How To Guide European Road Trip Preparation Guide

[Chipper3]

i went that route myself via rotterdam and no breath test must have been a lucky sailing maybe do random stops.

Having done that route 7 or 8 times tests were random (less than 1 in 10) on every previous crossing. No one escaped the test in May though. Possibly it's random crossings now rather than random vehicles.

Certainly NOT worth the risk.

 

[Googy]

Having done that route 7 or 8 times tests were random (less than 1 in 10) on every previous crossing. No one escaped the test in May though. Possibly it's random crossings now rather than random vehicles.

Certainly NOT worth the risk.

agree

 

[Biff]

.

 

[Nodzed]

Good link thank you

 

[marius]

[when will your meeting be great??? z3

 

[Kieran Monaghan]

Just a short note to update everyone on EU Travel - things to remember :-

How to travel to EU - checklist

• Passport ( must have min 6 month left )
• International Driving Permit * ( IDP ) get from Post Office (Not required in Ireland)
• Plastic Driving License
• Health Insurance Card – Global Health Ins Card
• Personal / family Travel Insurance
• Copy of Car Insurance
• Copy of car log book / owners cert or VE103b if a leased car
• Breakdown Cover
• Green Card
• GB sticker ( cover up EU on number plates )
• Headlight beam deflectors ( for driving on RHS) not Ireland
• Paper Map of area to travel through.
• Full EU Driving Kit
• Warning Triangle
• Universal Bulb replacement Kit
• Hi Vis ( for each passenger and must be accessible - not under luggage in boot)
• First Aid Kit
• AA – EU Drivers Handbook
• Breathalyser tests ( EU spec )
• Torch
• Fire Extinguisher (not all countries)
• Spare set of keys

Also suggestions

Small tool kit – pliers, screwdriver, adjustable spanner, insulation tape, penknife, etc

Sat Nav - TomTom Garmin etc

List of Contact Names / addresses / phone numbers / insurance & hotels etc

Note – to use correct path at Customs checkpoint – use “UK Customs” only

Currency – Euros - for use at service stations / toll roads / café

And most importantly - Sun glasses and Sun Cream

* Note for IDP = £5.50 from Post Office - need to show Passport and UK License and provide a Passport photo.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

And if you are carrying prescription medications - a list of said meds from your doctor/pharmacist and they should be in their original packaging.

 

[Nodzed]

I think you'll find your V5 has to be the original not a copy, Germany & Austria will definitely get snooty with a copy, though the chances of being asked for it is slim.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Minor point re Kieran's list, if you take a penknife it should be in the boot with the toolkit not in the front of the car. I got held up at the border sorting this out!

 

[RobbiZ4]

An interesting driving handbook even for me:

https://www.autoeurope.com/pdf/travelguides/germany-travel-driving-guide-auto-europe.pdf

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Remember that in France many of the old leaded petrol ppumps have been repurposed to supply paraffin, which is labelled as 'Petrole.'

 

[jessmilligann]

As I can see from the numerous posts and topics, many of you undertake European road trips in your Zeds, me too.

I know it can be a little confusing as to what you are legally required to take with you in terms of warning triangles, hi-viz vests, bulb kits, paperwork even breathalysers, etc so I've attached a guide obtained from a Jaguar website that I found very useful and informative for my recent trips.

Feel free to use the info within it to hopefully stop you falling foul of some of the strange laws and requirements of the European countries and to help prevent you picking up nasty, costly local fines.

Colin.

EDIT: Attached PDF file to the thread directly as previous dropbox links kept changing. Gaz

For a road trip in Europe, you will definitely need a car. In my experience, it is better to rent a car at airports. So you will save money and be sure of the quality of the car. When I was in Mallorca I also rented a car for a few days and it really helped me to feel comfortable and at ease on the island see more information

 

[mwpe]

For a road trip in Europe, you will definitely need a car. In my experience, it is better to rent a car at airports. So you will save money and be sure of the quality of the car. When I was in Mallorca I also rented a car for a few days and it really helped me to feel comfortable and at ease on the island see more information

A rental car may be OK but you can't beat a trip through the Alps in a Zed.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Funny! I went on a driving trip around France (August 2022, Dordogne) and I did none of that. I refuse to change my GB (UK, really?) sticker; didn't cover the EU sign on my number plate; no IDP. Nobody bothered to challenge any of that.

Not the Z3, so the Mercedes had automatic light adjustment (no need for beam deflectors), but pretty much else on the list kind of covered.

I suppose it's just that the French are not particularly interested in enforcement…

 

[Nodzed]

Funny! I went on a driving trip around France (August 2022, Dordogne) and I did none of that. I refuse to change my GB (UK, really?) sticker; didn't cover the EU sign on my number plate; no IDP. Nobody bothered to challenge any of that.

Not the Z3, so the Mercedes had automatic light adjustment (no need for beam deflectors), but pretty much else on the list kind of covered.

I suppose it's just that the French are not particularly interested in enforcement…

You rebel. I'd stick to France, try being a smart-arse in the Germanic counties and you may get a Heckler & Koch stuck in your right ear.