The Cotswolds Camper
31 January 2025 · Driving in Europe · Chris Davies

Continental shift

The van at a petrol station in Durness, in black and white

Since late 2021 there have been a couple of rule changes for driving in the EU, mainly in France, for UK drivers.

The sticker

The old GB stickers with the EU flag are no longer legal. You'll have to use a 'UK' sticker now.

I've been looking at some of the EU driving kits recently and not all of them have been updated. Some still include the GB sticker, either with or without the EU flag, so be careful when buying. You don't want to be caught out by the gendarmerie.

The green card

In France the insurance 'Green Card' used to be a requirement. That ceased to be the case in August 2021, so that should make life a bit easier. That said, this may vary from country to country, so check the DVLA website and make sure you are covered by your insurer for driving on the continent.

You will, however, need not only your driving licence but your V5 document with your vehicle.

What to carry

There are some longstanding legal requirements which don't apply in the UK:

  • A warning triangle, carried at all times
  • Reflective vests for all passengers
  • A breathalyser — I believe the penalty fine for not carrying one has been scrapped, but you can still get a ticket. I don't know how that works.
  • Headlight beam deflectors

You can pick up kits from breakdown companies like the AA and RAC, on Amazon, or in supermarkets and Halfords. But, as mentioned before, just be careful they meet the latest requirements.

Happy Travels

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