Driving to Europe from the UK: checklist

• Take your UK driving licence

  You need your Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence to drive abroad. Check it is valid and renew it online if it has expired or is about to.^[1]

  Source: GOV.UK, Driving abroad (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• No international driving permit (IDP) for the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with a photocard licence

  You might need an IDP in some EU countries and Norway if you have a paper licence or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. There are three types (1926, 1949 and 1968) and the type depends on the country, for example Turkey needs the 1968 IDP.^[2]

  Source: GOV.UK, Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (IDP) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Where to get an IDP: in person at certain PayPoint shops, 5.50 GBP

  You must live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, hold a full UK driving licence and be 18 or over. A 1968 permit lasts 3 years (or until your licence expires); a 1926 or 1949 permit lasts 12 months.^[3]

  Source: GOV.UK, Driving abroad: get an international driving permit (IDP) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Log book (V5C), or a VE103 for a hired or leased car

  Take your V5C if you take your own vehicle abroad for less than 12 months; it must show your most recent UK address and you may have to show it at a port. For a hired or leased vehicle you need a VE103 vehicle on hire certificate.^[4]

  Source: GOV.UK (DVLA), Taking a vehicle out of the UK: for less than 12 months (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Insurance certificate, and a green card only for some countries

  All UK vehicle insurance gives the minimum third party cover in the EU, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Switzerland, and you do not need a green card there (nor in Montenegro). You may need a green card for Albania, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine; ask your insurer, and allow up to 6 weeks if it is posted.^[5]

  Source: GOV.UK, Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Passport: issued less than 10 years ago and valid 3 months after you leave

  For Schengen countries your passport must have a date of issue less than 10 years before the day you arrive and an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.^[6]

  Source: GOV.UK (FCDO), France travel advice: entry requirements (Schengen passport validity rules, updated 22 October 2026) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• The 90 in 180 days rule

  Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, however many Schengen countries you visit. Overstaying can lead to a ban on entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.^[7]

  Source: GOV.UK, Travelling to the EU and Schengen area (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

• EU Entry/Exit System (EES): started 12 October 2025, fully operational since 10 April 2026

  The European Commission says EES was rolled out gradually over 6 months until 9 April 2026 and has been fully operational at all external border crossing points since 10 April 2026, when manual passport stamping was abolished. The 90 days in 180 rule itself has not changed.^[9]

  Source: European Commission (Travel to Europe, EES official site), FAQs about EES: what does progressive start of the EES mean? (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• EES is free and needs nothing before you travel

  There is no cost for EES registration and you do not need to provide any information before you travel. It applies in the Schengen countries, not in Ireland or Cyprus.^[8]

  Source: GOV.UK, EU Entry/Exit System (updated 10 April 2026) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• At Dover and Folkestone, EES checks happen before you leave the UK

  If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover or LeShuttle at Folkestone, EES checks are done at the border before you leave the UK. On your first visit you may be asked to give fingerprints and a photo at dedicated booths; your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. Be prepared to wait longer than usual.^[8]

  Source: GOV.UK, EU Entry/Exit System (updated 10 April 2026) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Children and repeat trips

  Children aged 11 or younger are not fingerprinted but may have their photo taken. You may be asked for a fingerprint or photo each time you enter or leave the Schengen area.^[6]

  Source: GOV.UK (FCDO), France travel advice: entry requirements (Schengen passport validity rules, updated 22 October 2026) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Port of Dover: full EES process for tourist traffic is not yet in place

  The Port of Dover says the full EES process for tourist traffic has not yet been implemented and asks car passengers to arrive at the Eastern Docks no more than 2 hours before departure for processing at the French border. A car with both EU and British passengers must go to the EES registration area.^[14]

  Source: Port of Dover (Dover Harbour Board), EU Entry / Exit System (EES): travel information and FAQ (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• LeShuttle (Folkestone): EES kiosks ready, waiting for the French authorities

  LeShuttle says its kiosks and staff are ready but it is awaiting confirmation from the French authorities before EES can be fully launched at its terminals; its latest notice says there was no EES biometric capture at Folkestone or Calais during the summer 2026 holiday period.^[15]

  Source: Eurotunnel LeShuttle (Getlink), Support: Entry/Exit System (EES) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• ETIAS: not in operation yet, no start date announced

  The official EU ETIAS site says ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications are being collected. The European Union will announce the specific start date several months before launch.^[10]

  Source: European Commission (Travel to Europe, ETIAS official site), Welcome to the official ETIAS website (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• ETIAS expected timing for UK nationals

  In a news article of 15 April 2026 the EU said UK nationals will need an ETIAS 'starting from the last quarter of this year'. Its example: a family taking the ferry from Dover to Calais must each have an ETIAS, checked at Dover before they board.^[11]

  Source: European Commission (Travel to Europe, ETIAS official site), News: UK nationals and ETIAS (15 April 2026) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• When ETIAS starts: 20 EUR, valid 3 years

  Applying on the official site will cost 20 EUR; applicants under 18 or over 70 do not pay. An authorisation is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.^[13]

  Source: European Commission (Travel to Europe, ETIAS official site), ETIAS frequently asked questions (fee, validity, who must apply) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• By car, everyone needs their own ETIAS

  If you drive in, the border guard checks ETIAS at the border crossing point, and each person in the car, including children, must have their own individual ETIAS.^[12]

  Source: European Commission (Travel to Europe, ETIAS official site), News: Travelling to Europe with ETIAS by land (17 December 2025) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Only use the official EU website for ETIAS

  GOV.UK says ETIAS is expected to start from autumn 2026, no action is needed yet, and any website selling ETIAS now is doing so fraudulently. Apply only on the official EU website once it opens.^[8]

