Driving in Europe: the rules, documents and tips you need to know

Every year, two million Brits embark on driving holidays across Europe, with the majority heading for France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. By bringing their car with them or renting one once they arrive, tourists can take in all the local attractions at a pace that best suits them.

However, before embarking on a trip abroad, it’s worth knowing the local laws. Here, we’ll take you through some of the rules to obey and the documents to take. In particular, we’ll focus on:

- What documents you’ll need to take
- Which other items you should pack to stay safe and prepared
- How to prepare your car
- What insurance and breakdown cover you’ll need
- Common driving laws enforced in Europe
- Who to contact in an emergency

Our team of expert reviewers spend a huge amount of time testing new cars on the Continent, and have offered their top tips, too.

What documents should I take?

It’s important to research the latest requirements for driving in the EU in order to prevent the risk of any unexpected problems or hold-ups ruining your journey.

If you’re driving your own car in an EU country, there are three essential documents you must remember to pack. There are:

1. The car’s V5 registration document

2. Your photocard driving licence

3. A copy of your car’s insurance certificate 

Much like your passport, it’s also worth checking when your driving licence is due to expire. Since 31 January 2020 – the date in which the UK left the EU – drivers travelling in Europe must have at least six months remaining on their licence in order to enter the Schengen region, which encompasses the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. 

The EU no longer requires UK drivers to carry a green card – an international driving certificate that proves you have have insurance to drive in the country. However, you might need to carry one if you’re driving in Albania, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Turkey or Ukraine.

Road tester’s tip "If you do need an insurance green card, ask your insurer for it at least one month before you’re travelling to ensure you get it in good time. In my experience, paperwork that's held up is a headache you can do without." — Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

What other items do I need to take?

In addition to these documents, it’s mandatory to carry certain items in your car when travelling in Europe.

First aid kit – Required in Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine
Fire extinguisher – Greece, Poland, Romania, Ukraine
High-vis jacket – Required in Albania, Andorra, Austria*, Belgium*, Croatia*, France*, Germany, Italy*, Norway, Poland*, Portugal*, Romania*, Spain* and Ukraine
Warning triangle – Required in Andorra**, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus**, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia**, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey** and Ukraine

*One jacket per passenger is required or strongly advised
**Drivers are required to carry at least two warning triangles

These items should be stored in a location that’s easily accessible to the driver in the event of an emergency.

All British-registered cars travelling into Europe must also display a ‘UK’ sticker on the rear end of the vehicle unless the car has a ‘UK’ identifier on the left of the numberplate. Cars that need a UK sticker on the boot include those with a GB identifier, a Euro symbol, the English, Scottish or Welsh flag, or no other numbers and letters aside from the registration number.

If you’re visiting Cyprus, Malta and Spain, you’ll need a UK sticker regardless of the type of numberplate fitted to your car. If your car has an old GB sticker, you’ll need to replace it with a UK one.

The other important requirement for your car is that its headlights are adjusted for driving on the right-hand side of the road instead of the left, so they don’t dazzle oncoming drivers. Many new cars, especially those with adaptive LED headlights, allow you to adjust the beam from left to right via the menu in the infotainment system. Older cars are less likely to have this, however, so you’ll need to buy and fit headlight-beam converter stickers.

From 1 January 2026, drivers visiting Spain will also need to carry a V16 emergency beacon, an orange light that can be quickly added to the roof of a stranded vehicle to warn oncoming traffic.

Road tester’s tip "Even though they cost less than £5, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of headlight deflectors. Without them, you risk causing accidents and landing a considerable on-the-spot fine." — Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

What other items are recommended?

Even though they’re not required by law, it’s worth packing a wide range of other items that could help you stay safe and prepared en route. They include:

- Fire extinguisher
- Torch- Drinking water
- Up-to-date road map or sat-nav
- Blanket
- Sunblock
- European Health Insurance Card (this gives you access to public healthcare at the same rate as residents of the country you’re visiting)
- Spare fuel can
- Extra oil and water/coolant
- Replacement bulbs

Road tester’s tip "Using a sat-nav not only gives you directions but also provides helpful information on what lane you should be in, which exit to take off a motorway and what speed limit to stick to. If you don’t have an onboard sat-nav, I always recommend using Google Maps on your phone. Just remember to keep your phone in a holder at all times, rather than in your hand or lap." — Doug Revolta, Head of Video

Do I need a driving permit to drive in Europe?

As a general rule, as long as you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK, you don’t need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive your own car or hire a car within the Schengen nations. However, you may need an IDP if your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

There are three different types of IDP, although only two are used in most EU states and European Economic Area (EEA) countries. It’s worth checking the gov.uk website to check which type you’ll need. In some cases, particularly if you’re planning to travel through more than one country, you might need more than one IDP.

The IDP is currently available only from certain shops in the PayPoint network, and costs £5.50 – £11 if you need two individual permits. When buying an IDP, remember to bring your UK driving licence photocard and a passport-approved photograph of yourself.

What kind of car insurance will I need?

All UK vehicle insurance policies provide the minimum EU requirement of third-party cover for driving your car in Europe, but you might want to consider upgrading to a comprehensive policy or adding extra cover for theft of or damage to your car while abroad.

Make a start by listing all of the countries you’re planning on driving through, so you can share this information with your insurer. The list can also help you determine whether you’ll need a green card – something that serves as proof of insurance for your car. Green cars are no longer required for drivers visiting the 30 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), plus Andorra, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Switzerland; however, they’re compulsory in some other European countries, as well as parts of Asia and North Africa.

