south than X)

All cost differing amounts, but were well worth the cost at the time.

Phil.

    Having only just returned from France with the leasemobile, I didn't
    have the chance to reply earlier re. Registration Documents.  A
    couple of years ago one of the countries we were visiting insisted
    (at that time anyway) that you had either the Registration Document
    of the Certificate from the AA.  PHH mailed me the original
    registration document without any problems at all -- I had rung
    them to ask them to supply the relevant certificate as described
    earlier.  Moral -- it may be worth asking them, occasionally they
    break their rulebook and say yes.
    
    Richard
    

    
    I'm totally bemused as to the "Travel Authority Request Form" details
    and what's actually required to take my Leasemobile Cavalier abroad -
    whilst I await a return phone call from Leaseplan perhaps someone could
    advise me please?
    
    At the bottom there is a section "Indicate which of the following Lease
    Plan travel services are required on preferential terms..."
    
    "European breakdown cover
     Travel and personal insurance
     Ferry reservations
     Form VE103
     Form E1-11
     Route planner service
     Driver safety products"
    
    So, questions -
    
    1. Is European breakdown cover already provided?
    
    2. Are Eastern European countries such as the Czech republics and 
       Hungary covered by all usual Leaseplan insurance/breakdown cover
       etc.?
    
    
    Chris.

    p.s. re:.-1
    
    ...and what are the forms referring to?!!
    
    Cheers,
    Chris.

    VE103 is to take a lease car out of the UK
    
    E111 is to do with health care 
    
    I think the others are obvious...
    
    Jc
    

    >Is European breakdown cover already provided?
    
    No.  I think this is mentioned in VTX.
    
    If you don't take out breakdown cover and you need the car recovered to
    the UK it can cost a fortune.
    
    I think there is some other issue that the lease company won't pay
    for mechanical repairs outside of the UK so recovery to the UK
    is essential if you don't want to pay for repairs out of your own
    pocket.
    
    Royston

    
    Sorry for trying to get out of wading through VTX...!
    
    (still waiting for the call back from Leaseplan Travel Shop)
    
    Thanks for the info.
    
    Chris.

    
    Does anyone _know_ if the Italian coupons are still available over the
    counter in the AA shops?
    
    Mark

    
    re:.22
    
    After receiving the new driver pack on Wednesday, it appears that RAC
    cover is included for mainland Europe free of charge with the LPassist
    Leaseplan service.
    
    I don't have the exact details on me, but apparently everything is
    covered.
    
    Cheers,
    Chris.

    Re my reply .21
    
    VTX is now out of date. 
    
    I just phoned car fleet and Lease Plan provide free 'Eurocover' breakdown
    cover.
    
    A bit of good news for european travellers.
    
    Royston

    >>I just phoned car fleet and Lease Plan provide free 'Eurocover'
    >>breakdown  cover.
    
    When I phoned them in mid-June, they said it was chargeble. I bought
    it as part of a wider package at a cheaper price.  When they sent me
    the "free" docs to get a VR103 (or whatever), it included a Eurocover
    pack as well.  Shame I had already paid for it as well.  
    
    Jc
    

    I also was charged �22 for breakdown cover in Europe for Jul/August.
    If the charge has been dropped can I get a refund :-(
    
    Also now when you get a relief car while yours is being serviced etc
    they want a credit card number off you for any petrol cost outsanding
    on its return!

>    Also now when you get a relief car while yours is being serviced etc
>    they want a credit card number off you for any petrol cost outsanding
>    on its return!

interesting that, last time I got a relief car there was about a teaspoonful
of petrol in the tank.  I returned it in the same state.  I've also had
the occasional spot of bother from hire companies claiming that the fuel
tank wasn't full on return of the vehicle, even though it was, although
so far I've found that a simple 'phone call is enough to put them right.

Chris.

    �Also now when you get a relief car while yours is being serviced etc
    
    I guess your car is leased through LeasePlan.
    
    I have a Hertz car and never had a problem with relief cars as far as
    petrol use is concerned. I guess CBH doesn't have a LP car either.
    
    Royston

Decided to take a long weekend in France, phoned Leaseplan at the last minute for travel doc's, faxed 
them to me in the office two hours later, arrived @home first class post next day (well done 
Leaseplan), travelled to France, stopped by police in random road side check, wanted travel doc's and 
driving licence!  You have been warned.

Colin.

================================================================================
Note 1009.30               Driving a lease car abroad?                  30 of 30
CHEFS::pgsp.hhl.dec.com::hewittc "comms=tins cans+we" 7 lines  24-JUL-1996 13:14
                         -< Don't forget travel doc's >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decided to take a long weekend in France, phoned Leaseplan at the last
minute for travel doc's, faxed  them to me in the office two hours
later, arrived @home first class post next day (well done  Leaseplan),
travelled to France, stopped by police in random road side check,
wanted travel doc's and  driving licence!  You have been warned.

Colin.

    I just realised that I plan to take my lease car into spain and phoned
    leaseplan to get the "green card" and "bail bond" I've needed in the
    past.
    
    
    I'm told that they are no longer required - the paperwork I have for
    France will be good for Spain as well.