  Source: GOV.UK, EU Entry/Exit System (updated 10 April 2026) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

• UK identifier on the plate, or a UK sticker

  You do not need a UK sticker if your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. You must display a UK sticker if your plate has no flag or identifier, a GB identifier, an EU flag or the flag of England, Scotland or Wales. Old GB stickers must be covered or removed.^[16]

  Source: GOV.UK (DVLA), Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Spain, Cyprus and Malta: UK sticker always needed

  You must display a UK sticker in Spain, Cyprus and Malta whatever is on your number plate. You do not need one in Ireland.^[16]

  Source: GOV.UK (DVLA), Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Headlights

  GOV.UK lists headlight converter stickers among the things you may need depending on the country you visit, along with a reflective jacket and warning triangle in many countries.^[1]

  Source: GOV.UK, Driving abroad (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• City emission stickers, such as France's Crit'Air

  For France, order Crit'Air only on the official site (beware of intermediaries and fraudulent sites): 5.11 EUR for a vehicle registered abroad (3.11 EUR plus 2.00 EUR postage), with a photo or scan of your V5C.^[18]

  Source: Ministere de la Transition ecologique (official Crit'Air site), Commander votre vignette Crit'Air, vehicule immatricule a l'etranger (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Winter equipment in some countries: Sweden

  In Sweden all vehicles must have winter tyres from 1 December to 31 March, and at any other times designated by the police.^[19]

  Source: GOV.UK (FCDO), Sweden travel advice: safety and security, road travel (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Winter equipment in some countries: Norway

  In Norway you must use winter tyres with at least 3 mm tread if snow or ice covers the roads, and you may also need studded tyres or snow chains. Keep dipped headlights on in daytime all year.^[20]

  Source: GOV.UK (FCDO), Norway travel advice: safety and security, road travel (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Your car must be taxed, have a current MOT and UK insurance

  UK law still applies to a UK-registered vehicle taken abroad for less than 12 months. If you bring it back untaxed you cannot drive it back into the UK.^[4]

  Source: GOV.UK (DVLA), Taking a vehicle out of the UK: for less than 12 months (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

• Get a free UK GHIC (or use a valid EHIC)

  It gives medically necessary state healthcare in the EEA and some other countries on the same basis as a local resident, which may not be free. It is free from the NHS, lasts up to 5 years and every family member needs their own card; avoid unofficial sites that charge a fee.^[21]

  Source: NHS (GOV.UK's GHIC page redirects here), Get healthcare cover abroad with a UK GHIC or UK EHIC (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• GHIC is not travel insurance

  It does not cover being flown back to the UK, private treatment or mountain rescue. The NHS advises having both a GHIC and private travel and medical insurance.^[21]

  Source: NHS (GOV.UK's GHIC page redirects here), Get healthcare cover abroad with a UK GHIC or UK EHIC (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Buy travel insurance when you book

  GOV.UK advises buying insurance as soon as possible after booking, covering pre-existing conditions, the full length of the trip, every country you pass through and repatriation. Take your policy number and the insurer's emergency number with you.^[22]

  Source: GOV.UK (FCDO), Foreign travel insurance (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

• Microchip, then rabies vaccination, then wait

  Your dog, cat or ferret must be microchipped before or at the same time as its rabies vaccination, and be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. You must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling.^[23]

  Source: GOV.UK (Defra and APHA), Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: travelling to an EU country (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Animal health certificate from an official vet

  Get an animal health certificate from a vet who is an official veterinarian (OV), with proof of the microchip date and vaccination history. Up to 5 pets can go on one certificate.^[24]

  Source: GOV.UK (Defra and APHA), Taking your pet abroad: getting an animal health certificate (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Certificate validity and pet passports

  After issue the certificate is valid for 10 days to enter the EU, then 6 months for onward travel in the EU and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain. You need a new one for each trip. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU.^[23]

  Source: GOV.UK (Defra and APHA), Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: travelling to an EU country (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Tapeworm treatment for dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway

  A vet must treat your dog and record it between 24 hours and 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive. You also need a tapeworm treatment for the return to Great Britain from most countries.^[25]

  Source: GOV.UK (Defra and APHA), Taking your pet abroad: tapeworm treatment for dogs (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

• LeShuttle: arrive 1 to 2 hours before departure

  Arrive no more than 2 hours and no less than 1 hour before your booked departure. Complete Advance Passenger Information for everyone 24 hours before travel, as you cannot travel without it. Boarding starts 25 minutes before departure; have passports ready for the border checks.^[26]

  Source: Eurotunnel LeShuttle (Getlink), On the day: arrival and check-in (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Port of Dover: follow the check-in signs, then French border control

  Use the M20/A20 or M2/A2 to the Eastern Docks, follow signs for check-in, then go through French border controls with all travel documents ready. You may also be selected for UK border or security checks. You will be given a lane number to wait in until called to board.^[27]

  Source: Port of Dover (Dover Harbour Board), Arrival and check-in procedure: car passengers (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

• Call 112 in an emergency

  112 is the European emergency number, free from fixed and mobile phones everywhere in the EU, for ambulance, fire or police. Operators in many countries can answer in English.^[28]

  Source: European Commission (Shaping Europe's digital future), 112, the European emergency number (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• After a collision in the EU, contact your insurer first

  Any legal action has to be brought in the country where it happened and you might have to claim in the local language. In some countries you will not get compensation if an uninsured or untraced driver caused the collision; get legal advice if needed.^[17]

  Source: GOV.UK, Driving in the EU (including what to do if you are involved in a road collision) (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

• Show your green card if you have an accident where one is needed

  In countries where you need a green card you must show it if you are involved in an accident, and you may have to show it at the border or to the police.^[5]

  Source: GOV.UK, Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab). Checked on 11 November 2026.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.