Directions - Arval

Directions
August 2008 | Managers
Driving in Europe this summer?
( )
We all look forward to the summer holidays,
and if you are thinking about driving your
car in Europe the following information will
help you to be prepared.
It is important to remember that each country's
motoring laws, regulations and advice is subject
to constant review, change and differing
interpretations – visit www.theaa.com for the
latest information.
You also need to bear in mind that the enforcement
of motoring laws abroad can be more severe than in
the UK. Very large on the spot fines can be imposed
in some countries, so make sure that you comply
with sign posted speed limits and ensure everyone
in the car is wearing a seat belt. Some countries
may also vary speed limits depending on weather
conditions. If you are involved in an accident
resulting in damage, it is worth calling the police, if
anybody is hurt you must call them.
Documents you will need
You may be asked to produce the following
documents at any time. To avoid a police fine
and/or confiscation of your vehicle, be sure that
they are in order and readily available for inspection.
– A valid full driving licence (not provisional), with
paper counterpart if you have a photo card licence
– An International Driving Permit when necessary
– The original Vehicle Registration Document (V5)
or a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (VE103 see later)
– Your motor insurance certificate – contact your
insurer for advice at least a month before
travelling to ensure you are adequately covered
and have the necessary documents to prove it
– Your passport
Obtaining your VE103 from Arval
If your vehicle is leased from Arval we hold the V5,
which means that you need a VE103, the recognised
alternative to the V5. This also covers you whilst
proceeding to, and returning from, the port of
embarkation. It is valid for a year from the date of
issue and will cover you for all your foreign travel
within that year. There is a charge of £7.50 + VAT
per certificate. Your company policy dictates how
we charge for this but in general this is charged to
your credit or switch card. The address used for the
For more information please call:
0870 013 1212 or email: info@arval.co.uk
www.arval.co.uk

VE103 must legally be the 'custodians' home address
and must match the address on your driving license.
Visit Arval Online and go to Tools and Information
or contact the Driver Contact Centre on 0870 600
4499 to request an Overseas Pack.
Do not risk travelling without a VE103. In a recent high
profile case a vehicle without a VE103 was impounded
for four days while the original copy of the V5 was
mailed out to the local police station. The driver had a
letter of authority with him but this was not accepted.
General information for you
and your passengers
Breakdown cover – make sure that you have
adequate cover for driving in European countries.
Security – never leave handbags and other attractive
items in obvious view even when you are in the car,
and never leave anything in an unattended car. For
advice on car crime or personal safety in specific
countries, contact the Foreign Office Travel Advice
Unit on 0845 850 2829 or visit www.fco.gov.uk
Drinking and driving – there is only one safe rule
– if you drink, do not drive. Laws are strict and
the penalties are severe.
Children in Cars – rules relating to the age and
height of children that can be carried as front seat
passengers vary by country so check before you leave.
Mobile phones – the use of hand-held mobile
phones while driving is prohibited in many countries.
Spectacles – take a spare pair of spectacles or
contact lenses if you wear them – especially if you
are the sole driver.
Think right – it is easy to forget to drive on the
right, particularly after doing something familiar,
such as leaving a petrol station or car park.
Your car
When travelling on the continent you must ensure
that you comply with European motoring
regulations by carrying the following items of
equipment, which are required by law in many
countries and are advisable in any case.
GB sticker – compulsory – failure to comply could
result in an on-the-spot fine.
Euro-plates – number plates that include the GB
euro-symbol have been legal since March 2001 and
make display of a conventional sticker unnecessary
within the EU. In some countries outside the EU a
conventional sticker is required even if you have
euro-plates, so it is always safer to display one.
Reflective jacket/waistcoat – this is compulsory
when visiting Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Croatia
and France. The AA recommends each vehicle carry
at least two jackets/waistcoats in the passenger
compartment – one for the driver and one for a
passenger who may need to assist e.g. with changing
a wheel. In an emergency the jacket must be easily
accessible by the driver and must be put on before
leaving the car. The Jacket/waistcoat must conform
to EU Standard BS EN 471:1994 Class 1 or 2.
Speed-trap detection devices – the use or
possession of devices to detect police radar is illegal
in most European countries. Penalties can include a
fine, driving ban and even imprisonment.
Tyres – like the UK, most countries require a
minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over the central
three-quarters of the tread and around the whole
circumference. Arval recommends a minimum of
2mm but consider changing tyres if the tread is
down to 3mm before you travel. Tyres wear out
quickly after they get down to 3mm.
Headlights – if you are driving to the Continent
you must adjust the headlamp beam pattern to suit
driving on the right so the dipped beam will not
dazzle oncoming drivers. Never go without adjusting
the headlamp pattern, as it is a compulsory
requirement in most countries. Failure to adapt your
headlamps will render your vehicle unfit for use on
the road and will invalidate your motor insurance.
Headlamp beam converter kits are widely available
but do not leave headlamp conversion to the last
minute, as a dealer may need to make the
adjustment for you*. Remember to remove the
converters when you return to the UK.
* Particularly if you have hid or xenon headlights.

