Driving abroad - what you need to know

We explain what documents you need, and customs to be aware of when you drive in Europe and worldwide.

First and foremost, you must take your full driving licence, as driving abroad on a provisional licence is not allowed. You’ll need to take your log book (V5C) and your car insurance certificate as well – but more on that later. 

Coronavirus is likely to be an issue wherever you travel. In many countries you’ll be obliged to provide proof that you and your passengers, of a certain age, have been vaccinated or have a valid exemption. 

Given the requirements are subject to change at short notice, it’s best to check on the government’s foreign travel advice website for the latest in the country or countries you are visiting.

Your photo driving licence will suffice in EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. But you may also need an international driving permit if you venture further, or if you only have a paper driving licence or one issued in the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or the Isle of Man. If in doubt check with the relevant foreign embassy.

You’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in countries outside of the EU.

You can get an International Driving Permit from the Post Office, the AA or the RAC, at a cost of £5.50.

There’s more to driving abroad than sticking to the other side of the road. Depending on where you're going, you could be obliged to travel with all manner of driving kit. 

For example, the French require all drivers and their passengers to have high visibility jackets close to hand, as opposed to being packed away under a tonne of luggage in the boot. In Spain, Cyprus and Malta a GB sticker is a must, even if you have one on your number plate. 

Each country will have its own list of requirements, which are subject to change, so it’s best to do a search before heading off and ensuring you have the right equipment. 

To be on the safe side, pack the following, in addition to fitting a GB sticker to your boot and taking reflective jackets: 

Each country has its own regulations that will be second nature to native motorists but might catch British holidaymakers out. 

For example:

Other customs that might result in a fine or worse include:

Police in most European countries are able to give on-the-spot fines or confiscate your car if you infringe their driving laws and fail to pay up, so it pays to be aware of local laws.

Different countries have their own rules on how to ensure children travel safely — so before you leave check what individual country requirements are.

Alcohol rules tend to be stricter for driving abroad than they are here. The UK limit for drivers is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (50mg in Scotland), while it’s often 50mg per 100ml or lower in the EU.

Remember to make sure you have the appropriate car seat if you have passengers who are young children.

If you're looking for car insurance, bear in mind your UK policy may protect you when driving abroad in the EU, the EEC and other European countries such as Switzerland, but this may only be third-party only cover. For this reason, it’s essential to check your policy before travelling to ensure you have a level of cover you’re comfortable with.

If you’re not, contact your policy provider as many insurers will extend comprehensive cover to Europe for limited periods. 

If you want more comprehensive European car insurance with extras, such as for an extended period of travel overseas, speak to your provider about an upgrade. 

Even if you have a full licence, your insurer may stipulate a minimum age and driving experience before they will consider you insured. This can be 18 or 21 years old, so check your policy. You will usually need to have held a full driving licence for at least six months. 

Some countries insist foreign drivers carry a ‘green card’ – a form of ID you can get free from your insurer, and is required as proof that you’re insured. 

Countries where you are required to have a Green Card, include: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Israel, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine. 

Breakdown cover is one of the most popular, even essential, policy elements to have if you’re planning to drive abroad. This type of policy, which can be bought as a standalone solution, can also include accommodation costs and perhaps a courtesy car. Both benefits are handy if your car needs to spend several days in a garage being repaired. 

Breakdown cover can also pay for the cost of bringing your car back from another country if you are unable to do so. This could be the case if your car needs extensive repairs, or if you’re injured and unable to drive. 

Note that some insurance policies include European breakdown cover as standard – so check your car insurance policy.

Hiring a car is another great way to explore a new country. But it’s not as easy as walking into a car hire company and being handed the keys — you need to do some preparation first, which will include: 

The paper driving licence counterpart was abolished on 8 June 2015, since then this information has been stored electronically by the DVLA. 

Some hire companies may accept print-outs of this information. 

There are several ways to save on car insurance when driving abroad, including:

Being a named driver

If you're borrowing a car for a trip abroad or you want to share the driving on a trip with friends or family, you can ask the car's owner to add you as a named driver on their insurance policy. 

The policyholder will need to inform their insurer that their car will be driven abroad by the named driver.

This may not be the best or cheapest option if you only plan to drive another car on a one-off basis.

‘Driving other cars’ cover

You may already be insured to drive their car if you have ‘driving other cars’ cover on your own vehicle.

Check the restrictions — as this type of cover is usually only third party and may exclude driving outside of the UK.

Temporary car insurance 

If you are only planning on borrowing a car you can also compare quotes for short-term or temporary car insurance.

Temporary car insurance is often the best option when sharing or borrowing a car to drive abroad. 

The RAC recommends the following equipment when driving abroad.