Crit'Air Sticker for a Leased or Finance Car (PCP/PCH) - UK Guide 2026

If your car is on PCP, PCH, or any form of lease finance, the registered keeper on the V5C is the finance company - not you. This creates a specific problem for Crit’Air applications: the sticker gets posted to the finance company’s address. Here is how to work around it.

The problem

The Crit’Air application requires details from the vehicle registration document (V5C in the UK). On a leased or financed vehicle:

• The registered keeper (Section C1 on the V5C) is the finance company - Volkswagen Financial Services, BMW Financial Services, Lex Autolease, etc.
• The V5C address is the finance company’s head office, not your home
• The official French system posts the sticker to the V5C address

This means if you apply through the official French site, your sticker gets sent to a finance company warehouse somewhere in the UK. Not ideal.

How to apply for a leased vehicle

Option 1: Use our service (recommended)

When you apply through France Stickers, we handle the address issue. Enter your registration number, and we will look up your vehicle’s details via the DVLA. We can arrange for the sticker to be posted to your home address, not the finance company’s.

You will need:

• Your vehicle registration number
• A photo of the V5C (if you have the green slip) or a VE103B certificate

Option 2: Get a VE103B certificate

A VE103B is an official DVLA document that confirms your vehicle’s registration details. It is specifically designed for taking vehicles abroad. You can use it instead of the V5C for a Crit’Air application.

To get a VE103B:

1. Search gov.uk for “taking a vehicle out of the UK” and apply online
2. The fee is £5
3. It is sent by post - allow 5 working days
4. Valid for 12 months from issue

The VE103B is worth getting regardless of the Crit’Air sticker - you should carry it when taking a leased vehicle abroad as proof you have permission to take the vehicle out of the UK.

Option 3: Ask the finance company

Contact your leasing company and ask if they can:

• Provide you with a copy of the V5C (or the relevant details)
• Apply for the Crit’Air sticker on your behalf
• Forward the sticker to your address if it arrives at their office

In practice, most UK finance companies do not offer this service. It is not part of standard lease agreements and customer service teams are often unfamiliar with Crit’Air. But it costs nothing to ask.

What about company cars?

If you drive a company car, the registered keeper is your employer (or their fleet management company). The same issue applies - the V5C address is not yours.

Your options:

• Ask your fleet manager or HR department to apply
• Request the V5C details and apply yourself
• Get a VE103B in the company’s name

Some larger fleet operators (Alphabet, LeasePlan, ALD) have started offering Crit’Air stickers as an add-on service. Check with your fleet provider.

Do I need permission to apply?

Technically, the Crit’Air application should be submitted by or on behalf of the registered keeper. In practice, you are driving the vehicle with the keeper’s permission, and applying for a sticker that benefits the vehicle.

No finance company has ever objected to a driver applying for a Crit’Air sticker. It is a legal requirement for driving in French cities - applying for one is entirely reasonable.