The Brexit transition may have not been at the centre of everybody’s attention recently due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, but 1st January a number of important changes come into force for drivers travelling around Europe.
Here is a quick rundown of the essentials:
- Car insurance green card
Each driver will need an insurance green card before they can cross the border. Firstly, drivers must ensure their insurance policies covers driving abroad, then they must apply to their provider beforehand to get a green card. Providers have warned that green cards could take up to 6 weeks to arrive.
It’s also worth baring in mind that if you are towing a trailer, you must have a green card for both the vehicle and the trailer. Some countries also require separate trailer insurance.
- GB car sticker
UK-registered vehicles must display a GB sticker when driving in any of the 27 EU countries. If however your vehicle’s number plate already has the GB identifier either alone or accompanied by a Union Flag, you will not need to display a GB sticker.
Rules do differ in a few countries though. You do not need to display any form of GB I.D in the Republic of Ireland but you must in Spain, Cyprus and Malta, regardless of number plate design.
- International Driving Permit (IDP)
An IDP will not be needed by everybody for every country. If you have a UK issued photo card driving licence, an IDP will not be needed for driving in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. If your licence was issued in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar, you may need to apply for an IDP.
It’s always best to check which countries require an IDP before traveling. You can do this by following this link.
It may still be some time before we can travel freely across Europe, but we hope this blog helps those of you wanting to do so whenever possible.
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