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We’re driving to the Black Forest this summer, first time driving in Europe post brexit.
we’ve got an emovis tag for the French tolls and a yellow air quality sticker (car is euro 5) so I think we’re all set on the French side?
do I need a sticker or anything for German motorways? And what about ULEZ or equivalents? I can’t see us driving into cities but I wouldn’t want to fall foul of not having the right documentation on an urban ring road
any pearls of wisdom gratefully appreciated
Triangle
First aid kit.
High Viz for each person.
GBUK brexit sign
No breathalyser apparently.
Licence when driving.
Apart from a crit air sticker I had nothing else in April when I drove through France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands.
Edit: hi Viz, triangle^^, spare bulbs UK sticker...
Nothing extra for Germany Vs France.
For France hi vis for every passenger (reachable without leaving car) and two breathalysers. V5 or letter from lease company if leased.
alpin
Free Member
“I didn’t vote for brexit” sticker as seen in a car in France the other week. Made me smile and feel sad at the same time.
in my mind, my ecosse sticker says that - in reality I’m quite sure they probably don’t much care!
two breathalysers
No need for them, got dropped a few years ago.
Don't forget to disconnect your indicators 😉
That's mandatory for Austrian roundabouts
You’re supposed to have the original V5 in a lot of European countries. When I’ve been stopped in Austria and Spain they’ve requested insurance docs as well as licence, so I’d have a copy of those too. Don’t know why as they wanted them as couldn’t read them though.
For the autobahn- lane etiquette
<p style="text-align: left;">There is an emissions sticker for Germany too, the "Umweltplakette".</p>
Do you need it if you don't go into the cities?
https://www.green-zones.eu/en/low-emission-zones/germany
It's quite extensive, for the sake of a few euros it's worth having? I got ours on the off chance we might pass through a zone as we travel through Germany this summer
in my mind, my ecosse sticker says that – in reality I’m quite sure they probably don’t much care!
We've just come back from a 2 week 'roadtrip' across NL, B and France - you'd be surprised.
First hotel, the receptionist knew we were from the UK, but positively beamed when we responded that we were from Scotland. And this occurred all over.
And as someone who's travelled extensively with work (I've worked in the majority of the EU countries for example) it's quite noticeable how the UK and its citizens have lost their previous 'status' in the countries we visited. Sad.
Car-wise - check that your insurance covers you and then the usual French requirements, which TBH I carry anyway as having a triangle and hi-viz may one day save my life. Also check your breakdown cover as many of the cheaper ones only get you to a garage, and don't repatriate your car in the event of damage etc.
in my mind, my ecosse sticker says that – in reality I’m quite sure they probably don’t much care!
We've been working on 5 Erasmus+ projects across 12 European countries since Brexsh*t. Every single European asks us 'why?' and commiserates. All of them seem to think Scotland will find a way to rejoin.
bookmarking for road trip later in the year
Unless it has improved in the last 5 years, a decent handful of cash is also useful if you break down on a German motorway. Somewhat unbelievably neither ADAC or a Citroen main dealer could accept Visa or MasterCard at that time (we didn't have loads of Euros as just passing through on a long trip through Scandinavia so had most cash in 3x other currencies). We had breakdown cover but needed to pay and reclaim on that occasion.
The green sticker thing seemed to be spreading into smaller cities - was very cheap and quick to arrive. I think ours came via a link on the Berlin tourism website.
Edit: It was only Eurocard that they could accept. Now looks like they have joined with MasterCard so might not be a problem anymore.
Fill up this side
Defo take a your V5. I got pulled twice in short succession last week in Italy, whilst driving a French hire van, and even though I had rental paperwork, they were VERY unhappy that I didn't have the actual Carte Grise. I think they were just doing random checks on dodgy looking vans that might contain illegal immigrants. (once they'd seen what was in the back they relaxed noticeably), but the combination of not speaking each others language, not being the owner of the vehicle, which was also from another country and not having the correct paperwork, plus men with guns made for a tense few moments.
(I hadn't collected the van from the hire co - was just a driver)
I used my old GB sticker last year as a subtle "pro EU" cue with no issues. (had a UK one in the glovebox in case anyone was a dick about it, but they weren't)
NB the crit air stickers take some weeks to be sent out, don't leave it to the last minute.
Anyone know a company that will accept new breakdown cover applications for vehicles over 16 years old?
Also, if buying the crit air sticker there are loads of third party websites with vastly inflated prices. Get it from the official site for €4.61 : https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
Although, the OP will probably not be going near any of the zones
Only thing that's not been mentioned I think are those stickers that go on your headlights which seem to do absolutely nothing, throw a set of those in the glovebox.
Next time we drive on the continent I'm getting one of these
If the crit air stcker doesn't come in time, it says to use the receipt as proof that you got one.
Fill up this side
Fill up in Luxembourg if you're any where near!! TBH though I found that supermarkets are still cheaper then here, although fuel prices here have come down recently....
Only thing that’s not been mentioned I think are those stickers that go on your headlights which seem to do absolutely nothing, throw a set of those in the glovebox.
Think I've still got mine on from April....
Next time we drive on the continent I’m getting one of these
Which is fine as long as you have a UK sticker as well, as is the law now. Its what I do to try and show I voted remain.
Apart from insurance docs, does anyone know what is required for driving in Ireland..?
Headlight sticker things
Whenever travelling always photograph all documents you might need, if lost it'll make your life easier...
I was in France last weekend, so many of the cars crossing with us didn't have the UK sticker. Also I'd say that over the 50% of the UK cars I passed or was passed by didn't have a sticker.
Having had a previous encounter with an over zealous police officer when losing a magnetic GB sticker I made sure I'd got one.
Un constat / european accident reporting form.
