How to Prepare for a Driving Holiday Abroad
Travelling overseas can be very entertaining, especially if you are going to be driving a vehicle. You will be able to explore more of the countries, insinuate yourself in the culture, and have a freedom those without a car lack. Many roads in Europe are considered the best and you will not want to miss them. Nevertheless, before taking your car with you there are some laws and safety considerations to make.
There is certain paperwork you need to have along for the journey. This information includes your valid UK driver license, vehicle registration, insurance documents, and a MOT certification if the vehicle is over 3 years old.
The type of insurance you have on the vehicle will determine what is covered when taking your vehicle overseas. Most insurance policies have a specific amount of days that you can be in Europe with your car. By checking you can ensure you are within this time frame for your trip. If you are travelling outside the EU you must also have the green card insurance document.
If you do not plan to take your own car, but are using a hire car instead you should check which countries you are allowed to drive in. You should also make sure you have an official document that states that you are permitted to drive the vehicle.
For vehicles that you take with you there are GB stickers needed at the rear of your vehicle, unless you have a modern Europlate Numberplate. All vehicles will need to have their headlamps readjusted for driving on the right side of the road. This can be completed with beam reflectors on the headlamp lenses for most cars. HID xenon lights come with a switch which manually changes the beam for you without the need for the reflectors.
Emergency kits should always be in your vehicle no matter where you travel; however, there are certain laws that may affect what you have in the kit. You should always have a first aid kit, reflective jacket, fire extinguisher, warning triangle and extra bulbs for the lamps. Road flares and other safety equipment may be warranted depending on the country you visit.
Whilst driving abroad is a good chance to explore the full potential of your car many countries frown on you using radar speed detector devices. When driving through France the Police are particularly hot on this issue and have the power to confiscate such equipment.
In most European countries the Police have the power to hand out on the spot fines so it’s a good idea to carry plenty of local currency, otherwise your car may be temporarily confiscated whilst you are taken off to the nearest cash point to get some money. Be aware that in many countries the maximum speed limit and maximum blood alcohol level is a lot lower than in the UK, so obey local speed signs at all times, which may be in kilometres per hour, and do not drink and drive.
Driving abroad is a fantastic way to explore other countries, however before setting off make sure you have properly prepared from your journey. One final point to remember is that on the continent they drive on the right. This may seem an obvious point but you can easily be caught out when pulling out of junctions or approaching a roundabout.
An easy way to make sure that motoring abroad is not disrupted by the inconvenience of finding a replacement car bulb like the H1 Bulbs it can be a good idea to make sure you are prepared. By carrying a Spare Bulbs Kit in your boot or glovebox you can be motoring again in no time.
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