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Letter authorising another person to drive my car (UK)
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales · in English
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17 questions · about 7 min
Made for use in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
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For the registered keeper of a car in the UK who lends it to someone, most often for a trip abroad, where officials may ask a driver who is not the keeper for proof of the keeper's permission. The letter names the keeper, the driver, the vehicle, the dates and any countries, and says which insurance covers the driver. It gives permission only: insurance, not a letter, decides who may drive. A hired or leased vehicle needs the company's vehicle on hire certificate (VE103) instead.
- Made for use in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
- Last updated October 28, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- A friend is taking your UK car abroad and may be asked to show the owner's permission.
- Your son or daughter is driving your car on holiday in Europe and you want a signed letter for them.
- You are lending your car for a few weeks and want the dates and the driver's insurance written down.
- You want a letter of authority so someone else can drive your car across the border.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Your full name
- Your address (flat, house number and street)
- Town or city
- Your postcode
- Phone
- Date
- Full name of the person you allow to drive
- Authorised driver's address
- From
- To
- Make and model
- Vehicle registration number (number plate)
- Colour
- VIN (vehicle identification number, 17 characters)
- Countries the car will be driven in, if abroad
- Insurer and policy number covering that driver
- That driver's licence number
Common questions
- Does a letter of permission mean someone else is insured to drive my car in the UK?
- No. A person may drive only if an insurance policy covers them: yours, with them named on it, or their own if it includes driving other cars, which many policies do not. Check with the insurer before the trip and write the policy that covers the driver into the letter. Driving without insurance is an offence, whatever the keeper agrees.
- What documents do we take when driving my UK car abroad?
- Take the vehicle log book (V5C), the driver's licence, proof of insurance and, if the driver is not the registered keeper, this letter. GOV.UK's free “Driving abroad” guidance lists, country by country, whether an International Driving Permit, a UK sticker or other equipment is needed. Rules change, so check it shortly before you travel. From Northern Ireland, a trip into the Republic of Ireland is a trip abroad too: take the same documents and check that the insurance covers it.
- Is a letter of authority enough for a hire car or a leased car taken abroad?
- No. For a hired or leased vehicle the keeper is the hire or leasing company, which issues a vehicle on hire certificate (VE103), many through the BVRLA. Officials abroad expect the original certificate, not a letter or a photocopy. Ask the company well before the trip; many leases limit how long the car may stay outside the UK.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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