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How to prepare for a driving holiday abroad

Living and lifestyle | By Sonia | 06.05.2026

Fragrant French lavender, decadent Belgian chocolate, fairytale German castles. No wonder UK travellers love driving holidays abroad – especially to easily reached Europe. In 2025, LeShuttle alone carried over 2.2 million vehicles through the Channel Tunnel.1

Although European road trips remain popular, they can be tough if you don’t know the rules and laws that can vary widely between countries. Whether crossing the Channel by ferry, train or plane – and hiring a car abroad – being prepared keeps you safe and legal.

If you’re not sure where to start, we can help.

Must know

To drive your UK car in Europe, you must adjust your car’s headlights so they work on right-hand roads and do not dazzle oncoming drivers.

In short

Before your driving holiday, check each nation’s legal requirements on GOV.UK. Many European countries insist on carrying items like these:

  • Headline beam deflectors
  • UK sticker2
  • 1 or more red warning triangles3
  • High-vis vests for all passengers4
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher3
  • Vehicle logbook (V5C)5
  • VE103 certificate for leased, hired or company cars5
  • Winter tyres and chains

 

Step 1: Choose and map a route

Once you’ve chosen your destination, download an offline map on your phone in case phone signal is not reliable or update your sat nav with the latest international map to plan your route.

With your A to B sorted, you can start the fun part – adding scenic routes and stopovers. Discuss them with your travel companions to ensure everyone remains happy.

Search for dedicated road trip planners that let you plot a route, or traditional hotel booking sites, and Airbnb.

Account for extras, such as tolls. Navigation apps like Apple Maps6 and Google Maps7 flag toll roads and offer an ‘avoid tolls’ option, helping you quickly see if the route fits your plan and budget.

Step 2: Check European driving laws

Every European nation has traffic regulations that also apply to drivers from abroad.8 If you break the law, a fine and other punishments can follow you to the UK.

Before driving in Europe, you should affix headlight beam deflectors9 to your lights so that you can drive on the right. Some modern cars already have LED headlights that you can adjust10 in settings.

You must also have a UK sticker (not a GB sticker)2 on the back of your vehicle for driving abroad.

Legally, many countries insist you carry:

  • 1 or more red warning triangles3
  • High-vis vests for all passengers (carried inside the car, when driving in France)3
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher3
  • Your vehicle’s logbook (V5C)5
  • A VE103 certificate for leased, hired or company cars5
  • Winter tyres and chains in snowy regions11

Some countries, including Austria, Portugal and Luxembourg, restrict or prohibit the use of dashcams.12 It’s worth checking the rules in each country you’re driving before you travel.

Pre-pay for tolls if you can

While driving through Europe, you’ll typically pass through some form of toll road.13

With distance-based tolls, you pay at a booth or pass through a gantry with free-flow cameras.14 The camera automatically reads your number plate, and you have 72 hours to pay online.

In France, you can register for Sanef’s free payment notification service before travelling15 or proactively check each day on sanef.com if you drive through without knowing.

Distance-based toll countries include:

Many European countries also use vignettes – mandatory road tax stickers or apps for specific roads.16 On a driving holiday across Europe, you must buy them in advance to avoid a fine.

You can buy vignettes from the official transport authority websites of specific countries. You’ll need to pre-order a vignette if you’re travelling to:

Bear in mind that France’s vignette – Crit’Air – is an emissions sticker for certain city centres at specific times,11 rather than a road toll pass.

Before your road trip, check the GOV.UK website for foreign travel advice about the countries you’re visiting. It’s easier than searching for individual nations’ speed and alcohol limits and road signs.

Check that you’re insured for driving in Europe

Your driving holiday could stop suddenly and cost a lot if you don’t have valid car insurance. It’s required by law and must work in every country you drive through – third-party cover might not be enough.17

Without adequate insurance, you could face all the repair or recovery costs if your car breaks down, is stolen or damaged. Countries outside the EU also require you to have a Green Card to show that you have the minimum required insurance cover.17

To check whether your regular car insurance covers this, always refer to your policy documents. If it doesn’t apply for the whole trip, you’ll need to find temporary cover or other option.

Before you leave, see if you need an international driving permit (IDP). Most UK drivers have a standard photo-card licence, which you should bring with you. However, you may need an IDP if your licence is on paper or was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

Remember, it’s not only your car that needs insurance. We highly recommend taking out travel insurance to protect yourself and your belongings during your driving holiday.

You should also apply for the free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) from the NHS website or continue using the European (EHIC) version until it expires. The card covers necessary state healthcare abroad but does not replace insurance.

Gather all your documents

To drive in Europe, you typically need these documents:

  • Passport
  • Driving licence (card or paper)
  • Your vehicle’s logbook (V5C)5
  • VE103 certificate for leased, hired or company cars5
  • Insurance certificate
  • Travel insurance documents
  • UK sticker
  • Spare bulbs

All these will vary by country, and the details may vary, too. Some have a six-month validity rule on passports, for example. It’s worth checking on the GOV.UK site for country advice before starting a European road trip.

UK travellers without EU residency will need to present their passports on entry to and exit from the EU, so be prepared to wait while they are scanned digitally.18 Also, from late 2026, UK passport-holders will have to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System ETIAS before travelling to 30 European countries. Once it’s live, you can apply via the website.

Get the right kit together

Even though it is not nice to think about, something could go wrong when you’re travelling long distances. Remember that the place will be new to you, and people might speak a different language. So, you can see why it’s important to be prepared for anything that might happen.

As well as revising the legal essentials you need to carry, stock your car with other essential gear, including:

  • Torch
  • Blankets
  • Warm jackets
  • Engine oil and water
  • Sun cream
  • Drinking water
  • Refreshments

Even if they’re not mandatory in some countries, you should also consider packing a first aid kit and replacement lightbulbs.

At home or abroad, you need car insurance you can count on. See what Rias can do for you, get a quote today.

 

 Sources

[1] https://press.getlinkgroup.com/news/shuttle-traffic-in-december-2025-27704-0791e.html

[2] https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/flags-identifiers-and-stickers?step-by-step-nav=51d1433e-893f-4424-8408-8427c1b6aba1

[3] https://www.safetyfirstaid.co.uk/what-do-i-need-for-driving-in-europe/

[4] https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/discover/traveller-guides/driving-in-france

[5] https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-less-than-12-months

[6] https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/ipha84a94043/ios

[7] https://support.google.com/maps/answer/144339

[8] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240419IPR20578/road-safety-parliament-closes-loopholes-in-pursuit-of-traffic-offenders-abroad

[9] https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/european/driving-in-europe/country-by-country/spain

[10] https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/192510/do-i-need-beam-converters-for-driving-in-france-

[11] https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/safety-and-security

[12] https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/11-eu-driving-rules-could-31529910

[13] https://www.tolls.eu/

[14] https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/en/peage-flux-libre

[15] https://www.autoroutes.sanef.com/index.php/en/assistance/free-flow/payment-solutions

[16] https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-in-europe/what-is-a-vignette-and-where-do-they-apply/

[17] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu

[18] https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/upcoming-changes-travel-europe