Driving in Europe: what you need
Taking your own car abroad? Every country has its own rules on kit, stickers, tolls and winter driving. This guide sums up what a UK-registered car needs in 10 popular countries, with a full page for each.
Checked on 17 October 2026 against GOV.UK and the RAC and AA country guides. Rules change, so check each country page and its official sources before you travel.
The core kit for most of Europe
- UK sticker (unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag; always in Spain; never in Ireland)
- Headlamp beam deflectors, or adjust your headlamps
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis vests, ideally one per person, kept inside the car
- First aid kit (compulsory in Austria for UK cars)
You'll find triangles, vests and first aid kits among our road safety essentials. Keep a spare hi-vis vest for each passenger within reach of their seat, not in the boot.
Documents to take
- Full UK driving licence (photocard). With a paper licence you may need to update it or get an international driving permit.
- V5C logbook, or a VE103 certificate if the car is hired or leased in the UK
- Motor insurance certificate. Check you're covered abroad.
- Passport
Our tyre pressure and tread tools make a quick tyre check easy.
Country by country at a glance
| Country | UK sticker | Warning triangle | Hi-vis vest | First aid kit | Beam deflectors | Clean-air rules | Motorway charges | Winter rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Must carry | Must carry | Not required | Yes | Crit'Air sticker in zones | Tolls | Mountain areas, 1 Nov–31 Mar |
| Spain | Always needed | Must carry (V-16 only for Spanish cars) | Must carry | Recommended | Yes | City rules, e.g. Barcelona registration | Some tolls | Chains recommended in snow |
| Germany | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Carry one (RAC: must) | Must carry | Recommended | Yes | Green sticker in zones | None for cars | Winter tyres when wintry |
| Italy | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Must carry | Must carry | Recommended | Yes | ZTL zones, Milan Area C | Tolls | Where signed, 15 Nov–15 Apr |
| Belgium | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Must carry | Must carry | Not required for UK cars | Yes | Register for Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp | Free (Liefkenshoek tunnel toll) | Not compulsory |
| Netherlands | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Recommended | Worth carrying | Worth carrying | Yes | Diesel zones only | None | None listed |
| Austria | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Must carry | Must carry | Must carry | Yes | None | Vignette | When wintry, 1 Nov–15 Apr |
| Switzerland | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Must carry (inside the car) | Worth carrying | Worth carrying | Yes | None | Vignette | Chains where signed |
| Portugal | Needed unless plate shows UK + Union flag | Recommended | Must carry | Worth carrying | Yes | None | Tolls, some electronic-only | None listed |
| Ireland | Not needed | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | No (drives on the left) | None | Some tolls, M50 online | None listed |
Tap a country for the full rules: speed limits, drink-drive limits, fines, clean-air zones and FAQs.
Shop the kit
- Car emergency kit, 7 pieces, £17.99: warning triangle, hi-vis vest, jump leads, tow rope, safety hammer, gloves and a bag.
- Warning triangle, foldable and reflective, £9.99.
- Hi-vis vest, £6.99 each: one for everyone in the car, kept inside the cabin.
- Car first aid kit in hard-shell case, £16.99.
- Textile snow socks for car tyres, £39.99, chosen by tyre size.
We don't currently stock UK stickers, headlamp beam deflectors, spare bulb kits or breathalysers. Ferry ports, Eurotunnel and most motoring shops sell them, so pick them up before you cross.
See the full Driving abroad range. Clean-air stickers, vignettes and toll passes come only from official sites. We don't sell them.
FAQs
What do I need to drive in Europe from the UK?
Your photocard licence, V5C (or VE103 for a hired or leased car), insurance certificate and passport. Most countries also need a UK sticker (unless your plate shows UK with the Union flag), a warning triangle, hi-vis vests and beam deflectors.
Do I still need a GB sticker?
No. GB stickers have been replaced by UK stickers. If you have a GB sticker, cover it or take it off before you drive abroad.
Do I need a UK sticker if my plate already says UK?
Not in most countries, provided it's the UK identifier with the Union flag. Spain is the exception: you need a sticker there whatever your plate shows. In Ireland you never need one.
Do you sell Crit'Air stickers or vignettes?
No. Clean-air stickers, motorway vignettes and toll passes should only be bought from the official sites, which we link on each country page.
Which countries need a first aid kit?
Of the countries we cover, Austria requires one for UK cars. Germany and Belgium require it only for their own cars, though it's still recommended.
Before you set off, check your MOT history on our main site to see when your next test is due.
Sources
Checked 17 October 2026:
- https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad
- https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/flags-identifiers-and-stickers
- https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/country/france/
- https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/european/driving-in-europe/country-by-country
Each country page lists its own GOV.UK, RAC and AA sources.
This page is a general guide for UK-registered cars, not legal advice.