Going on a road trip through Europe will be one of the best adventures of your life, you’ll get to explore some amazing places and make lasting memories.
Before setting off, the first thing you will need to decide is whether you want to drive your own car or rent a car. Once you have decided this, you can begin planning your journey.
In this guide, we will take you through the key essential documents and equipment you need for a road trip, how to plan your route, tips for tolls, and more!
Essential documents and equipment for driving in Europe
Documents
First and foremost, you should ensure you have the following documents ready to bring with you:
- Your driver's licence. Make sure to check that your driver’s licence is accepted in all the countries you plan to drive in
- Proof of your car insurance - have your policy number and documentation
- Proof of ID, e.g., your passport
- Proof of travel insurance
- If your insurance company has a European Breakdown Service you should take note of their phone number so you can contact them if your car breaks down and you need assistance
- Ensure your motor tax and NCT are valid and in date - have the certificates/discs displayed
- An IRL country sticker - this is required on your car in certain countries, if your vehicle registration plate does not incorporate IRL or EU symbols.
Equipment
Different countries within Europe have their own specific requirements about gear and equipment that you must carry in your car. These may include:
- A breathalyser
- A reflective jacket
- A warning triangle
- A spare tyre
- A fire extinguisher
- Headlight beam deflectors
- A first-aid kit
- And more!
It’s important to double-check the equipment requirements for each country you plan to drive in and ensure you have all of the necessary equipment to meet the legal requirements.
Plan your road trip route
When planning the route for your road trip it’s important that you don’t schedule too much driving for each day. It’s best to stick to 2 or 3 hours of driving per day to help reduce driving fatigue and also to ensure you can embrace the different towns and villages you visit by spending more time exploring them properly.
Road trip planner
An online road trip planner can help you find the best route that suits your plans. You can simply add in the city or country you wish to start from and the one you want to end in and it will suggest a route for your trip and suggest different towns to stop and stay in. Often, you can also customise the route if there are specific towns or places you wish to spend time in, so you can tailor the suggested route to your preferences.
Some road trip planners that you may find useful are routeperfect, triptile, autoeurope, and you can find many more by searching for a road trip planner in Google.
Research and plan for tolls
The price of tolls varies throughout Europe and in certain countries, like France and Sweden, they can be extremely expensive.
You should check your route to research how many tolls there are and how much they will cost. If there are any high-cost tolls on your route, you could re-evaluate certain sections of your route to avoid those tolls!
One key tip is to always carry spare cash and change of the Local Currencey so you have it available to use at any tolls you arrive at unexpectedly. Some tolls throughout Europe also require you to pay online, so be mindful of this - you don’t want to end up with a fine for not paying a toll online.
So, to be prepared for tolls on your road trip, research to find out where there are tolls along your route, how much they will cost and the method of payment that is required.
Tips for driving in Europe
In the second part of our guides to road trips, we will cover tips for driving in Europe, including the rules of the road in different European countries.
