Driving in Europe after Brexit need-to-knows
Much is still up in the air about Brexit, but if you'll be motoring in Europe on or after Friday 29 March, there are some important checks you need to start making sooner rather than later.
If there's a deal it's likely there will be a transition period to the end of 2020, during which things will largely continue as they are now, but if there's no deal you may need a driving permit and, if you're taking your own car abroad, a green card and bumper sticker.
Of course no one knows what's going to happen, but given some of the no-deal driving preparation can take up to four weeks, it's better to plan ahead now so you're ready just in case. Here are the extra checks you will need to do to be ready for a no deal:
As things stand, those with a UK driving licence can drive in the EU without needing any extra documentation.
In the event of a no deal, the Government has said it will try and reach separate agreements with individual countries, but it is very unlikely this will be done by 29 March.
So if you'll be driving in Europe on or after the 29 March, and a deal hasn't been struck before you set off, you will want to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) to ensure your UK driving licence will be recognised in the country you're driving in. There are three types, which cost £5.50 each:
- The 1926 IDP – to drive in Liechtenstein, valid for 12 months.
- The 1949 IDP – to drive in Spain, Iceland, Malta and Cyprus, valid for 12 months.
- The 1968 IDP – to drive in all other EU countries as well as Norway and Switzerland, valid for three years.
If you're driving through countries which require different types of IDP – for example, both France and Spain – you'd need to get both the 1949 and 1968 permits, so you'd pay £11.
It's worth noting that the Republic of Ireland doesn't ask drivers to carry IDPs.
How long will it take? 1 Day. IDPs are available over the counter from 2,500 Post Office branches across the country (find your nearest branch via the Post Office website). It takes only five minutes or so to obtain an IDP, so you can get it in a single visit, but you need to have it before you travel.
Currently you don't need an insurance 'green card', which proves that your UK car insurance policy provides minimum third-party cover, to drive a UK-registered vehicle in other EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, or in Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland.
But if we leave the EU without a deal, you'll need a physical copy of a 'green card' to be able to take a car insured in the UK to the EU and EEA. These are issued by insurance providers, and all the ones we spoke to said they would do this for free.
How long will it take? Up to four weeks. If you need a green card, contact your insurer. As they're free, you can request one to be on the safe side and not use it if a deal is agreed.
At present, if the number plates on your car have the EU symbol and the Great Britain (GB) national identifier on them, you don't need to display a 'GB' sticker on your car while driving in other EU countries.
But if we leave without a deal, you'll need to display a 'GB' sticker (even if your car has number plates with an EU symbol and GB identifier on).
How long does it take? Up to five days. It can take up to five days to get a GB sticker or magnetic plate delivered from the likes of the RAC and Halfords*, but you can also buy these in stores – see Do you need to display a GB sticker? for the required specifications.
4. Driving outside of Europe? You may need a different kind of permit – regardless of what happens with Brexit
If you're driving outside of the EU, the type of IDP you need may also change.
From 28 March 2019, some countries – such as the Bahamas, Brazil and Cuba – will stop accepting the 1926 and 1949 IDPs. These changes will take effect no matter what happens with Brexit. For other countries – such as the USA – nothing will change.
You can check which IDP you will need on the Government website.
How long will it take? 1 Day. As above, IDPs are available over the counter from 2,500 Post Office branches across the country (find your nearest branch via the Post Office website).
What to read next...
Regardless of Brexit, if you're planning on driving in Europe at any time, check if you need:
- An emissions sticker to avoid a £70+ fine
- European breakdown cover
- A DVLA driving licence code
- Your log book and other documentation
For more on what Brexit means for finances, travel etc, see our 25 Brexit need-to-knows. For full help on motoring in the EU, check out Driving in Europe.
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