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)

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

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

  • Europe driving kit, £29.99 (UK sticker, headlamp beam deflectors, warning triangle, 4 hi-vis vests, car first aid kit)
  • France driving kit, £34.99 (Everything in the Europe kit plus 2 disposable breathalysers and a spare bulb kit)
  • Germany & Austria driving kit, £29.99 (UK sticker, headlamp beam deflectors, warning triangle, hi-vis vests, car first aid kit)
  • Winter Alps kit, £54.99 (Europe driving kit plus a pair of snow socks)
  • UK sticker / magnet, £3.99
  • Headlamp beam deflectors, £6.99
  • Warning triangle, £9.99
  • Hi-vis vests, 4-pack, £9.99
  • Car first aid kit, £9.99

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.

Sources

Checked 17 October 2026:

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.