Travelling in Europe with your racing car

A letter to our editor..

Dear Carol,

Since last year when I was able to share with HMRN readers (see our April 2023 issue) my thoughts on going to/from the EU with your race car (typically towed), concluding that the regulations permitted Temporary Admission without the need for an ATA carnet, I have been in detailed discussions with senior HMRC personnel.

Those senior officials have been very constructive and helpful, and we have reached an agreed position which reflects my thoughts. This is fantastic news! However, they have not of course been able to speak on behalf of French customs officials and they have been harder to access, at least at the senior level required for this situation.

I set out in the accompanying document what I believe the position to be. I have set this out in two parts. The first part is a general statement and effect of the Temporary Admissions Procedure (TAP) rules which apply at the UK and the French ports respectively. The second part is a complementary paper which identifies the Regulatory references which users are strongly advised to read and have to hand at the border. The UK aspect has been formally confirmed to me in writing by HMRC in the form as set out below and I am able to supply their approval at short notice to anyone who finds themselves in difficulty with UK Border Force officials. But HMRC do tell me that port officials have been trained/advised on this position.

In relation to the French side, I am confident (without providing any guarantees!!) that the correct regulatory position is as below. However, whilst we await access to and subsequent confirmation from the French authorities, you should make yourself aware of the principles of the Temporary Admission Procedures so that if you are challenged, you are calmly able to set out why you are doing what you are doing. Please do this with calm confidence in your position and do not be put off by obstructive or disbelieving officials!

By way of unfortunate example, one competitor was towing a race car though the French customs area and was stopped, told that he had not made a declaration and presented with a document in French for him to sign admitting guilt together with a fine of €5000 which was said to be recoverable on the return trip. It turned out not to be recoverable. The point is that the competitor had made a declaration in relation to the temporary importation of the car: it was a ‘by conduct’ declaration as required by the regulations. Had that competitor been aware of the basis of his use of the Temporary Admission Procedures, he could have clearly stated his position and backed it up with the appropriate regulation and not signed that confession.

My experience is that this is a very rare occurrence, and the vast majority of competitors simply have no difficulties at all, even if (exceptionally) challenged.

I am very happy to provide guidance and explanations to your readers; please ask them to contact me with any questions, advice, explanations etc.

Yours, Peter Horsman

As the advice is lengthy and technical we have not published it here, but have made a copy available online at
https://historicmotorracingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/CarnetFreeTravel.pdf
If you would like to contact Peter please do so via us at HMRN.