There are a whole bunch of things you are going to need to know about if you are thinking of driving in Europe, and there’s some basic information here. But I’m also writing up some tips, and recording a few videos that will hopefully help anyone who’s driving in Europe for the first time. I’ll link these in as I go along.
Vehicle Readiness
If you are going to be driving a huge amount of miles it goes without saying that your vehicle is going to need to be roadworthy. Aside from legal requirements, the very last thing you want is to be broken down and missing your trip because you are trying to fix your vehicle.
Before travelling I had a full service done on my car which highlighted that I needed new brake pads so that was definitely a good move. It’s also worth getting decent tyres put on, as you don’t know what the roads are going to be like. And lastly, if you are travelling in the summer and have aircon in your vehicle, I’d recommend getting that serviced too. Driving with the windows down, especially later in the day, is an invitation to bugs and a guarantee of bites!
If you are a UK driver who is going to be driving in Europe, one key thing you’ll need to do is make sure your headlights aren’t going to be blinding anyone. As we normally drive on the left hand side of the road, we need to make an adjustment to our headlight beams if we are going to drive on the right hand side. Typically, this is done by fitting stickers called ‘Eurolites’.
Additionally, you need to identify your vehicle as UK registered, this can be done either by sticking a UK sticker to your bumper, or by adding UK plates.
I’d always recommend carrying things like a compressor and jump leads, even in the UK. But when in Europe, you’ll also need to make sure you have some specific items in your vehicle. These are required by law and include;
- The appropriate driving documents (see below)
- A high viz jacket for every occupant of the vehicle
- A red warning triangle
- A spare bulb kit
- Breathalysers
- A first aid kit
Documentation
When driving in Europe, there are a number of documents you must have with you. These include
- Evidence of MoT
- Insurance Certificate
- Breakdown Cover details
- Driving licence
Crossing the Channel
If you’re travelling from the UK to Europe with a vehicle, there are a few options open to you for your Channel Crossing. You could head down to Folkestone and go via Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) or travel with one of the many ferry operators.
When deciding which is the best option for you considerations could include the following.
- Distance to departure location
- Timetable
- Arrival location
- Cost
- The fun factor!
Tolls
We don’t have a whole bunch of toll roads in the UK but they are really common in Europe. It’s definitely worth having a look at your route in advance and determining whether or not you’ll want to use the tolls. I use the Waze app and that tells me the options which is really helpful.
You may also come across tolls on tunnels and in car parks.
If you’re travelling alone, paying a toll can be a challenge as you’ll be seated on the wrong side for the booth. One solution to this is to get a telescopic debit card holder. But a much better solution is to order a ‘toll tag’ from a reputable provider.
I’ve written a couple of blog posts about tolls and how to get hold of a toll tag, that go into a bit more detail.
Emissions Zones
As in the UK, many European cities have low or no emission zones, restricting the flow of traffic. It’s a really good idea to research your route, so that you know where these are and can make plans to avoid them if necessary.
In some European countries, it may also be necessary to display a badge on your vehicle that clearly shows it’s emissions classification.
