towing car to track day in Europe
Discussion
Looking to tow my Exige on a trailer to Spa in august... been told it needs a Carnet ££££
been reading up and it looks like as the trailed car is registered (V5) and has insurance (insurance certificate) i do not need to get a carnet.
does any know know if this is correct?
thx
ps I understand that i need to register the trailer
been reading up and it looks like as the trailed car is registered (V5) and has insurance (insurance certificate) i do not need to get a carnet.
does any know know if this is correct?
thx
ps I understand that i need to register the trailer
I race in France, I've been seven times since this time last year.
Originally I used a carnet but last three times I haven't used it.
No problems, just say it's private if stopped and asked.
Regards the trailer, I believe you don't need to register if private and under 3500kg but I don't recall where I got that information.
Originally I used a carnet but last three times I haven't used it.
No problems, just say it's private if stopped and asked.
Regards the trailer, I believe you don't need to register if private and under 3500kg but I don't recall where I got that information.
If you are just driving your road registered, taxed, MOT and insured track car you don`t need a Carnet.
If you are trailering your road registered, taxed, MOT and insured track car you don`t need a Carnet.
If you are transporting your car that is not road registered (ie no V5) you do need a carnet
If you are trailering your road registered car and are carrying spares, you do need a Carnet.
If you are trailering your non road registered car and are carrying spares, you do need a Carnet.
I crossed into Europe several times in 2022. The first from Hull to Rotterdam in April. My friend crossed the day before and he had a long argument with Customs after they pulled him to one side saying he needed a Carnet for his car on the trailer and he almost missed the ferry. I crossed the next day and wasn`t stopped. This inconsistency is one of the biggest frustrations with the whole process. Some people will share an example of when they were stopped and turned away from the port where others have made many crossings with zero issues.
When we returned from the trip in April, my friend was pulled to one side at Passport control as the head of Customs at Hull had put a note on his details and they came in on Saturday morning specifically to talk to him to explain the actual rules and whether he did or did not need a Carnet as the customs officers themselves had given differing advice. They gave him copies of the UK Government website explaining that he should have had a Carnet and next time, if he crossed with the same load he would not be allowed to cross.
That sounds very clearcut, but then I spoke to someone else who crossed on the same ferry 2 weeks later and he was never questioned by customs.
This is probably the largest cause of conflicting information online. I`ve seen it myself in several Facebook groups where someone will ask if they need a Carnet as they are towing their non road legal track car with spares, a person will explain that according to the rules they do need one, but then loads of others jump on and say they have never been stopped.
After the issues in April I purchased a Carnet so I wouldn`t have any worries on future crossings.
I made further crossings on the Eurotunnel in July then Hull to Rotterdam in September and in both cases I wasn`t challenged about having a Carnet and quite honestly, if I didn`t have one I wouldn`t have been stopped.
That is a risk and it`s up to you if you decide to travel without one.
If I was towing a road registered car with a few spares, I wouldn't bother
If you do decide to get one, it`s around £520 for 12 months and as many crossings as you need.
You get it from a chamber of commerce, you have to list ALL the spares you are taking.
You book onto the Eurotunnel as van + trailer and they direct you where you need to go.
You need to get the carnet stamped at Stop 24 on the way to the Tunnel. In the Europort by the French when you arrive. In the Europort on your return and at Stop 24 on your return.
At Hull / Rotterdam you get it stamped at the ferry port, it's dead easy. Adds maybe 15 minutes tops.
Regarding the trailer registration, Europe is a bit different to us, their trailers have their own numberplate.
To avoid issues, I registered the trailer on the government website, bought a numberplate (it's a specific rectangular one). £35 and it's easier than explaining in the UK you don't need a trailer registration. Overkill I agree, but for a one off fee for someone who goes 3 or 4 times a year , it seemed a no brainer.
If you are trailering your road registered, taxed, MOT and insured track car you don`t need a Carnet.
