Driving abroad: rules and requirements for UK drivers
Driving in Europe is straightforward if you prepare. You no longer need a green card for the EU, but you do need the right documents, a UK identifier on your car, and the safety kit each country requires. Always confirm what your own insurer covers abroad before you travel.
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Does your UK insurance cover you to drive abroad?
By law, a UK car insurance policy provides at least the minimum third-party cover required in EU and EEA countries, so you are legally insured to drive there. What is not guaranteed is that your full comprehensive cover travels with you.
Many insurers provide only that legal minimum abroad unless you tell them you are travelling and arrange an extension, which may carry a fee and a day limit. Before any trip, contact your own insurer to confirm exactly what level of cover applies abroad and for how long, rather than assuming your home cover follows you in full.
What is a green card and do you still need one?
A green card is an internationally recognised document proving you have the minimum insurance cover. Since August 2021, UK drivers no longer need a green card to drive in the EU, EEA, Andorra, Serbia or Switzerland.
Your normal certificate of insurance is sufficient for those countries. A green card may still be required for some destinations further afield, so if you are travelling beyond the main European area, check whether one is needed and ask your insurer to issue it in good time.
What do you need to carry in your car in Europe?
You should carry your driving licence, the vehicle log book (V5C), proof of insurance and your passport. Your car must display a UK identifier: either a UK sticker, or a number plate showing the UK letters (a plate showing only GB, or the EU flag, needs a separate UK sticker).
Most European countries also require certain safety equipment to be carried, such as a warning triangle and a reflective jacket. Requirements differ by country, so check the rules for each one you will drive through, not just your destination.
Speed limits in Europe: key countries
Speed limits across Europe are shown in kilometres per hour, which is worth remembering when reading signs. In France, motorways are generally 130 km/h, reduced to 110 km/h in the rain. In Spain, the motorway limit is generally 120 km/h.
Limits in towns and on rural roads vary by country and are often lower than UK drivers expect, and some countries reduce limits automatically in poor weather. Speeding fines abroad can be issued on the spot, so treat the local limits with care. It is also worth carrying a GHIC, the card that replaced the EHIC, which covers necessary state healthcare in the EU should you be involved in an incident.
Driving in France: rules UK drivers need to know
In France you must carry a warning triangle and a reflective hi-vis jacket, kept within reach inside the car rather than in the boot, and you may be fined for not having them. You also need headlamp beam deflectors so your lights do not dazzle oncoming traffic, since UK cars are set up for driving on the left.
Many French cities operate low-emission zones requiring a Crit'Air sticker on the windscreen. The old requirement to carry a breathalyser is no longer enforced. Drive on the right, and take particular care at junctions where priority rules differ from the UK.
Driving in Spain: rules UK drivers need to know
Spain also requires a warning triangle and a reflective jacket, and rules on spare bulbs and other kit have varied, so check the current requirements before you travel. As in France, you drive on the right and carry your documents with you.
Spanish cities increasingly operate low-emission zones with their own access rules and stickers. Speed and alcohol limits are strictly enforced, with on-the-spot fines, and the drink drive limit is generally lower than in England and Wales, so the safe approach remains not to drink at all before driving. Toll motorways are common on longer routes, so carry a means of payment for them.
What changed after Brexit for driving in Europe?
The main changes are practical. Green cards are no longer needed for the EU and EEA, but your car must show a UK identifier rather than GB. An International Driving Permit is not usually needed for short trips to EU countries with a photocard licence, though some non-EU countries still require one.
For healthcare, the old EHIC has been replaced by the GHIC. None of these changes make European driving difficult, but they do mean checking the current requirements rather than relying on how things worked before 2021.
Can you drive abroad in a hire car or borrowed car?
You can, with the right paperwork. If you want to take a UK hire car abroad, you usually need the hire company's written permission and a vehicle-on-hire certificate, as not all firms allow it. Check before you book.
For a borrowed car, the owner must confirm with their insurer that the policy covers both you as a driver and travel abroad, as many policies do neither by default. Our guide on driving someone else's car explains how cover works when the car is not your own.
Frequently asked questions
Does UK car insurance automatically cover Europe?
Your policy provides at least the legal minimum third-party cover in EU and EEA countries, so you are insured to drive there. Full comprehensive cover is not guaranteed abroad, so contact your insurer before travelling to confirm the level of cover and any day limit.
Do I need a green card to drive in EU countries after Brexit?
No. Since August 2021, UK drivers no longer need a green card for the EU, EEA, Andorra, Serbia or Switzerland; your insurance certificate is enough. A green card may still be needed for some countries further afield, so check before you travel.
What documents do I need to drive in France?
Carry your driving licence, the V5C log book, proof of insurance and your passport, and display a UK identifier on the car. France also requires a warning triangle, a reflective jacket within reach, and headlamp beam deflectors, with a Crit'Air sticker for many cities.
Is my UK driving licence valid in all European countries?
A UK photocard licence is accepted for short trips in EU countries without an International Driving Permit. Some non-EU countries require an IDP, so check the rules for each country on your route before you travel, and carry your licence at all times.
Can I drive a borrowed car in Europe?
Only if the owner's insurer confirms the policy covers both you as a driver and travel abroad, as many policies do neither automatically. Get written confirmation before the trip, and carry the insurance documents and the owner's permission with you.
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