Taking your car abroad can save you money on not paying out for a costly rental option but you could easily be hit with huge on-the-spot fines if you break the law.

 

Many drivers are not aware of the many lawful requirements you need to abide by if you are thinking of driving your car in Europe. From having the right documents and insurance to having essential safety equipment, there are lots of things you will need to prepare for than just driving on the other side of the road. But besides getting to grips with the practical issue of physically driving abroad, there are other things you should do to make sure you are fully prepared for any situation to arise.

 

If you get pulled over, most European police will want to see your UK driving license, an insurance cover note, and your V5 document, but it’s a good idea to have a copy of your travel insurance documents too.

 

When driving abroad motorists should be aware that they can be hit with on-the-post fines up to € 750.

 

Often you can reduce the fine if you pay within the next three days but the police may also hold onto your vehicle until payment is made.

However, there are several things you can follow to stop you from falling victim to large on-the-spot fines.

 

Insurance

Check with your insurance company that you are fully covered to drive abroad.

 

Most UK car insurance policies automatically give drivers third-party coverage across the EU, which will pay out if you hit another vehicle, but it will pick up the cost of any damage to your car.

 

If you want comprehensive cover for a trip abroad, you should contact your insurer.

 

Breakdown cover

If you already have breakdown cover you should check that this extends to traveling to Europe.

 

If you recently bought your car, you may already have European cover through your car’s manufacturer as standard.

 

But if you do, you can ask your provider for a European upgrade.

 

Tolls

France has lots of toll motorways (motorways) and the cost varies depending on the length of time you spend on them.

 

For example, driving from Le Harve in northern France to Paris can cost almost € 20.

 

You can reduce or eliminate these cost with some planning, however, you should prepare for a slightly longer journey if you decide to take alternative routes.

 

Warning triangle

If you are driving in Germany and France, having a red warning triangle is compulsory.

 

Although you do not need to carry one in your car when driving in Britain, most European countries do require you to have one, so this is an essential purchase.

 

Reflective jackets

It is worth noting that having one reflective jacket with reflective tape in the car could still see you fall foul of the law when driving abroad.

 

As in most European countries, you must have a reflective vest for each passenger in the event your car breaks down.