If you are transporting your car that is not road registered (ie no V5) you do need a carnet
If you are trailering your road registered car and are carrying spares, you do need a Carnet.
If you are trailering your non road registered car and are carrying spares, you do need a Carnet.
I crossed into Europe several times in 2022. The first from Hull to Rotterdam in April. My friend crossed the day before and he had a long argument with Customs after they pulled him to one side saying he needed a Carnet for his car on the trailer and he almost missed the ferry. I crossed the next day and wasn`t stopped. This inconsistency is one of the biggest frustrations with the whole process. Some people will share an example of when they were stopped and turned away from the port where others have made many crossings with zero issues.
When we returned from the trip in April, my friend was pulled to one side at Passport control as the head of Customs at Hull had put a note on his details and they came in on Saturday morning specifically to talk to him to explain the actual rules and whether he did or did not need a Carnet as the customs officers themselves had given differing advice. They gave him copies of the UK Government website explaining that he should have had a Carnet and next time, if he crossed with the same load he would not be allowed to cross.
That sounds very clearcut, but then I spoke to someone else who crossed on the same ferry 2 weeks later and he was never questioned by customs.
This is probably the largest cause of conflicting information online. I`ve seen it myself in several Facebook groups where someone will ask if they need a Carnet as they are towing their non road legal track car with spares, a person will explain that according to the rules they do need one, but then loads of others jump on and say they have never been stopped.
After the issues in April I purchased a Carnet so I wouldn`t have any worries on future crossings.
I made further crossings on the Eurotunnel in July then Hull to Rotterdam in September and in both cases I wasn`t challenged about having a Carnet and quite honestly, if I didn`t have one I wouldn`t have been stopped.
That is a risk and it`s up to you if you decide to travel without one.
If I was towing a road registered car with a few spares, I wouldn't bother
If you do decide to get one, it`s around £520 for 12 months and as many crossings as you need.
You get it from a chamber of commerce, you have to list ALL the spares you are taking.
You book onto the Eurotunnel as van + trailer and they direct you where you need to go.
You need to get the carnet stamped at Stop 24 on the way to the Tunnel. In the Europort by the French when you arrive. In the Europort on your return and at Stop 24 on your return.
At Hull / Rotterdam you get it stamped at the ferry port, it's dead easy. Adds maybe 15 minutes tops.
Regarding the trailer registration, Europe is a bit different to us, their trailers have their own numberplate.
To avoid issues, I registered the trailer on the government website, bought a numberplate (it's a specific rectangular one). £35 and it's easier than explaining in the UK you don't need a trailer registration. Overkill I agree, but for a one off fee for someone who goes 3 or 4 times a year , it seemed a no brainer.
My experience is that the UK customs officers don't have clear guidance. More than once they've said to me that there's no problem with them but could be with the French.
I even had a passport officer asking about my experience as he was unsure if he needed a carnet to take a moped on the back of his motorhome for an upcoming trip to France.
I travel with a van, tools, spares, extra wheels and tyres, quad and trailer. On the non Dover ferries the van is usually checked on both sides coming back but they are looking for extra people, not a carnet.
I even had a passport officer asking about my experience as he was unsure if he needed a carnet to take a moped on the back of his motorhome for an upcoming trip to France.
I travel with a van, tools, spares, extra wheels and tyres, quad and trailer. On the non Dover ferries the van is usually checked on both sides coming back but they are looking for extra people, not a carnet.
Unlikely youll get asked for a carnet (tho theyre simple to fill in) but if they do and you dont have one.. just have your v5, insurance (mot and proof of tax if applicable) and you’ll be fine.
I trailer some of my cars back n forth for MOTs and its easy even if you dont have the their particular papers, as long as you can prove its yours and legal in uk, you’ll be fine
I trailer some of my cars back n forth for MOTs and its easy even if you dont have the their particular papers, as long as you can prove its yours and legal in uk, you’ll be fine
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