With Europe Being So Accessible To The British Driving There Should Be On Our Things To Do

To begin with, remember that they drive on the right in Europe, so if you are thinking of taking your own right hand drive car, you may have some problems. It could be worth your while to check out the cost of hiring a car when you get to your destination on the European mainland. Of course, you may be intent on driving through Europe to get to your final destination; in which case, apart from driving on the opposite side of the road, there are other things to take into consideration.

First of all, only drivers with full licences are allowed on European roads, so if you have a provisional licence, driving under such circumstances is not legal in Europe. You need to have the licence with you as well as the paper counterpart if you have a photocard licence. You will also need an International Driving permit, which is valid for one year from the date of issue. You will need to apply for this at least one calendar month before the proposed date of travel. However, you cannot apply for one until three months before you intend to drive in Europe. They can't be back dated for any reason. When you apply for your International Driving permit check that your personal information is correct, and there is no change of name; for example look for discrepancies since your driver's licence was issued. The details on both documents should tally, as should your passport details. The permit is not to be used instead of your driving licence; you must be in possession of both documents to drive legally on the european continent.

You also need to be adequately covered for insurance purposes to take your car abroad, so check with your insurer at least a month before you are due to travel. You cannot legally drive on European roads without insurance which allows you to do so. The insurance certificate should be kept with your other documents to be shown to the police if they require them. The original registration documents are also necessary for you to take along, as is, of course, your passport.

Drivers need to have reflective jackets in the car and it is a good idea to have one for any passengers too. It is compulsory that there is a reflective jacket for the driver at least in many European countries. Remember that hand held mobile phones are also illegal. The other thing you need is a GB sticker on display somewhere on the car. You may be liable to an on-the-spot-fine if this is not clearly displayed. There are different regulations regarding child car seats, so it would be good to check these out for the specific country you are visiting in Europe.

Finally remember that there are many tolls on European roads, and the prices for these vary. Check them out before you go and take euros with you for a quick trip through the toll plazas. Have a safe journey and enjoy your trip!