Warning triangle – this is compulsory in the
majority of countries to give advance warning of a
hazard on the road. Hazard warning lights alone are
NOT sufficient in many European countries.
Overloading – do not overload the car as, safety
risks apart, this can incur fines and possibly
invalidate insurance. Remember, carrying five cases
of wine is equivalent to having another passenger in
the car. If you overload your car you could pay more
in repair bills than you saved on your shopping.
Overloading can cause damage to suspension, burnt
out clutch, punctures or uneven wear on tyres.
Make sure that you service your car well in advance
to reduce the chance of expensive breakdowns
when abroad.
For more information visit the AA website at
www.theaa.co.uk
Have a good holiday!

Driving Requirements for Travelling in Europe
Driving requirements Austria Belgium Switzerland Germany Spain France Portugal Italy Netherlands Sweden Denmark Norway Ireland
17
18 18 18 18 18 18 17 (8) 17 18 18 17 17 (8)
Minimum age at which a
visitor may drive a car/(UK
licence holders)
NO
NO (1) NO NO NO NO (2) NO NO (2) NO (2) NO NO (1) NO NO
International Driving
Permit required for UK
licence holders (IDP)
TOLLS
TOLLS
C & TOLLS NO C & TOLLS NO TOLLS TOLLS TOLLS TOLLS NO TOLLS TOLLS
Motorway Tax
C
C*
C* C* C* R (3) C* (4) C (5) R (5) C (5) R* (5) R C
Warning Triangle
n/a
C* C (6) n/a n/a C* (6) C R (6) C (6) n/a n/a n/a n/a
Reflective Jacket/
Waistcoat
NO
C R (12) NO R NO NO NO NO NO R R R
First Aid Kit
NO
NO R (12) NO NO NO NO NO NO NO R R R
Fire Extinguisher*
NO
C C C C C C C C C C C C
Headlamp Adjustment (11)
YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES (7) YES YES (7) YES YES
On The Spot Fines
R
R
C
C
C
C
C
C
R
R
C (9)
C
NO (10)
C
R
C
NO
C
R(10)
R
R
R
NO
C
R
R
Daytime headlights/
Passing Lights
• Cars
• Motorcycles
The Original Registration Document and Motor Vehicle Insurance is required for driving in all of the above countries. Before taking a vehicle abroad contact your motor insurer or broker to notify them of your intentions, and ask their
advice. It is important to know what level of cover you will have and what documents you need to prove it.
C = Compulsory R = Recommended by AA/respective Country (*Not required for motorcycles)
Source: AA

Notes
(1) UK driving licences without a photograph are
recognised but, drivers must be able to produce
photographic proof of identity (e.g. passport).
(2) All valid UK licences should be accepted, this
cannot be guaranteed on older green style
licences. Drivers may wish to update them
before travelling abroad. Alternatively, older
licences may be accompanied by an IDP.
(3) Although not compulsory for visiting motorists
to carry a warning triangle, its use is
compulsory in an accident/breakdown situation.
(4) One warning triangle is compulsory for non-
Spanish registered vehicles; two for Spanish
registered vehicles. Drivers of non-Spanish
registered vehicles should consider carrying
two triangles as, regardless of regulations, local
officials may impose on-the-spot fine if only
one is available.
(5) Use of hazard warning lights or warning
triangle is compulsory in an accident or
breakdown situation. A warning triangle should
always be carried as hazard-warning lights
have no effect at bends or rises in the road, or
may become damaged or inoperative.
(6) Compulsory to wear if driver and/or passengers
exit vehicle immobilised on carriageway, in
Italy at night or in poor visibility, in Spain on
motorways and busy roads. In Portugal, this
applies to Portuguese residents; however,
regardless of the regulations local officials may
impose on-the-spot fines. In Belgium wearing
of a reflective jacket only applies to the driver,
it must be worn if you are stranded on a
motorway or a major road or if you stop at a
place where parking is not allowed.
(7) Sweden: Police are not authorised to actually
collect fines, which must be paid in accordance
with notice instructions. Italy: Police will
collect a quarter of the maximum fine amount
from drivers of foreign registered vehicles.
(8) Norway: 18 for Norwegian registered vehicles.
Portugal: Visiting drivers aged 17 may
encounter problems even though they hold a
valid driving licence in the UK.
(9) Outside built up areas.
(10) Compulsory during daylight hours if the
visibility is poor.
(11) On some cars it is inadvisable for anyone other
than a qualified technician to change a
headlamp bulb unit e.g. high intensity
discharge (HID) headlamps, and carrying spares
is not an option. Spare bulbs should be carried
for lights that are easy for the driver to
change. Spare bulbs and tools to change lights
required in Spain. Headlamp adjustment for
older vehicles can be done by using simple
adhesive masks on the headlamp glass. For
newer vehicles with HID, Zenon or Halogen
headlamps it is not easy. Check what you must
do before your departure by contacting a
dealer for your make of vehicle. In some
countries it is compulsory to use dipped
headlights when driving during the day. This
adjustment is not required for motorcycles as
the beam is more symmetrical, but check extra
loading has not affected the beam height.
(12) Recommended, as their carriage is compulsory
for Belgium registered vehicles.
Source: AA
For more information please call:
0870 013 1212 or email: info@arval.co.uk
www.arval.co.uk WH.13310.07/08