We thought we’d share some advice from the RAC and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to give you some tips on preparing for driving or travelling abroad. Moto-Lita is not affiliated with the RAC.
1. Adjust your headlights
It is a legal requirement not to dazzle oncoming drivers with headlight glare.
Make sure you adjust your headlamps ready for driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights) are widely available. Some cars will have a switch that will adjust the headlights for use on right hand drive roads.
2. Buy a UK sticker
Don’t forget that your vehicle must display the appropriate country identification letters (e.g. UK).
Failure to do so may result in an on-the-spot fine, but if your number plates include a UK identifier with the Union flag, you do not need a sticker within the EU (except in Cyprus, Malta and Spain, where stickers are needed no matter what is shown on your number plate).
3. Make a travel pack
Create a travel pack containing all the appropriate documentation you will need to comply with the legal requirements of the country you are visiting and to help if you get into difficulties.
In addition to your passport and driving licence this may include your vehicle registration document (V5); motor insurance certificate; International Driving Permit (if required or advised); breakdown policy and contact numbers; travel insurance documents, and any emergency helpline numbers.
4. Check your breakdown cover extends to Europe
You may need to increase your existing cover or take out standalone European breakdown policy to avoid unnecessary stress and significant additional expense if anything goes wrong.
5. Check your car insurance
Make sure your car insurance covers you to drive abroad. Check with your insurance company that you’re fully covered to drive abroad.
If you don’t have overseas cover, you will only have the minimum legal cover (usually third party only) in the EU and you may need to pay an extra premium to extend your insurance cover.
If you’re hiring a car, don’t forget to cover your hire excess. In the event your rental car is damaged or stolen, or if you put the wrong fuel in, your rental company will expect you to pay to repair or replace the vehicle. Car hire excess insurance protects your excess, meaning you can claim back any charges.
6. Need a visa?
Make sure you've got correct visas for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid.
7. First time abroad?
All first-time adult passport applicants must now attend an interview to verify their identity. It now takes up to six weeks to get a first passport.
8. Passport validity check
For certain countries your passport must be valid for six months after the date you travel and be less than 10 years old.
Make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier for the emergency services to contact someone in case of an emergency.
9. Photocopy your passport
Take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when you travel and/or store them online using a secure data storage site.
10. Remember, Europe uses kilometres per hour (kph) and not miles per hour (mph)
Speed limits in mainland Europe are in kph, which stands for kilometres per hour. Do not confuse local speed limits with mph, otherwise you could end up with a large fine, have your car seized or even be arrested.
Like the UK, speed limits in France depend on the type of road you are driving on, but expect up to 80kph on main roads and up to 130 kph on motorways. Speed limits in Germany and speed limits in Spain are very different, so make sure you research the driving laws of the country or countries you will be visiting before you set off.