Checklist for car holidays - driving in Europe

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Are you planning to motorhome or caravan in Europe this summer - or perhaps any other time of the year? Here is a checklist for car holidays in Europe, with some of the most important things to consider. The checklist is suitable for both car and campervan travellers!

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Driving in Europe

Caravanning or driving in Europe is a great way to experience the nature and culture of the exciting and interesting continent we live in. When you drive, you are free to travel wherever you want, and you can change your route at any time based on weather or new ideas while travelling. Not only do you see the major destinations, but you also have the opportunity to stop at all the small picturesque towns and secret beaches, far from the main hotels of the charter destinations.

Driving in Europe is primarily easy. Road standards are good in most places and borders are often barely noticeable. However, keeping track of the rules on road charges and environmental zones has recently become a little more complicated. Almost all countries have their own rules, so it's best to check exactly what applies in the countries you plan to travel to.

In this post we provide an overview and outline some of the most important things to consider, but please note that you may need to read on for specific rules in different countries. We also offer a checklist for car holidays in Europe - with everything you shouldn't forget to pack!

Road charges in Europe

In many European countries, motorways are subject to tolls, and bridges and ferries may also be subject to tolls. In some countries, you pay at manned toll booths. In other countries, you have to buy a vignette, a kind of sticker, in advance to attach to your windscreen. The vignette can sometimes be ordered in advance, or bought at petrol stations in border areas.

In some countries, it is also possible to resolve the payment by registering the car and payment details electronically, and the vehicle is then recorded by cameras at unmanned toll booths. Some things worth noting:

• France, Spain, Italy and Portugal: In these countries, payment is primarily made at roadside toll booths. In Portugal, we have also seen that at the entrance to the country you can choose to register your credit card at the same time as the licence plate is photographed.
• Spain: Motorways called 'Autovias' (A roads) are free of charge, while 'Autopistas' (AP roads) are often subject to a charge.
• Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and SloveniaThese countries require a vignette (a sticker) on the windscreen when driving on motorways. The vignette can often be purchased at major petrol stations in border areas, and missing it can result in a fine. If you have a heavy motorhome (over 3.5 tonnes), you need to check if you need to pay extra, and perhaps use some kind of odometer. Check well in advance of your trip as in some cases you may need to order in advance! Read more here: Austrian vignette, Swiss vignette, Czech vignette, Slovenian vignette.
• Hungary and SlovakiaIn Hungary and Slovakia, the system is similar to that of Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, but an 'e-ticket' is issued, which means that the car's registration number is entered into a database. Monitoring is done by roadside cameras. If you have a heavy motorhome (over 3.5 tonnes), you need to check whether you need to pay extra, and perhaps use some kind of odometer. Check well in advance of your trip as you may need to order in advance! Read more here: Hungarian vignette, Slovakian vignette.
• Poland: On occasional motorways, a toll is charged, payable at the toll booth. Motorhomes weighing more than 3.5 tonnes must obtain a payment box and pay a kilometre charge. Read more about the Polish toll box at etoll.gov.pl.
• Croatia, Macedonia and Greece: In these countries, some or all motorways are tolled, and you pay at roadside toll stations.

Environmental zones in Europe

More and more cities in Europe are introducing environmental zones to reduce car traffic in cities. This can mean not driving in certain parts of the city or requiring an environmental sticker. The sticker indicates that the vehicle's particulate emissions are below a certain level. Vehicles without an environmental sticker are not allowed to enter these environmental zones. It may help to download The Green Zones App. Some things you may want to know:

• GermanyA number of German cities have introduced environmental zones and to drive in these zones you must have an environmental sticker which you attach to your windscreen. You can order an environmental sticker from DEKRA.
• FranceA small number of French cities have introduced environmental zones and require an environmental sticker on the windscreen. You can read about the environmental zones at this page.
• ItalyThe sign 'Zona Traffico Limitato' means that you can only drive there if you have a licence. If you break the rule, you can be fined heavily, sometimes long afterwards.

Checklist for car holidays in Europe

Last but not least, here's a list of things you shouldn't forget to pack for your trip to Europe. Here we also list things that are good to think about well in advance of the trip. Quite simply, a checklist for car holidays in Europe!

Pack essential items

• Passport (in the EU, police ID cards should also work).
• Driving licence (if you are travelling outside the EU/EEA, you may also need a international driving licence)
• Car registration certificate part 1 (the blue part). Leave the yellow part at home.
• Updated GPS or the current road map, or preferably both.
• Book on traffic rules in Europe, or equivalent information on the web, such as the book Discover Europe by car from the Motormännen.
• Payment card - at least two copies which should be kept in different places. Do not forget to note the number of the bank's blocking service.
• Foreign currency in banknotes. Most of the time you can withdraw cash from ATMs, but when entering a new country by car/camper van, you may not be able to find a town with an ATM quickly.
• Code box which you use for online banking transactions, and bank ID.
• Tickets and booking confirmations for ferries, campsites, hotels, etc.
• Copies of passports and other important documents. Can either be packed away from the originals or emailed to a web-based email address.
• Mobile phones and chargersCheck in advance with your operator what applies when calling abroad and what charges may apply. Keep in mind that several European countries are not part of the EU, which means that the cancelled roaming charges do not apply there.

Check insurance policies

• Check your car/campervan insurance policy and order the "green card" from your insurance company (the green card is not necessary in all countries, but is required in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Morocco, among others).
• Check your home insuranceand whether you need additional travel insurance. Home insurance includes travel cover that is valid within the EU, but usually for no more than 45 days. Don't forget to pack the policy and the phone number of your insurance company.
• Order a European Health Insurance Card from Social Security Agency. The card gives you access to affordable public healthcare in the EU.
• Order Roadside Assistance so that you can easily get help if you have a breakdown on the road and include the phone number to call in case of an accident. Roadside assistance is available from organisations such as Motormännen, SBM and Falck.

Equipment in the car/caravan

• First aid equipment (a requirement in many countries!) and a travel pharmacy with plasters, sunscreen, prescription drugs, painkillers and remedies for motion sickness, fever, diarrhoea and constipation.
• Small toolbox with jumper cables, tow rope, jack., tyre levers, hammers, pliers, polygrip, spanners, work gloves, duct tape, knife, engine oil, coolant, washer fluid and torch.
• Reflective vests (required in most European countries!) to all travellers in the car. The vests should be easily accessible, and not in the boot.
• Snow chains or autosocks and an ice scraper, if you plan to travel to mountains or the Alps that may be covered in snow.
• Spare tyres or tyre repair kit.
• Fire extinguishers - always good, but in some countries (especially Eastern Europe) also a requirement.
• Extra light bulbs - is a requirement in some countries, including France, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania.
• Two warning triangles is required in Spain, Turkey and Cyprus. Vehicles with trailers must have two triangles in Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro.
• Bogserlina is required in Slovakia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
• Breathalysers should be packed when travelling in France.

If you are travelling with a motorhome/caravan

• Camping licence could possibly be useful. An international camping card is not necessary, but can provide discounts and can be ordered via Caravan Club. Additional cards that can provide discounts are Camping Key Europe and CampingCard ACSI. If you are planning to travel by motorhome in France and want to stop at vineyards, check out something called France Passion.
• Lists of campsites and pitches. There are many different lists, directories and apps to help you find campsites and pitches. We've listed many of them in a post about find pitches and campsites.
• Packing list - Have a look at our large packing list for the motorhome. There you can check that everything is included!

You might also like:

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