AA Tips for driving abroad
You could be asked to show your documents at any time. To avoid any police fines or confiscation of your vehicle, make sure that everything is in order and readily available for inspection.
Documents you should bring:
- A valid full driving licence (not your provisional), with paper counterpart if you own a photo card licence.
- An International Driving Permit when needed
- The original vehicle registration document
- Your motor insurance certificate
- Your passport
You may also need a visa for certain countries if you hold:
- A UK passport that was not issued in the UK
- A foreign passport that was issued outside of Europe
If you're travelling in a vehicle other than a motor car, motorcycle or taking a boat, then you must make sure that you have any additional documentation that could be required. When taking a vehicle abroad that is company owned, hired or borrowed, the best action to take would be to try to obtain the original V5 Registration with a letter of authorisation from the owner. If you can't get hold of the V5 then you should obtain a document called a Vehicle on Hire Certificate also known as the VE103b. The Vehicle on Hire certificate must be carried in addition to a letter of authorisation form the registered keeper.
Your passengers and you:
Breakdown cover - Make sure that you have adequate cover on your car insurance .
Emergency contact - 112 is a European emergency call number you can dial in the 27 Member States of the European Union in case of an accident, assault or in any other distress situation.
Car crime - You must never leave handbags and other attractive looking items in obvious, viewable places in the car, and never leave anything unattended.
Drinking and Driving - If you drink, you don't drive. It is a strict law, and the penalties can be very severe.
Insurance - Contact your car insurer for advice at least a month before you take your vehicle overseas. Make sure that you're covered, and have the necessary documents to prove this.
Medical Treatment - You can generally get urgent medical treatment at a reduced cost from the health-care schemes of those countries with which the UK has health-care arrangements.
Credit Cards - Sometimes you will hear reports of UK issued credit cards not being accepted at stores or petrol stations in other countries, so if you're going to rely on a particular credit card while you are away, it is recommended that you check with the card company to be certain that it can be used in the country you're visiting.
Mobile Phones - Using hand-held mobile phones whilst driving is strictly forbidden in most countries.
Spectacles - Ensure that you have a spare pair of spectacles with you if you wear them, especially if you are the driver.
Think - It's easy to forget to drive on the right, especially if you are leaving a petrol station or car park.
Child Restraints - Never fit a rear-facing child restraint in a seat with a front airbag. If you are travelling with a young child, you should make sure that you read all instructions on the car seat that you're using, and find out about child safety in cars.
GB sticker - This is compulsory, and if you fail to comply this could result in a fine. You will also need a number plate that includes the GB euro-symbol, and you will not need to display a conventional sticker within the EU if you have this.
In some countries outside of the EU a conventional sticker is required even if you have euro-plates, so it is always safer to display one.
Reflective Jackets - This is required for the driver in Austria, Belgium, Croatia and France, and for both driver and passenger in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. They are also compulsory for residents in Norway and Portugal so should really be carried by visitors too.
Each vehicle should carry at least two jackets or waistcoats in the passenger compartment; one for the driver and one for a passenger.
Headlights - If you're driving to the Continent, then it is essential that you adjust the headlamp beam pattern to suit driving on the right, so that way, the dipped beam won't dazzle the other drivers. You should never go without adjusting the headlamp pattern, as it is a compulsory requirement in most countries.
Headlamp beam converter kits are widely available, but don't leave headlamp conversion till the last minute as a dealer might need to make the adjustment.
Warning Triangle - This is compulsory is some European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Spain, and is recommended in France, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal.
Leaded Petrol - This is no longer generally available in northern European countries, and Lead Replacement Petrol is getting more and more difficult to find. If it is not on sale, an anti-wear addictive can be bought from the filling station shop. Overloading - Do not overload the car, as this can incur fines and possibly invalidate insurance.
Booze Cruises - Many companies, like the AA are called out regularly, especially around Christmas as overloaded cars break down on their return from the Continent. Remember that carrying five cases of wine is actually the same as having another passenger in the car. If you overload your car, you could pay more in repair bills than you saved on your shopping. Overloading can cause:
- Damage to suspension
- Burn out the clutch
- Cause punctures or uneven wear on tyres
If you are planning on a boozing trip, then take the stress out of breaking down abroad with cover that is ideal for short trips to the Continent.
Rear-view mirrors - If your vehicle is not equipped with a door or wing-mirror on the left-hand side, then you should probably get one fitted to aid driving on the right.
Servicing - Service your car well in advance of your trip, as this will reduce the chance of expensive breakdown costs when you are abroad.
Speed-tap detection devices - The use or possession of devices to detect police radar is illegal in most European countries. Penalties can include a fine, driving ban and possibly even imprisonment.
Tyres - Just like the UK, most countries require a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference. A minimum of 2mm is recommended, but consider changing the tyres if the thread is down to 3mm before you go, tyres wear out quickly after they get down to 3mm.
Wheel Chains - This is important for any winter motoring and compulsory in some countries, even if you are using winter tyres. Customers must ring first to check availability of these, and will be asked for the vehicle make, model and tyre size read from the sidewall of the tyre.