Driving in Europe
While there’s no shortage of areas of the UK that are great to explore, many people choose to head further afield by heading on road trips abroad.
As a great alternative to flying, an increasing number of drivers are taking their cars on holiday with them. As a way of avoiding airports, having almost unlimited possibilities of places to go and not being constrained by luggage, taking your car overseas can make things a whole lot more exciting.
But before setting off, there are plenty of things you should know. Here’s our guide to driving in Europe and then individual regulations in some of the most popular holidaying destinations.
What do you need to take with you?
Before setting off abroad, there are a number of things that are important to take you. These include:
- Full, valid driving licence including national insurance number
- Certificate of Motor Insurance. You can obtain this from your insurance company. Most insurance policies cover European driving but always check beforehand. A Green Card has NOT been needed since August 2021
- Your vehicle’s logbook (V5C). The original and not a copy
- Passports for anyone in the car. They must be at least six months in date on your date of departure
- Travel insurance documents
- A visa, though if you are staying in the EU or in the Schengen area for less than 90 days, it won't be needed
- No international driving permit (IDP) is needed if you’re driving in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Essential kit that you are legally required to carry
On top of the aforementioned documents to take you, there are additional things you need for the car to be able to drive in Europe, and you could be fined if you don’t have these if stopped These include:
- Reflective jackets. One for every person in the car
- A warning triangle. (Required in most countries)
- Headlamp beam deflectors, which are stickers that help to divert the light for driving on the other side of the roads. Newer, more advanced cars can do this automatically
- A ‘UK’ car sticker to show where the car is from.
Other things to consider before setting off
Along with the legal and essential kit you need for driving in Europe, there are further things to consider before setting off on a trip, including:
- Has your car recently been serviced? Even if the service light is not currently on it’s worth considering that you will likely cover hundreds of miles, so you want your car to be in the best possible shape beforehand
- Are your tyres in good shape? Check to make sure they have plenty of tread and replace them if they’re getting anywhere near the legal limit of 16mm
- Winter tyres. These are mandatory in the winter months in countries such as Germany and Austria
- Does your car have an MOT for when you return?
- Do you have European breakdown cover in place? While not mandatory, you could be left stranded without it.
Additional equipment to pack
Adding to the list of things you should pack with you are:
- Replacement headlight bulbs
- Additional engine oil and screenwash in case top-ups are needed
- A plentiful supply of drinks and snacks
- Extra supplies of medication, especially prescriptions
- European Health Insurance card
- Phrasebook for languages
- Photocopies of important documents
- An up-to-date navigation system or road map. Even if you intend to use an in-built mapping service in your car or Google Maps, it’s worth having a back-up.
Individual requirements and laws of European countries
Let’s delve deeper into the requirements, driving laws and additional advice for driving in some of the most popular European countries when heading to Europe.
France
France will more than likely be your first stop in mainland Europe, with 10 different ferry routes to cross the water, as well as the popular Channel Tunnel.
Latest regulations
While you might have visited France by car many years ago, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the latest laws.
- France’s alcohol limit is lower than the UK. For those with less than three years of experience, the alcohol limit is 0.2 grams per litre of blood. If you have more experience than that, it’s 0.5 grams per litre
- Headphones are now prohibited for all drivers and riders
- Various French cities now mandate a Crit’Air sticker displayed on the vehicle, which is an emission standard to help manage pollution. These should on be bought on the French Government’s website and can be purchased beforehand. They cost €4.61 (£3.96) including postage.
French speed limits
French is different to many other European countries in the fact it has different speed limits for the rain. Here’s a breakdown of the limits on different roads.
- Motorways: 130km/h (110km/h in rain)
- Dual carriageways: 110km/h (100km/h in rain)
- Other roads: 80km/h (70km/h in rain). Note these limits have been reduced in more recent years
- Built-up areas: 50km/h (no change in rain)
Other things to know
- Devices that can detect speed cameras or warn of their locations are illegal
- French motorways are privately owned and incur tolls. You can buy a tag beforehand to avoid having to stop at booths
- If you break down on a privately managed motorway, you should use the orange emergency telephones located every 2km to call the police or official breakdown companies. For all other emergencies, you should call 112. It’s the same number across most of Europe, too.
Spain
Spain has long been a popular choice for Brits looking to soak up the sun, but there are things you need to know before taking to Spanish roads.
Spanish speed limits
- Motorways: 120km/h
- Rural roads: 90km/h
- Built-up areas: 50km/h
- Urban roads shared with pedestrians: 20km/h
Other things to know
- The number to call in an emergency is 112
- Madrid and Barcelona operate permanent low-emission zones. UK-registered vehicles will need to register with the local authorities to be able to enter the zone
- Spain’s drink-driving laws are tougher than the UK – 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood. For those that have had their licence for two years or less, the limit is 0.1 grams
- Around 30 per cent of Spain’s motorway network is covered by tolls. You can pay the toll at booths or beforehand with special tags.
Belgium
With cities such as Brussels, Bruges and Ghent. Belgium is a popular place for those looking to drive abroad, as well as having close proximity to the UK. Let’s take a look at the rules of the road.
Belgian speed limits
- Motorways: 120km/h
- Outside built-up areas: 90km/h
- Built-up areas: 50km/h
- Residential areas: 20km/h
Other things to know
- 112 is the phone number in the event of an emergency
- The current Belgian drink-driving limit is 0.5g per litre of blood
- Various cities in Belgium, including popular Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp gave low-emission zones. Check your car meets the requirements before entering
- Most motorways in Belgium are free of tolls.
Germany
Germany is a popular destination for those heading to Europe, owing to its great roads and plentiful range of areas and places to explore. There’s lots to know beforehand, though.
German speed limits
- Autobahns. Some are de-restricted with no speed limit, which is indicated by a circular white sign with five diagonal black lines. Be aware that some motorways are limited to 130km/h, so you need to watch the signs closely
- Outside built-up areas: 100km/h
- Built-up areas: 50km/h
Other things to know
- Call 112 in the event of an emergency
- Winter tyres are required to be fitted in the winter months
- Germany has various low-emission zones (called Umweltzones) in its cities. Only vehicles that meet the required emissions standards can enter and a sticker needs to be purchased to be able to enter. We recommend buying these through official channels
- Speeding fines range depending on the speed driven above the speed limit. Low-level offences can cost just €10 but increase considerably
- The drink driving limit in Germany is lower than in the UK – 0.5 grams per litre of blood. But for those under the age of 21 or with a licence for less than two years, it is reduced to zero
- German motorways don’t have tolls.
Italy
Renowned for its incredible lakes, picturesque mountains, and historic cities, Italy is a popular choice for holidaymakers. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about driving there.
Italian speed limits
- Motorways: 130km/h
- Outside built-up areas: 90km/h to 110km/h (depending on signage)
- Built-up areas: 50km/h to 70km/h (depending on signage)
Other things to know
- Call 112 in the event of an emergency
- Italy has various low-emission zones in its cities. The requirements vary across each place, so check closer beforehand
- Italy’s drink-drive limit is 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood
- Most Italian motorways require tolls. You can pay at the toll or with an electronic tag called a Telepass that is attached to the windscreen, which needs to be purchased and activated beforehand.
Image courtesy of Audi. Prices correct at time of publication [06/2023].