If you are taking your motorcycle to the continent, it’s important to be aware of the latest laws and regulations. From items that you must carry with you to driving laws and advice, there are many requirements you might not be aware of when driving in Europe.
This guide will cover most of what you need to know to ride in Europe, we have other guides available for the specific countries you'll be riding through.
We also recommend purchasing European Breakdown Cover for those big problems that can't fixed at the side of the road.
If you are driving from the UK to Europe, you will need to take the following items:
Important documents: driving licence, passport, proof of motorcycle insurance, vehicle registration document, European breakdown policy details, travel insurance documents
Required equipment for driving abroad: reflective jackets in case of a breakdown, UK number plate sticker, first aid kit.
Recommended additional items: replacement bulbs, specialist bike specific tools, a torch, suncream, water bottle.
In addition to the checklist above, the next best thing to do is to familiarise yourself with the driving laws, specific entry requirements and compulsory items to carry for the countries you will be driving in.
Brexit has impacted the way people from the UK travel to Europe in a big way.
The most notable changes to EU travel for British travellers are:
1. If you hold a British passport, you are not permitted to use EU/EEA/CH lanes or EU e-gates at EU border crossing points
2. Tourists from the UK with a British passport can only visit the EU for 90 days in any 180 day period. If you wish to stay for longer than this, you'll need to get a visa
3. In some cases, you may need to get an International Driving Permit before you drive in Europe. It's important to check this before you travel
If you have a UK photocard driving licence, you will not need an International Driving Permit to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
However, in some EU countries, you may need an International Driving Permit if you have a paper driving licence or your licence was issued in Jersey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Guernsey.
A green card is useful, because it shows that you have vehicle insurance for driving in Europe. However, a UK driver is not required to carry a green insurance green when taking their vehicle to an EU country.
1. Adjust your headlights
It is a legal requirement not to dazzle oncoming drivers with headlight glare.
Make sure you adjust your headlamps ready for driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights) are widely available. Some cars will have a switch that will adjust the headlights for use on right hand drive roads.
2. Buy a UK sticker
Don’t forget that your vehicle must display the appropriate country identification letters (e.g. UK).
Failure to do so may result in an on-the-spot fine, but if your number plates include a UK identifier with the Union flag, you do not need a sticker within the EU (except in Cyprus, Malta and Spain, where stickers are needed no matter what is shown on your number plate).
3. Make a travel pack
Create a travel pack containing all the appropriate documentation you will need to comply with the legal requirements of the country you are visiting and to help if you get into difficulties.
In addition to your passport and driving licence this may include your vehicle registration document (V5); motor insurance certificate; International Driving Permit (if required or advised); breakdown policy and contact numbers; travel insurance documents, and any emergency helpline numbers.
4. Check your breakdown cover extends to Europe
You may need to increase your existing cover or take out a standalone European breakdown policy to avoid unnecessary stress and significant additional expense if anything goes wrong.
If you need breakdown cover abroad for a short time, why not try our Single Trip European Breakdown Cover. If you drive to Europe on a regular basis, then our annual trip product will be more suitable for you.
5. Check your car insurance
Make sure your motorcycle insurance covers you to drive abroad. Check with your insurance company that you’re fully covered to drive abroad.
If you don’t have overseas cover, you will only have the minimum legal cover (usually third party only) in the EU and you may need to pay an extra premium to extend your insurance cover.
6. First time abroad?
All first-time adult passport applicants must now attend an interview to verify their identity. It now takes up to six weeks to get a first passport.
7. Passport validity check
For certain countries your passport must be valid for six months after the date you travel and be less than 10 years old.
Make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier for the emergency services to contact someone in case of an emergency.
8. Photocopy your passport
Take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when you travel and/or store them online using a secure data storage site.
9. Remember, Europe uses kilometres per hour (kph) and not miles per hour (mph)
Speed limits in mainland Europe are in kph, which stands for kilometres per hour. Do not confuse local speed limits with mph, otherwise you could end up with a large fine, have your car seized or even be arrested.
