Requirements for Driving in Europe

3 months ago

In 2010 me and Louise, who will then be my Wife, are planning to have a two week camping and driving trip around Europe. Ever since I got addicted to cars and driving, I have been waiting to go on a full blown road trip around Europe so I can see many places and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Alps, as well as it's amazing mountain roads.

We'll have to plan some sort of vague route to camp-sites, town & cities, and area's of interest and all this adventurous travelling will be done by car. The car we will be driving will most likely be a Mk1 MG ZR, bought in 2005 before the Rover MG group went into receivership. Supposedly, the ZR is being replaced by the MG 3 even though it looks exactly like the Rover Streetwise, not exactly a sporty car like the ZR is.

There are many legal requirements for each individual country, however, there are first very many common sense items which you must check. NFU Mutual has provided a very good basic check list:

All the fluids are topped up
All the bulbs are working
The tyres are in good condition and at the correct pressure
The windscreen’s free of chips and the wiper blades are perfect
The paperwork (tax, MoT, Passport etc) is up to date
Your insurer has been informed and you’re covered
You have Europe-wide mechanical breakdown cover
You have a GB sticker or an EU or GB symbol on your registration plate
You pack your car’s logbook, V5 and insurance documents
Your maps are up to date, or your sat-nav covers where you’re going
If you take your mobile, you’re following local regulations on use (and works throughout Europe!)
You remove any radar-detecting equipment
Put aside some lose change in euros for tolls

This covers the basics for driving in Europe, but, we will be going for two weeks unaided and need to reliably get from England to the other side of Europe and back without getting into any major costly trouble. I'm also not afraid to work on cars and I feel very confident in doing so, I therefore, would like to suggest the following to the previous list if travelling to Europe for any long periods.

First Aid Kit
Kit of common maintenance tools, spare parts and fluids
Tyre Weld and Fire Extinguisher
List of repair garages and automotive shops

A First Aid Kit is absolutely essential, you never know what could happen and I am gobsmacked that it wasn't on the NFU Mutual list. I also don't expect to do an engine or gearbox change on the road however, I will be taking a good range of tools, spare parts and fluids including a range of spanners, ratchets, sockets, spark plugs, filters, oil, coolant and brake fluid, to name a few. There will be a spare tyre in the boot but I will also take a can of Tyre Weld in case I need to repair more than 1 tyre. A Fire Extinguisher could be a life saver in the event of a car or camp fire accident and finally, I will be taking a list of grease monkey garages and shops selling car parts just in case I need to replace anything or get specialist parts.

What you need to take with you is just the beginning. Every single country we could enter has it own laws which we must abide by. Our UK driving licence allows us to drive in almost any country in the world so that's one law sorted. Below are countries that we might be entering and the specific differences in their driving laws compared with the UK.

For more information about driving in Europe, please visit the Europe Driving Blog.

France

Drive on the right hand side
Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines
Headlamp converters are compulsory
Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility
Visibility Vests per passenger are compulsory
Warning triangle is compulsory
The legal age to drive is 18 years
Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to sit in front seats
Priority to the right: the "Priorité à droite"
Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit is 50 kph in built up areas, 90 kph on other roads, (80 in the rain) and 130 kph on autoroutes (110 in the rain)
Drivers must keep a distance of two seconds from the vehicle in front

Germany

Drive on the right hand side
Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to sit in front seats
Children under 12 or 1.5 metres tall are not allowed to travel unless using an appropriate seat restraint or booster cushion.
It is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 17 years
The only time you are permitted to use a mobile phone is if you are parked and the engine is turned-off
Germany's Good Samaritan Law requires you to stop and render aid at the scene of an accident or if people need help, even if you are not a party to or did not witness the accident.
Some German cities now have Green Zones and cars must display an Umweltplakette.
Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit is 50 kph in built up areas, 100 kph on open roads and 130 kph on motorways
There are no tolls on German Autobahns
Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines
Headlamp converters are compulsory
Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility
Warning triangle is compulsory
First Aid kit is compulsory

Switzerland

Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to sit in front seats
Drive on the right hand side
Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit is 50 kph in built up areas, 80 kph on open roads and 120 kph on motorways
Drivers using the motorways must use buy and display a vignette
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18 years
Headlamp converters are compulsory
Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility and tunnels
Warning triangle is compulsory
Priority to the right: the "Priorité à droite"
Visibility Vests per passenger are compulsory
Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines
At traffic lights and railway crossings, you must switch off your engines to avoid traffic pollution

Italy

Drive on the right hand side
Visibility Vests per passenger are compulsory
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18 years
Mobile cellular phones may not be used when driving
Priority to the right: the "Priorité à droite"
Headlights should be switched on and dipped at all times of day or night when driving on motorways and dual carriageways
Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit is 50 kph in built up areas, 90 kph on open roads and 130 kph on motorways/autostrade
Tolls are charged on the autostrade
Warning triangle is compulsory

Belgium

Drive on the right hand side
Visibility Vests per passenger are compulsory and should be readily available
There is a front seat minimum of 12 yrs unless using a suitable child restraint
The minimum driving age using a full UK licence is 18 years
Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit is 50 kph in built up areas, 90 kph on open roads and 120 kph on motorways
Belgian motorways are toll-free
Speeding and other traffic offences are subject to on-the-spot fines

It goes without saying that the information above could be inaccurate and is for my own personal use and based on my own personal situation. You should do your own research before driving in Europe.

Previous Comments

David Rowtree Thursday 11 December 2008 5:23 PM
Hi Stephen, I'm busy compiling some Europe driving tips on my blog (see sig) - found you through a vanity search :) Thanks for the tips on the different countries, I'll look to use them if that's ok.