Contours May 2017

Driving In Europe.
What Do We Need To Know?
There’s plenty we need to know, when
driving and towing in the UK, and
hence The Definitive Guide To Towing
In The UK, however, there is even more
legislation involved with driving in
Europe, and this can change over time,
and from country to country.
• Full, current UK driving licence
* A copy of your Check Code that
replaced the paper counterpart driving
licence (If you have a post 1972 photo ID
licence)
• An International Driving Permit (if
applicable)
• Passport
• Original vehicle V5 log book
• Confirmation of motor insurance
(Insurance certificate) **
• Travel insurance documentation
• Passport
• Visa (if applicable)
These days, it isn’t just a case of shoving
on a GB sticker and hoping for the best.
Matters such as speed limits, permitted
alcohol intake, lighting requirements and
equipment levels will all have a bearing,
and must all be complied with, regardless
of what country we are touring.
However, before looking at individual
countries, we need to bear in mind
some key items of advice which will
be universal, regardless of the country
being visited.
General Advice For Driving & Travelling
In Europe
As with most things in life, it is our own
responsibility to make sure we comply
with the local laws of any country we
may visit. This is particularly important
when hiring a vehicle, as many hire
companies do not always equip their
vehicles with the requisite levels of
equipment. Nothing ruins a holiday like
a disagreement with the police, or the
confiscation of a vehicle. One of the key
laws we need to comply with is taking
the correct legal paperwork with us.
Regardless of which European country
we intend to visit, we will need to ensure
we take the following;
Note that the paper counterpart driving
licence has now been abolished , with
effect from 8 June 2015. The advice of
the DVLA is to destroy yours if you have
one but keep your photocard driving
licence.
* Note there are different rules
in Northern Ireland where the paper
counterpart is still needed.
For England, Scotland and Wales the
paper counterpart driving licence has
been replaced by an online service and
when the driver chooses to share the
information organisations will be able
to see completely accurate information
direct from DVLA’s records.
It’s very easy to view and share your
driving record. Just go to GOV.UK and
search for ‘view driving licence’. You can
view your information electronically and
generate a check code which you can
then share with people who need to see
your details (such as an employer or car
hire company). If you want to, you can
also download and print a summary.
* More information on all the changes
can be found on GOV.UK – search for ‘no
more counterpart’.
** Usually a good idea to check that
your insurance policy covers you for
foreign travel. Some companies require
notification, prior to any foreign travel, in
order to validate cover.
Contours
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