Like the UK, speed limits in France depend on the type of road you are driving on, but expect up to 80kph on main roads and up to 130 kph on motorways. Speed limits in Germany and speed limits in Spain are very different, so make sure you research the driving laws of the country or countries you will be visiting before you set off.
10. Share your trip details
Tell a friend or relative where you are going and for how long for – give them some idea of your itinerary if possible and an emergency contact number.
11. Duty free allowances
Check HM Revenue & Customs Travel website for information on duty-free allowances and any banned goods etc.
12. International Driving Permit
Check whether you need an International Driving Permit in the country you plan to visit.
13. Don't travel without travel insurance
If you become seriously ill or injured abroad, you will need full travel insurance to cover any medical bills, otherwise you could be left with a hefty bill after you get better – most countries will even charge you if an ambulance is called out.
Also make sure your insurance covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake such as water sports and you are covered should you decide to ride or be a passenger on a motorbike or moped.
14. Get a free Global Health Insurance Card
A European health card isn't a substitute for travel insurance, but it does entitle you to free or reduced-cost emergency care in some instances.
To find out more about what they cover, visit the NHS advice page.
Also remember, you need to call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
15. Make sure your motorcycle is in good running order
Prepare your bike before your trip by making sure it has been recently serviced.
There are also simple things you can do yourself to make sure your bike is in good, roadworthy condition, these are in our roadworthy guide.
Take time to inspect your vehicle's fluids, including water and oil.
1. Get on the right track
Remember most European countries drive on the right-hand side of the road (the exceptions are: the Irish Republic, Cyprus and Malta).
This means that typically, you’ll be negotiating roundabouts in an anti-clockwise direction rather than clockwise!
2. Map out your travel plans
Sat-navs are invaluable, but it’s worth double-checking your route with a detailed map of the area.
Remember to bear in mind that sat-nav requirements may differ from country to country – for example, in France, it is illegal to use sat-nav equipment with radar detection indicating where fixed speed cameras are located.
3. Keep some cash on you
Most places take card/contactless now, and a lot of petrol stations only take card, but there will still be some exceptions where cash is needed.
4. Expect the unexpected
Drive carefully and cautiously, taking extra care to be really observant.
Remember the local driving style may be very different to that of the UK.
The advice from the Foreign Office is always to drive defensively when abroad and to expect the unexpected.
5. Stick to the rules
Make sure you obey the rules and regulations of the road.
This means sticking to all the speed limits and observing what we as UK drivers may think are rather obscure rules – e.g. in Spain and Switzerland, if you wear prescription glasses, always carry a spare set; Italy only park in the direction of the flow of traffic.
Observing the local rules will make your holiday go much smoother – attempting to discuss a driving offence with a police officer in a foreign language or using broken English and sign language is never easy!
6. Take a break
Riding is tiring at the best of times but if you are driving overseas in unfamiliar areas, concentrating on driving on the right-hand side of the road and reading different road signs, it can be even more exhausting.
We plan plenty of stops but it is up to you to let us know if you need some extra time, we are more than happy to accommodate
7. Watch out, thieves about
Protect your motorcycle from being targeted by exercising vigilance. We plan our stops with safety in mind but extra locks on your bike are always recommended.
8. Beware wear and tear
Any driving holiday when you are using your motorcycle for long periods of time may increase wear and tear on your vehicle.
It’s worth checking your tyres, chain, mirrors and lights throughout your holiday to be on the safe side.
9. Accidents happen
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, contact your insurer immediately and call the police. Obtain the other driver’s full details together with the names and contact details of any witnesses. Remember to take photographs of the damage to your vehicle.
10. Use your common sense
Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean you throw all your common-sense out of the window!
Always wear your gear and make sure if you have a pillion, that they are wearing theirs, don’t get distracted by your phone/satnav.
1. Find out about local customs and dress, behave accordingly and obey local laws – there may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home
2. Be careful when taking photographs, videos or using binoculars. Such activities may be misunderstood, especially near military installations or airports
3. Check with your service provider to make sure your phone works abroad
4. Check whether it’s safe to drink local tap water – if not, stick to bottled water and avoid salads, non-peeling fruit and ice in drinks
5. Check import regulations for food and plants before you attempt to bring them back to the UK
