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Towing to Europe with a trailer – do I need a carnet?

Since the United Kingdom left the European Union there are a few things you should be aware of when towing to Europe with a trailer.

Towing to Europe with a trailer
A race car on a trailer

A carnet is a temporary export document covering, amongst other things, vehicles and tools/spares you might want to take with you for an event. It’s a long established system that until Brexit, western European trackday enthusiasts didn’t need to be concerned about (except Switzerland!)

In summary;

If your car is road legal and registered to you, then you do not need a carnet to cover that vehicle.
However – any spares/tools (spare wheels, jacks, spare parts etc) with you? These DO need a carnet.
If your track vehicle isn’t road legal then it will also need to be included on the carnet.

 

ATA Carnets in the UK are issued by London Chamber Commerce & Industry (LCCI)

This is the official website and text for ATA Carnet :
https://www.londonchamber.co.uk/international-trade/trade-documentation/ata-carnet/

And from the FAQ on this page;

The ATA Carnet is a temporary admission document which acts as a passport for goods for three main categories of goods:

  • Commercial samples (goods to be shown or demonstrated to potential buyers i.e. jewellery, clothing etc)
  • Goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, conferences, works of art to be exhibited at galleries and museums etc
  • Professional equipment (tools and equipment required to perform a paid commercial activity abroad, goods for testing and evaluation, theatrical effects, orchestras, racing vehicles*, broadcasting equipment, specially adapted vehicles** etc). Horses for racing purposes, commercial shows or breeding.
    Professional equipment must be used by, or under the personal supervision of the holder or his nominated representative*Carnets can only be issued for racing vehicles that are transported to the EU or any other Carnet country under transport contract (i.e. by freight forwarder / haulier).
    Any such vehicles can only be used on a dedicated race-track or on the roads closed to public. If the vehicle is road worthy and is being driven to the country of destination by the owner– then the Carnet is not required (the same applies to personal vehicles being towed or transported by the owner (i.e. motorbike transported to EU in a van by the owner; car being towed behind a motorhome vehicle driven by the owner etc).

 

(** Specially adapted vehicles can be driven on public roads and include any vehicle with permanently fitted equipment (i.e. broadcasting vans, exhibition trailers, water filter trucks etc)  )