Did you know that you’d be breaking the law if you were pulled over by police in France and didn’t have a breathalyzer in the car?
Were you aware that a first aid kit is compulsory in your motor if driving across Austria?
Had you got a clue that winter tyres were mandatory in Germany during the winter months?
If not, then you could do with checking up on the requirements if you’re planning to take your car overseas, or if you plan to hire a car during the course of your holiday.
For many people, the main concern when it comes to driving abroad is worrying about which side of the road to the drive on, but clearly there are other factors that need to be considered before you hit the road.
Without taking them into consideration, then you could end up landing yourself in a whole head of trouble…
Whilst it may appear to be obvious, you’ll need to make sure you are carrying your driving licence with you in the event of an accident or if you find yourself attracting the attention of the police.
Depending on where you are travelling, you may need to apply for an International Driving Permit although that tend to apply more to countries outside the European Union.
That means if you are heading for somewhere like Australia or the USA, it’s recommended to take an IDP with you, whilst other countries like Argentina and Brazil will require one.
An IDP can sorted at your local Post Office or by post through the AA or RAC, with the latter pair able to provide a full list of the requirements by individual country to ensure you don’t get caught out.
The IDP will be valid for twelve months and can only applied for within three months of the date it will be used. You’d also need a full UK licence and be aged over 18.
If you plan to hire a car during your time overseas, you’ll also need to bear in mind that hire companies may request a ‘check code’ to be provide alongside your driving licence.
This grants the company access to your driving record to check which vehicles you are eligible to drive and to see if there are any penalty points that they need to take into account.
These check codes are valid for 21 days and can be applied for online via the main Gov.UK website.
As well as checking up the rules of the road, which will be different to those back home when it comes to things you take for granted like right of way, it’s also important to make a note of some of the legal requirements when it comes to what is in your car.
France in particular is known for being strict when it comes to motorists, with the aforementioned breathalyzer being one of a number of things that must be carried by motorists.
You’d be facing a fine if you pulled over with a breakdown and didn’t have either a warning triangle or hi-vis jacket with you, whilst you should also have spare bulbs with you on the off-chance one fails.
If you happen to have a speed gun detector in your car, make sure it’s removed before you travel as otherwise, you’ll be facing a big fine.
France isn’t alone in having such rules, so it’s worth checking out such regulations before you go so as to not pick up any nasty surprises.
The following links may well come in handy…
Useful links:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad
http://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/
http://alcosense.co.uk/