Should I extend my breakdown cover?

It’s unlikely that your standard breakdown cover policy will provide assistance if your car suffers a fault outside of the UK. As a result, it’s important to extend the policy or buy additional cover from another provider that spans across Europe.

If you’re planning on making more than one foreign foray in the next 12 months, we recommend annual European breakdown cover. Otherwise, single-trip cover will usually offer the best value. Of course, the cost of European breakdown cover will highly depend on your car. However, using online comparison sites, we found single-trip cover for a week from around £25 and annual cover from about £50.

Rather than simply adding European cover to your existing policy, it’s worth shopping around for the best prices and special deals. It’s also important to check the small print before choosing cover to ensure that it provides all the services you’re likely to require, such as a decent allowance to pay for your vehicle to be fixed, onward travel for your entire party and sufficient allowance to pay to get your car home if it can’t be fixed abroad. Other services, such as the provider having a 24/7 helpline, might also be important to you.

Prepare to drive on the right

It might sound obvious to state that most of Europe drives on the other side of the road – aside from Cyprus, Malta and the Republic of Ireland. However, while it’s easy to remember this as you disembark a ferry in a line of traffic, you’ll need to remember to go the other way around roundabouts and when leaving car parks and petrol stations. 

Putting a reminder, such as a Post-It note, on your dashboard can help you avoid embarrassment and stay safe.

European speed limits and fines

The motorway speed limit in most European countries is 130kph (just over 80mph), although some stretches of the German autobahn are still unrestricted, meaning they have no speed limit.

Just like stretches of smart motorways here in the UK, the speed limits of motorways in Europe can be reduced when it’s raining or during periods of bad weather (generally to 110kph or 68mph), and some countries use different speed limits during winter and summer months.

While it’s not always the case, the speed limit on most rural roads in Europe is 80kph or 90kph (50-56mph) and on urban streets it’s 50kph (31mph). Just like the UK, many European countries have speed cameras and police speed checks. In France, fines range from €45-€1500 (£38-£1620), so it’s vital to find out the speed limits in every country you’re driving through and to abide by them throughout your trip.

Road tester’s tip "Driving an electric car at 130km/h on a European motorway might use up range faster than you’re used to in the UK, so factor this in when planning charging stops." — Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

European motoring offences

There are a number of other laws to bear in mind when driving in Europe. For instance, it’s against the law in most European countries to use any device that’s capable of detecting speed trips or cameras. As a result, make sure to deactivate the speed camera alert function on your sat-nav before using it in Europe.

It’s also illegal to use headphones or earphones while driving in Europe, even if they’re not being used for music or phone calls. If you’re caught wearing them, you could be fined around €135 (around £113). This is stricter than UK law, which doesn’t list driving while wearing headphones as a specific offence, but states that a driver could be prosecuted for not driving with enough care and attention.

The law for using a mobile phone or other handheld electronic device behind the wheel are similar to those in the UK. Anyone caught using a mobile phone (for any purchase) anywhere other than in a designated parking space, and with the engine turned off, is likely to face a fine of at least €135 (around £113).

European motorways versus non-toll roads

Many European countries charge a toll to travel along their most modern motorways. Driving from Calais to Marseilles on French autoroutes will cost around €70 (around £61) in tolls, but you can use routes nationales (the equivalent of the UK’s A-roads) instead; these are free of tolls.

Nevertheless, your journey will likely take more time if you want to avoid toll roads, so you might have to factor in an overnight stopover, which will bump up the overall cost. So, to avoid paying over the odds to travel or being caught out en route, use an online planner to work out the cost of the roads you’re planning on using and the best route for you.

While most motorways in France that are subject to tolls have barrier toll gates, certain motorway sections (including the A4, A14 and A79) have become completely barrier-free in a bid to free up the flow of the traffic. On these stretches of road, your car’s numberplate is scanned when you pass a detection gate, and you’ll need to pay the toll fee, either at a machine in a service station or online soon afterwards.

Failing to pay will land you a hefty fine. If you’ve not paid within 72 hours, €10 is added to the toll amount. After 10 days the fee increases to €90 (around £78), and after 60 days it rises to €375 (around £325).

Road tester’s tip "Bear in mind that European toll windows are on the wrong side of the car for the driver to reach out the window and pay. I always make sure my front passenger is ready and prepared to take on this task." — Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

European low-emission zones

There are hundreds of different low-emission zones and schemes to restrict traffic and improve air quality in cities across Europe. As a result, you might have to pay more to drive through an urban area or could even be banned from entering during certain times.

For example, Italy has more than 350 camera-enforced Limited Traffic Zones. If you drive into one in a non-compliant vehicle or at the wrong time, you’ll receive an automatic fine. Meanwhile, France has the Crit’Air badge system, which operates in a number of cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse. You’ll need to pre-purchase a compliance sticker for your car and display it on the windscreen to avoid being fined.

We’d recommend checking in advance for low-emission zones in any city you’re planning on visiting.

Towing a caravan or trailer in Europe

If you’re driving with a trailer or caravan that has a gross weight of more than 3500kg, you might need to register it before travelling. If that’s the case, it might need its own numberplate that’s different to the one on your car. Find UK Government guidance on trailer registration on the gov.uk website.

European emergency services phone number

Before driving in Europe, it’s a good idea to store 112 in your mobile phone’s contacts list. It’s the emergency number for the police, fire brigade and ambulance services across Europe. 

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