On holiday with the lease car
29 juni 2021
Yes, the holidays are coming! Have you already booked a trip abroad? If you go abroad with your lease car, it is smart to make a number of preparations in advance. This way you won't be faced with any surprises. We would like to give you a helping hand: discover it below.
Financial leasing
Do you drive a lease car with a financial lease contract? Then you can hit the road without any worries. You are the economic owner of the car, because the car is registered in your name. This means that you are free in what you do with the car and where you go. Thanks to financial leasing, you have no mileage limitations, unlike other types of leasing. You also do not have to request a declaration to take your car abroad. Let that road trip begin!
Operational lease
When you drive a lease car on the basis of operational lease , you are limited in the number of kilometers you can drive. If you drive more kilometers than stated in the contract, the costs can be high. In many cases you also have to complete a foreign declaration: proof that you have received permission from the leasing company that the lease car can be taken abroad. So if you have concluded an operational lease contract, it is wise to think carefully about whether you want to go abroad with this car.
The necessary preparations
If you have chosen to go on holiday with your lease car, it is wise to take a number of important things into account.
1. Check your car
Whether you are going to a distant destination or to a holiday home in the Ardennes, it is advisable to check your car whether it is ready to travel a long distance. Check the oil level, tire pressure, coolant level and brakes before getting into the car on the way to your destination. Don't forget the spare wheel either; this is even mandatory in Spain.
2. Important car documents
Check whether you have all important car documents with you, especially if you are going abroad. Think of your driving license and registration certificate, but also the green card. In some countries you still need this. Moreover, a European Damage Form is always useful to have with you. If you have chosen to go abroad with an operational lease, you often need to have a foreign declaration with you.
3. Mandatory stickers
Depending on which country or place you are going to, you may need an environmental sticker or a toll vignette. Especially if you drive through other countries, it is definitely advisable to check this in advance.
4. Right stuff
For some countries you must equip your car with the right equipment. For example, if you travel to France, you must have an alcohol test in the car. It is also mandatory - except in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Greece - to take a safety vest with you. When visiting Belgium, Poland and Greece you must have a fire extinguisher with you and in Spain you must have a spare tire. In addition, you must take a safety triangle and a first aid kit with you throughout Europe. So check what you should have in your car according to the country of destination.
