Carrying Documents

[Doc]

Having got stopped the other day and got asked to produce my documents. As we were moving on we had them on the bike with us.
What happens if you are out for a ride and have left them back at the hotel ?
This is in Germany.
Generally I don't carry them as never think to put them in the panniers.

Cheers Doc

 

[grantmac]

I have also en stopped in Germany by the police and luckily I had my registration and license in my top box. Knowing the Germans they might not be happy if you cannot produce them but if not no clue what they would do.....

 

[johnnyboy]

Carry them with you at all times laddie.....

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Having got stopped the other day and got asked to produce my documents. As we were moving on we had them on the bike with us.
What happens if you are out for a ride and have left them back at the hotel ?
This is in Germany.
Generally I don't carry them as never think to put them in the panniers.

Cheers Doc

I got stopped in the Austrian Tyrol one afternoon
Speeding through the Alpine meadows
Polizei jumped out on me
Asked to show my ID and docs
Whoops, left them in Berchtesgaden in Germanic Bavaria at hotel
They weren’t impressed and were going to impound me & bike
Only thing to prove who I was, was an ACU Trials competition photo licence & the BMW Assist card naming me & with the bikes registration number on it ….in my wallet
Luckily they accepted it and fined me 40 Austrian schillings for the speeding infringement and 40 schillings for no documentation (schillings …it was long before the Euro)

 

[wessie]

I keep them on the bike. My panniers are not the same size. The small one is just a little larger than my CPAP bag with room for spare gloves and a bottle of water. I keep my documents in there inside a plastic wallet so they remain on the bike with the gloves and water on a daytrip. Passport and driver's licence always on my person, even when on foot (wear cargo trousers or shorts with enough pockets)

 

[glenn2926]

The thing that concerns me re having documents on or in the vehicle is, if someone steals the vehicle they have the documents. Get on the website change the owner and in a few seconds the vehicle is theirs legally. Nothing the original owner can do.

 

[DJ123]

I carry the originals in my travel wallet, along with my passport - with me at all times.

And usually i have copies stashed in my Bike gear somewhere (behind armour). Hidden away, but accessible if needed - should the originals get lost/damaged/i don't have them on me.

 

[fatbaldbob]

I wear a leg bag when touring overseas and keep the docs in it when on the road, so they are always handy.
I crossed Germany last month en route to CZ for the Indian Ridersfest and don’t think I even seen a copper on any road, main or autobahns, the whole time I was there.

 

[wessie]

The thing that concerns me re having documents on or in the vehicle is, if someone steals the vehicle they have the documents. Get on the website change the owner and in a few seconds the vehicle is theirs legally. Nothing the original owner can do.

a V5C it is not proof of ownership but often used by crooks to hoodwink people who do not know this

FAQ

 

[glenn2926]

a V5C it is not proof of ownership but often used by crooks to hoodwink people who do not know this

It isn’t, but it’s all we have as regards proof of ownership. There isn’t anything else. If someone steals your vehicle, changes the V5 to their name how does one prove they aren’t the owner?

 

[wessie]

It isn’t, but it’s all we have as regards proof of ownership. There isn’t anything else. If someone steals your vehicle, changes the V5 to their name how does one prove they aren’t the owner?

you have a police incident no. from the time you reported the bike stolen which will be required to claim on your insurance

the system has worked like this for decades

your insurer is not going to turn around and accuse you of lying unless they or the police have proof of fraud

most stolen vehicles are more likely to be cloned than remain on original plates as your plate would be flagged on ANPR as stolen. The V5 from your stolen bike would probably be shredded as it would be an evidential link to the theft. The owner of the original cloned vehicle will be oblivious to the clone until they start picking up fines from unknown postcodes.

 

[Robbieben]

It is a legal requirement in most EU countries for their own citizens to carry License, V5 or equivalent and Insurance, they expect us to do the same. I always have my documents with me in a zip lock freezer bag in my jacket, been checked a couple of times, they see everything and let you carry on. One of my mates was stopped with our group of 8 bikes on an EU trip in Germany, he didnt have V5 or insurance with him, still on his counter top at home. Taken to the police station, kept there until his son copied and e mailed everything over, released after 5 hrs with a 200 Euro fine for not having his documents with him.

 

[Redboots]

I've used one of these for 20 years. Lives in the tank bag or hung round my neck.
A5 Document pouch

 

[brut33]

I duplicate them all (passport, driving docs, health insurance etc) and gaffer tape them in a plastic bag to the underside of the seat. That way if you're belongings are stolen you'll have a backup set.
And in this case if you're just out for a ride and left them in the hotel and have a need to produce them.

BTW, the polizei may have pulled you because you could be flagged up as a persistent rosé abuser.

 

[Wapping]

What happens if you are out for a ride and have left them back at the hotel ?

In France, you’ll very probably be fined. The fine will be in addition to any fine you’ll receive for any motoring offence you have committed.

Where to keep them, when travelling abroad? That is up to the individual. For what it’s worth, I keep them (ie passport, driving licence, V5 and certificate of insurance) in a wallet, in a yellow * waterproof bag, in my tank bag. I do not open the bag / wallet, unless I really have to.

I also keep EUR 200 in notes. Most French fines seem to be EUR 90.

PS French policemen struggle with English addresses. When I was stopped and fined for failing to observe a ‘Stop line’, I offered to write it onto the fine form for him. This offer, he gratefully accepted, though it didn’t win me a discount.

* Other colours are available.

 

[glenn2926]

you have a police incident no. from the time you reported the bike stolen which will be required to claim on your insurance

the system has worked like this for decades

your insurer is not going to turn around and accuse you of lying unless they or the police have proof of fraud

most stolen vehicles are more likely to be cloned than remain on original plates as your plate would be flagged on ANPR as stolen. The V5 from your stolen bike would probably be shredded as it would be an evidential link to the theft. The owner of the original cloned vehicle will be oblivious to the clone until they start picking up fines from unknown postcodes.

So if the vV5 isn’t proof of ownership why the need to carry it? It serves no purpose at all.

 

[wessie]

So if the vV5 isn’t proof of ownership why the need to carry it? It serves no purpose at all.

you seem to be conflating regulations in the UK and abroad

in the UK we do not need to carry documents as everything is on the PNC so we only need the photocard to establish identity. The V5 largely exists to establish tax and fine liability in the UK.

in foreign, they can make whatever rules they want and I am not their spokesperson

 

[johnnyboy]

The thing that concerns me re having documents on or in the vehicle is, if someone steals the vehicle they have the documents. Get on the website change the owner and in a few seconds the vehicle is theirs legally. Nothing the original owner can do.

Don't go abroad then, simples.....

 

[glenn2926]

Don't go abroad then, simples.....

Bit late really, been going since the late 70s. Approximately four or five times a year.
I do notice that you have not answered my question though.

 

[Wapping]

So if the vV5 isn’t proof of ownership why the need to carry it? It serves no purpose at all.

The question relates to travelling abroad. If you are that troubled by the concept, a letter from your mum (witnessed by a priest, family GP or a serving police officer) will suffice.