Caravanners thinking of towing abroad this summer have been urged to check for their V5C (or log book) at least a week in advance of the departure date.

Ripe Caravan Insurance has issued the warning as the crucial piece of documentation can be easy to overlook when someone is preparing to drive their car abroad. When taking your car abroad you must carry the V5C with you – you could be asked to produce it at any time at ports or on the road, and failure to have it could lead to large fines or even the confiscation of your vehicle.

Issued to the registered owner of a vehicle by the DVLA, a V5C contains important information about a car.

The caravan insurance company has also warned that it cannot be a copy that is produced and must be the original. If it is damaged, lost or stolen, a replacement will be needed – it also needs to show your current address, Ripe warned.

If you need to replace yours, you can order one via the Government website, but it’s worth noting it can take up to five working days to arrive – hence checking at least a week in advance to give you plenty of time if you’re thinking of taking your car outside the UK.

John Woosey, Founder of Ripe Caravan Insurance, commented: “Rules and regulations around driving abroad change often – so it’s vital that holidaymakers and anyone wishing to drive their car or tow a caravan abroad is up to date with the latest information. You could be in for a nasty shock if not, which could ruin your entire trip.”

“The timeframes mentioned here are also often best-case scenario and don’t consider any potential strike action, delays, or unforeseen circumstances – so the sooner you can double check you have all documentation, the better.”

Ripe also recently issued a warning to caravanners to watch out for a common insurance mistake that could end up costing £3,000. Another warning has also been issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, which told caravanners to urgently check their gas hobs due to an issue that is affecting certain models.

  • If you’re looking for a navigation aid while you’re towing, be sure to check our caravan sat nav guide too.

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