If you’re planning to drive on the Continent this year, the good news is that the process is well-established at this point. The uncertainty of the immediate post-Brexit years has settled into a clear set of requirements that, once understood, are perfectly manageable. The bad news is that there are more boxes to tick than there used to be, and getting one wrong can cause real problems at the border or on the road. Here’s an up-to-date checklist.
Your Driving Licence
UK driving licences are recognised in EU member states and most other European countries, so you don’t need an International Driving Permit for most European destinations. However, if you’re driving in some non-EU countries — Spain’s overseas territories, certain Balkan states not yet in the EU, or countries further afield — an IDP may be required. Check the specific requirements for every country on your route before you travel.
If your photocard licence was issued more than ten years ago, check the expiry date on the front. An expired licence is a problem regardless of Brexit.
Insurance Green Card
Since 2021, UK insurers are no longer automatically part of the Green Card system that provides proof of insurance across European countries. Most UK insurers now provide a Green Card (or letter of confirmation) on request — contact your insurer before travel, as some require notice of several weeks.
Without evidence of adequate insurance, you can be turned away at the border or fined on the road. Don’t assume your standard policy covers European driving; check explicitly and get the documentation.
Vehicle Documents
Carry your V5C logbook (or a letter of authorisation from the registered keeper if you’re driving someone else’s vehicle). Some EU countries require you to carry the original V5C, not a copy.
If the car is on finance, you’ll need a letter from the finance company confirming permission to take the vehicle abroad. This is often overlooked and can cause genuine problems.
The GB Sticker
Since September 2021, vehicles displaying a number plate with the GB identifier (the euro-symbol plates) are no longer sufficient without an additional GB sticker when driving in Europe. You need a separate oval GB sticker on the rear of the vehicle. Plates displaying UK are in the same position. This is a legal requirement in most European countries and is enforced.
Headlight Beam Deflectors
UK cars are set up for driving on the left, which means the headlight beams are angled to illuminate the left side of the road. In right-hand-drive countries (i.e., everywhere in continental Europe), this means your headlights dazzle oncoming drivers. Beam deflectors — small adhesive stickers applied to the headlight lens — redirect the beam. They cost a few pounds and are widely available. Use them.
LED and matrix headlights may require a different approach; check your vehicle handbook. Some modern cars have a European lighting mode accessible through the settings menu.
Mandatory Kit
Requirements vary by country, but carrying the following will cover you for most European destinations:
A warning triangle is required in most countries and should be placed behind the vehicle in the event of a breakdown. A reflective jacket (one per person in some countries, one for the driver as a minimum) should be stored in the cabin, not the boot — you’re supposed to put it on before exiting the vehicle. A first aid kit and fire extinguisher are required in some countries (Austria and certain others).
Check the specific requirements for each country you’ll be passing through. The AA and RAC both publish up-to-date country-by-country guides.
Speed Limits and Road Rules
Speed limits vary across Europe and are not always intuitive for UK drivers. In France, the default rural road speed limit was reduced to 80km/h several years ago and remains so. Many European countries have lower drink-drive limits than England and Wales (Scotland’s 50mg/100ml limit is more in line with much of Europe). In some countries, using a phone holder mounted on the windscreen is technically illegal.
A brief check of the road rules for each country on your itinerary is time well spent.
Toll Roads and Low Emission Zones
Many European countries require a vignette — a prepaid sticker or digital registration — for motorway use. Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and several others all operate vignette systems. Driving on a motorway without the appropriate vignette carries significant on-the-spot fines.
Additionally, low emission zones in cities like Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam have their own registration requirements for foreign vehicles. Paris’s Crit’Air system requires a vignette specific to the city, and non-compliance can result in fines. Check the requirements for any major city you plan to drive into.
The Summary
Driving in Europe post-Brexit is not difficult, but it does require preparation that wasn’t needed before. The checklist above covers the main bases. Give yourself time to sort insurance documentation and any required vignettes before you travel, carry your vehicle documents and mandatory kit, and you should have no problems. Millions of UK drivers make the trip every year without incident — thorough preparation is the reason.
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