It's always wise to check the relevant laws and requirements when planning to drive in another country. Whether you're taking your own car, hiring a car before you leave the UK or hiring a car in your destination country, there may well be a few bureaucratic bumps in the road if you travel without adequate preparation.
What do I need to know?
While some rules apply across the whole EU, there may be local requirements or exceptions to be considered. For example, it's generally simpler for a UK driver to take a car to Ireland than to most countries in continental Europe.
Ireland is one of the easiest!
The UK's closest neighbour is reassuringly neighbourly when it comes to tolerating UK drivers, so you won't need special permits or stickers. However, you will need to take:
- Your photocard driving licence
- Your vehicle's V5C registration document (an extra copy is also advisable)
- Your insurance certificate
Irish traffic drives on the left, like the UK, but distances are measured in kilometres, and speed limits are in kilometres per hour. Driving at 60mph on a 60km/h road could be a costly mistake.
Most UK car insurance will cover you for driving in Ireland, but check the level of cover. Some fully comprehensive policies may only give third-party cover while driving in the Republic of Ireland.
The rest of Europe
We've tried to cover as many of the common points as we can, and the information here should give you a good starting point, but it is important to check for any specific requirements for driving in the country or countries you intend to visit. The EU may be a community, but there is still plenty of variation in rules and regulations as you cross borders.
Documents
As with driving in Ireland, when driving in the rest of Europe, you should take:
- Your photocard driving licence
- Your vehicle's V5C registration document (an extra copy is also advisable)
- Your insurance certificate (an extra copy is also advisable)
On the continent, however, you will also need your passport. You may also need:
- Travel insurance documents
- Any breakdown cover policy number and documents pertaining to cover that extends to driving in Europe
It's also a good idea to check that your vehicle’s tax and MOT are up to date.
Equipment
These items are required in some countries, but are generally advisable for overseas driving.
- A high-visibility/reflective jacket or vest for each occupant of the car. These must be stored in the cabin, not in the boot
- A warning triangle
- A first aid kit (especially if travelling to Austria, France and Germany)
Headlights
Headlights on UK cars will often dazzle drivers in other European countries. Avoiding dazzling people is a legal requirement. UK headlights are set up for driving on the left side of the road; European headlights are set up for driving on the right. Before travelling, get your lights checked and set up for driving in Europe. Your friendly local garage or mechanic should be able to help, or there are DIY kits available.
All cars sold in EU since 2011 are required to have daylight running lights. The rules around this can be a little confusing to British drivers, so we suggest just making sure that you keep dipped lights on at all times when driving in Europe.
Number plates and GB / UK stickers
If your number plate shows the 'UK' identifier and the Union Jack flag, then you don’t need a UK sticker when driving in Europe. If your plates don’t include the 'UK' identifier and flag, then you'll have to display a UK sticker on the rear of your car.
So, if your car has any of the following, you'll need a GB sticker:
- A 'GB' identifier with the Union flag or national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
- A Euro symbol
- Numbers and letters only, with no flag or identifier
Spain, Cyprus or Malta will require you to have a 'UK' sticker regardless of what identifiers or flags may be on your number plates, even if you have 'UK'/Union Jack plates.
Ireland, as we mentioned above, does not require UK drivers to display a 'UK' sticker or identifier.
EES and ETIAS (from October 2025)
Two new systems will be introduced in 2025 and 2026. Firstly, EES (Entry/Exit System) will become active in October 2025. This will be followed by ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) in 2026. These will affect travel from the UK, so anyone travelling from the UK to continental Europe will need to be aware of the new systems, and understand their implications.
A detailed explanation of the new systems is beyond the scope of this article. The brief descriptions below should provide a starting point for further research.
EES
EES will be an automated IT system that will register non-EU nationals travelling in Europe. Each time the traveller crosses an EU border, the system will register the person's name, biometric data, the date and place of entry and exit and other information. It will also record refusals of entry.
EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports in the EU.
ETIAS
ETIAS will be an electronic system that records and keeps track of visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the European Schengen Area. The ETIAS will apply only to the Schengen Area, not the European Union. This means that Ireland will not operate the system, even though it is an EU country, so travel to Ireland from the UK will not be affected.
The UK Government has published information about EES and ETIAS.
