7th January 2021

EU Exit: Driving in Europe in 2021

At the end of last year, the UK and European Union (EU) reached an agreement for how the UK and EU will live, work and trade together moving forward. These new rules came in to effect from 1 January 2021, and included changes to the documents that you are required to carry whilst travelling in Europe.

From 1 January 2021, you will need to carry the following documents when driving in Europe:

Generally, you do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to visit and drive in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein. However, there are some instances where you may require one, so it is always worth checking the government’s guidance before leaving the UK (see further details below).

Please remember to display a Great Britain (GB) sticker on the rear of the vehicle too. UK registered cars will need to display a GB sticker to drive in all EU countries other than Ireland.

 

A Green Card, also known as the International Motor Insurance Card, is a document that is issued by insurance providers in the UK, guaranteeing that the motorist has the necessary third-party motor insurance cover for travel in the country being travelled to.

You will need to request a Green Card from your insurer, or your company’s insurer if the vehicle you drive is covered by a company policy.  It is advisable to do so approximately four to six weeks before you intend to travel.

Some countries also require separate insurance for trailers. This means that you would need a separate Green Card for your trailer.

This will depend on the insurer. It is possible that there will be a small administration charge.

The insurance company would usually issue the Green Card, however, we understand that you might not have an individual policy, or a direct contact with the insurance company, if you drive a company vehicle.

You should contact your normal fleet contact, or consult your employer’s Policy in the first instance, as this should provide information about whether the vehicle is covered under a company policy or not.  If the vehicle you drive is covered under a company policy you may not need to contact the insurer directly and you may need to contact KINTO UK for support.  If you insure your vehicle you will need to contact your insurer directly.

KINTO UK does provide travel abroad services to some of its customers and may be able to offer some assistance with this new process if your employer has procured this service from us.  Please contact your KINTO Helpdesk for more information.

An IDP is an official, multi-language translation of your driving licence.

If you hold a UK photocard driving licence, an IDP will not be required for short visits to the EU.

However, there are some exceptions, you might need an IDP if you have:

  • a paper licence; or
  • a licence that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

You can check whether you need an IDP for the country that you are travelling to on the government’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit.

You can apply for an IDP at your local Post Office.  You can find out more information about the Post Office’s service, including where to locate your nearest Post Office branch, at the following link: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/international-driving-permit

To apply for an IDP you will need:

  • to be 18 years or over;
  • a full valid UK driving licence (photocard or older paper licence);
  • a passport standard photograph (recent true likeness); and
  • your original valid passport (not a photocopy) as proof of identification is you are presenting an older paper version of your driving licence

IDPs cost £5.50 each (at the time of writing).

Please note, an IDP can’t be issued to a provisional licence holder.

You may be breaking the law if you travel without the required documents and there could be serious implications including a fine, having your vehicle seized or even prosecution.

If you have any questions regarding driving in Europe from January 2021, please get in touch, we’ll be more than happy to help.