Driving in Europe

The idea of driving through Europe always conjures up images of vast open roads, interesting new locations and the ability to stop and explore wherever your heart desires.

It’s a great alternative to flying, too, and more and more people are choosing to pick up the car keys to explore European countries instead of struggling through the airport. However, there are some major differences between driving in the UK and motoring through Europe, so we’ve picked out some of the main points to note before you head off.

Essential items to pack

Before you jump in the car and drive away, there are a few things that you’ll need to ensure you’ve got with you.

Full, valid driving licence and national insurance number
Certificate of Motor Insurance. You can obtain this from your insurance company. Most insurance policies cover European driving but not always - so make sure you double-check before you depart. A Green Card has NOT been needed since August 2021
Your original vehicle logbook - you can’t take a photocopy with you
Passports for anyone in the car with each at least six months in date from your point of departure
Travel insurance documents
A visa - though if you’re planning on travelling within the EU or Schengen area for less than 90 days, this won’t be required
You won’t need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you’re driving in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Essential equipment that you’ll need to have on hand

As well as all of those must-have documents, there’s some essential equipment that you’ll need to pack in the car. Failing to do so and driving throughout Europe could result in a fine if you’re stopped by the authorities. To avoid this, make sure you’ve got the following with you:

A reflective jacket for each occupant in the car
A warning triangle - this is required in most countries
Headlamp beam deflectors which are stickers placed over the headlights to prevent your car from dazzling oncoming traffic. Most modern cars do this automatically without the need for stickers
A ‘UK’ car sticker on the boot.

Other aspects to check off before you leave

So you’ve got all of your essential documents and pieces of equipment in order, but there are some other things you need to bear in mind before your adventure can begin. They include:

Has your car recently been serviced? A good service by a trained professional can flag up any potential issues with your car and make sure that it’s running as smoothly and efficiently as possible for a big trip. It’s worth considering if your car hasn’t been serviced in a while
How are your tyres looking? Check the sidewalls for cracks and cuts and make sure that the tread is well within the 1.6mm limit in the UK. Make sure you give the spare tyre - if you have one - a look-over too
Winter tyres. If you’re travelling during the colder months, then you’ll be required to have winter tyres fitted by law in countries such as Germany and Austria. Snow chains might be required too
Does your car’s MOT cover your return to the UK?
Do you have European breakdown cover in place? Of course, this isn't mandatory, but it could really help if you have a mechanical issue while travelling.

Extra equipment to pack

It’s worthwhile having a selection of extra equipment to help out should a repair be necessary. These parts include:

Replacement headlight bulbs
Extra engine oil and screenwash to top-up while you’re mid-way through a journey
Plenty of water and snacks for longer stints on the move
Medication and prescription
European Health Insurance card
Phrasebook for languages
Photocopies of important documents
Sunglasses - including prescription ones if required
Air compressor in case of a flat tyre or slow puncture
An up-to-date satellite navigation system or smartphone with apps such as Google Maps pre-loaded. We’d also advise packing a road map as it’s always useful as a backup.

Travelling with pets

Since the UK’s departure from the EU, travelling with pets isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. If you’re planning on heading into Europe with your four-legged friend, then you’ll need to remember these aspects.

Pet passports are no longer valid - you’ll be required to obtain a health certificate from your vet for each journey you make to Europe. You’ll need to take your pet to the vet to get this and it must be done no more than 10 days before travel. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get this sorted. At the same time, you’ll need to ensure that all of your pet’s flea and worm treatments are up to date
Your pet will need to be vaccinated against rabies. If your pet hasn’t travelled before or if their rabies vaccination is out of date, then you’ll need to have it administered at least 21 days before you depart. They’ll need to be at least 12 weeks old and, once they’ve had their shot, they cannot travel for 21 days
Your pet will need a microchip to help identify them more easily if they get lost
Your pet will require a tapeworm treatment when travelling to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway. This will need to be administered at the vet between 24 hours and five days before you arrive in the country.

If you’re planning on taking your pet in the car, then it’s also worth remembering:

Plan in frequent breaks if you’re on a longer journey so that your dog can have a stretch and go to the loo
Pack plenty of water and snacks
Make sure that they are properly restrained in the car, either with a proper seat belt and harness or behind a dog guard in the boot
Never leave a pet unattended in a car on a warm day - take them with you at all times.

Individual requirements and laws of European countries

Let’s take a slightly closer look at some of the headline rules and restrictions that you’ll encounter when driving in some of the most popular European countries.

France

It’s likely that France will be the first European country that most British drivers will encounter. Here are some of the key driving-related rules to remember here.

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 prohibited for all drivers and motorcyclists
Certain cities in France are now covered by Clean Air Zones which require drivers to display a Crit’Air sticker which denotes that vehicle’s emission standard. You’ll need to apply for one of these prior to departure with one costing €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 always been a popular destination for Brits but there are some key differences when it comes to driving here when compared with the rest of Europe.

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

Belgium’s proximity to the UK means that for many drivers it’s a short hop away from the usual arrival spots such as Calais and it makes for an easy driving getaway for lots of people. Let’s take a look at some of the key points to note about driving here.

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

Italy is an incredibly popular destination for holidaymakers and those seeking out some of the most iconic landmarks in the world. It’s also packed with loads of superb roads and stop-over points, which makes it a great place to head for drivers.

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.

Check out our best used cars for a road trip

Image courtesy of Audi. Prices correct at time of publication [07/2024].