Umwelt sticker for Germany. I normally just email the mailbox in Stuttgart council for ours. It's almost impossible to traverse Germany now without one as unlike our LEZs theirs aren't restricted to city centres. Kfz-Zulassungsstelle@stuttgart.de
Other than that: warning triangle, hi-viz tabbards for everyone (accessible to passengers). Most modern headlights either have a tourist mode, or have flatish LED beams & so won't need beam stickers. Halogens will.
Cash is still king in places in Germany, particularly in the black forest, though covid made a massive difference to the places where cards are accepted, I've still been caught out on occasion. Some French automated petrol pumps won't take our cards.
Apart from insurance docs, does anyone know what is required for driving in Ireland..?
I only ever have my drivers licence on me. Insurance docs are on my phone. I keep forgetting to take a v5 but have never been asked for one so it’s not been an issue.
Tbh the authorities are more interested in Irish residents driving UK registered cars and avoidance of Irish taxes than visitors.
is there an official Umwelt website for Germany?
We've used the crit-air on above in the past but it's easy to get ripped off by 3rd party providers
Some digging reveals this:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/driving-in-europe/#countries
The cheapest way to buy one is from the official Berlin city website (though stickers are valid in all LEZs across Germany). They cost €6 (about £5.35) including postage – allow 14 days for delivery.
https://www.berlin.de/labo/mobilitaet/kfz-zulassung/feinstaubplakette/shop.86595.en.php
I had to google Umweltplakette and I live in Germany... doh.
Same sticker is on eBay for €4,99 and write your reg in the white box in the middle....
What you don't need to do is to worry about speed cameras.
No agreement in place with UK at the moment. Flat Out, Make some progress!
Fuzz in person can pull your pants right down though, so don't be silly!
No agreement in place with UK at the moment. Flat Out, Make some progress!
Hope so based on the camera flashes from last week...
Yep, several to and from the Alpes at Easter, nothing came of it..
Do you really need a GB/UK sticker?
I've driven to Spain (via France) for the last 4 summers and just assumed it was a rule that had gone away. I've never bothered with it.
You're supposed to have a UK sticker, can be on reg plate, but lots don't. Think you could get pulled or, but no idea if anyone ever has been.
I have GB plates, but now just use a magnetic UK thingy as well.
Umwelt sticker for Germany. I normally just email the mailbox in Stuttgart council for ours. It’s almost impossible to traverse Germany now without one as unlike our LEZs theirs aren’t restricted to city centres.
Depends on the city/area, but in general the autobahn past (or even through) the city is excluded from the emissions zone. The zone for the city will be the complete city boundary though (usually minus the autobahn). Realistically most Brits are only ever going to need one if they stop off somewhere on route to the Austrian Alps, or if visiting somewhere like Freiburg if doing a trip to the Black Forest.
even then, I think the fine is minimal, plus 1 point on the licence if you get caught.
A sticker in your line of view that says: RIGHT to remind you to drive on that side. Driving on the wrong side or at high speed seem to be factors in many accidents had by Brits in France reported in the local press.
You lot might be imune to speed cameras but caught more than 30kmh over the limit and and you risk getting banned from driving in France, quite apart from speeding abroad being a dick thing to do. I stick to UK limits, be nice if you people did the same in France. Clarkson style xenophobic petrolhead imperialism stinks.
Don't forget the autoroute limit drops to 110 in the wet and that's why nobody is overtaking the gendarmes.
You're on holiday remember.
Habits I've developped: treating green traffic lights as give ways, especially at night or early Saturday/ Sunday morning; looking for priorité à droite junctions when in urban areas I'm not familiar with- some are not obvious; assuming other drivers are out their heads, pissed or typing a texto; pulling over and slowing to let the impatient tailgaters past; keeping an eye on the overtakers coming the other way and being prepared to brake/put two wheels on the grass - especially in Les Landes.
Be a pity to ruin a good holiday on high accident rate roads you're not familair with. Just bumble along with the locals rather than "Flat Out, Make some progress!"
a car?
I am probably going to use LV insurance for my 15 year old motorcycle, might be worth a look for you.
Will take a look. Alas it seems 16 is the cutoff unless you are renewing.
So dont let yours lapse 😉
The point of UK stickers, Crit'air etc is that the potential fines are very large compared to the cost of buying it. If you are involved in an accident, or randomly stopped you could get fined
So then... we're going to Germany and Austria next month. We'll be using Autobahn to get across from Rotterdam to the Bavarian Alps and betond and will not be going into any large cities. Do we need an Umwelt sticker?
I've read several conflicting statements on what you really need.
Seems like the appropriate place but as an FYI - as of August 1st 2023 you can now buy the Swiss Vignette as an 'e-vignette', using ANPR bascially, means you dont need to stop at the services in Germany and stick one to your windscreen.
If you stick to autobahn, then no, should not need a German Umwelt sticker.
Depends on the route you were planning to drive (I think the A81 from Heilbron to Stuttgart is a rare bit of autobahn that might need one, but A8 is fine). 99% of the time, the autobahn is outside of the low emisssions zone. Also Ulm is OK if you do A8/A7, but not OK to do the shortcut between then on B10 (which is where the satnag will tell you to go, if you're going that way).
https://maps.adac.de/verkehr/umweltzonen shows the zones
Yep, several to and from the Alpes at Easter, nothing came of it..
Is there a risk you could get pulled over if driving in the same country in the future and it shows outstanding fines?
Is there a risk you could get pulled over if driving in the same country in the future and it shows outstanding fines
I’d be amazed, unless you’ve done something really bad.
Having recently driven the length of France, I’m firmly in the stick to the speed limits camp. It’s just easier over a long distance and much better on fuel. 80mph on a duel carriageway feels plenty quick enough. The progress possible even sticking mostly to 70mph, for better economy is way better than here.