{"id":7391,"date":"2023-06-23T09:47:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T08:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/?p=7391"},"modified":"2025-02-26T06:27:50","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T06:27:50","slug":"4-vital-considerations-for-driving-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/4-vital-considerations-for-driving-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"4 vital considerations for driving abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Going away is an exciting time. But even if it\u2019s just travelling for work, if you choose to drive whilst you\u2019re abroad, it can pose some challenges you might not expect. If you\u2019re taking your car with you when you travel, or renting one when you get there, it\u2019s crucial to keep yourself up to speed on the rules of the road so you can avoid any unwanted hassle (like having to scrap your car<\/strong><\/a> abroad).<\/p>\n

Wherever you go and whatever vehicle you end up driving, doing so for the first time can be an understandably daunting experience. But having all the relevant laws and documentation in order beforehand save you a lot of the associated stress and hassle, so everything can go off without a hitch.<\/p>\n

So, to help you out here at Scrap Car Network, we\u2019ve put together this general checklist of things it\u2019s worth keeping in mind when driving abroad.<\/p>\n

Documents needed for driving abroad<\/h2>\n

Depending on whether you\u2019re travelling to Europe or even further afield, the documents you\u2019ll need to take with you will vary. Generally speaking, before you travel anywhere abroad with the intention of driving, the first step is always to familiarise yourself with said country\u2019s policies beforehand. You can do so on the gov.uk<\/a><\/strong> website here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The AA states you need the following documents for driving in Europe:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Your Certificate of Motor Insurance
\n\u2022 Your vehicle log book (V5C)
\n\u2022 A valid driver\u2019s license<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> As of August 2021, an International Motor Insurance Card (Green Card) is no longer needed for travel in all European Union countries, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. A Green Card is also not necessary for Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Switzerland.<\/p>\n

You will need all of the above plus the following things for driving outside of Europe:<\/p>\n

\u2022 A valid passport
\n\u2022 Travel insurance documentation
\n\u2022 Your visa (if necessary)
\n\u2022 A copy of your DVLA driver record (and a license check code if necessary)
\n\u2022 Your Certificate of Motor Insurance (check with your provider if your travel destination comes with any insurance stipulations)
\n\u2022 An international driving permit (if necessary)
\n\u2022 Motor Insurance Card (Green Card)<\/p>\n

International drink-driving limits<\/h2>\n

While British society at large takes a dim view of drink driving (and rightly so), it turns out that legally speaking, we\u2019re actually a lot more tolerant of it in general than one might expect. In fact, the UK (excluding Scotland) actually has some of the highest drink-drive limits in the world at 0.08%, resting 60% above the European average, and 33% above the worldwide average.<\/p>\n

Many countries in Europe enforce a stricter drink-drive limit, such as France and Germany, where the limit is 0.05% – which is typically equal to a single beer or a small glass of wine. Some countries (such as the Czech Republic) have a zero tolerance policy on drink-driving, which means on-the-spot legal consequences for anyone found to have any alcohol in their blood. For that reason alone, it\u2019s worth taking the time to double-check the laws on drink driving at your destination. And if you don\u2019t have time, then let\u2019s be honest \u2013 the safest way is to not drink at all if you\u2019re planning on getting behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

What you need to have in your vehicle<\/h2>\n

So, we\u2019ve covered one of the main international laws to consider as it applies to drivers \u2013 but there are also several more relevant to what you actually carry on (and in) your car, too. As of September 2021, your car must carry a UK sticker instead of a GB sticker if your number plate has any of the following.<\/p>\n

\u2022 A national flag of either England, Scotland or Wales
\n\u2022 The Euro symbol
\n\u2022 Letters and numbers with no flag or identifier<\/p>\n

In many European countries, drivers are required to have a hi-vis jacket within the vehicle in case of emergency or breakdown. It\u2019s best practice to have enough to accommodate everyone within the car \u2013 especially if you\u2019re travelling within France.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth checking your tyre pressure and tread before you go. Most countries have the same minimum tread depth as here in the UK, but you won\u2019t want to risk wearing them down past the legal point whilst you\u2019re out of the country. If you\u2019re concerned this may happen, it\u2019s best to have them replaced beforehand.<\/p>\n

And finally: although it\u2019s not compulsory, if you\u2019re taking your car overseas then it\u2019s wise to have it serviced by your local mechanic beforehand, so you can reduce the chances of having a breakdown or any other problems happening during your trip. They can be expensive hassles \u2013 especially when you\u2019re trying to enjoy your holiday!<\/p>\n

General tips for driving abroad<\/h2>\n

As with anything in life, it\u2019s always best to be over-prepared rather than underprepared! Driving for the first time in a foreign country is bound to be at least a little nerve-wracking, and while everywhere is different, there are a few common cross-overs that apply to the majority of places, so we\u2019ve listed those for you below:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Adjust your headlights –<\/strong> If you\u2019re driving in Europe, you\u2019ll need to adjust your headlights for driving on the right side of the road so you don\u2019t dazzle fellow drivers. This is easily done with a headlight kit, which you can find online. Alternatively – again, you can ask your local mechanic<\/p>\n

\u2022 Check breakdown cover –<\/strong> It\u2019s a good idea to double check whether your breakdown cover extends to the destination. It\u2019s stressful enough breaking down in your own country, let alone abroad when you are unfamiliar with the processes and language. It can cost you a lot of money if you don\u2019t have cover, and you don\u2019t want to be stuck wondering if it\u2019s best to scrap your car on your holiday.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Be prepared for tolls –<\/strong> It\u2019s worth setting some extra funds aside for toll roads if you\u2019re travelling around by vehicle, especially in Europe.<\/p>\n

As an overarching rule, always best to conduct thorough research into the specific country or region in which you are visiting so you can be 100% prepared for all scenarios. Preparation really is key when it comes to driving abroad!<\/p>\n

Of course, you may decide before you go that your car isn\u2019t reliable enough to see you through a trip. So if that\u2019s the case, and you\u2019re considering scrapping your car<\/strong><\/a> and upgrading, you\u2019re in the right place! Here at Scrap Car Network, we\u2019re dedicated to providing you with a hassle free scrapping experience \u2014 and for the very best prices, too.<\/p>\n

Get an instant online quote today! It\u2019s completely free, and there\u2019s zero obligation to proceed until you\u2019re ready. Just enter your car reg and postcode<\/strong><\/a> into the fields on our site, and within seconds you\u2019ll be looking at your very own instant online quote. Ready to find out how much your car is worth?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Going away is an exciting time. But even if it\u2019s just travelling for work, if you choose to drive whilst you\u2019re abroad, it can pose some challenges you might not expect. If you\u2019re taking your car with you when you travel, or renting one when you get there, it\u2019s crucial to keep yourself up to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":7398,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n