Driving Abroad from the UK — Permits & Rules Guide
Everything you need before taking your car abroad: International Driving Permits, green cards, country-specific equipment rules, emissions stickers, and post-Brexit requirements.
🪪 International Driving Permit (IDP)
EU countries: You generally do not need an IDP if you hold a valid UK photocard driving licence. Your UK licence is recognised across the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.
Countries requiring an IDP:
- Turkey
- UAE (1949 Convention IDP)
- Thailand (1949 Convention IDP — 1968 Convention NOT accepted)
- Japan (1949 Convention IDP — valid 1 year from issue)
- Australia (1949 Convention IDP — required by some states)
- Vietnam, Brazil, Morocco, India, South Korea, and many non-European countries
How to get an IDP:
- Go to any Post Office that offers the service (around 2,500 branches). Find your nearest: postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit.
- Cost: £5.50 — cash or card.
- Take: Your valid UK driving licence (photocard), one passport-sized photo, and your passport (as ID).
- The 1949 Convention IDP is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
- You cannot renew an IDP — you must apply for a new one.
⚠️ Important: Some countries accept the 1949 Convention IDP, others the 1968 Convention only, some both. Check the FCDO travel advice for your specific destination before travelling.
📄 Vehicle Insurance Green Card
A green card is an international certificate of insurance that proves you have the minimum legally-required insurance cover in the country you’re visiting.
Post-Brexit rules (as of June 2026):
- Most EU countries no longer require a physical green card for UK-registered vehicles — your standard UK insurance certificate is accepted.
- However, some countries still require it — including Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iran, Israel, Moldova, Morocco, North Macedonia, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
How to get one:
- Contact your car insurer — green cards are issued free of charge.
- Request at least 6 weeks before travel. Most insurers now issue them instantly as a PDF to print.
- Carry the printed physical green card in your vehicle — digital copies are not accepted.
🇪🇺 Country-Specific Equipment Requirements
| Country | Equipment Required |
|---|---|
| France | Crit’Air emissions sticker (£4.50 from certificat-air.gouv.fr), warning triangle, reflective jackets (accessible from inside the car — one per occupant), breathalyser (recommended, fine for not having one is currently suspended). Also: Headlight beam deflectors, UK sticker. |
| Spain | Two warning triangles, reflective jacket for every occupant, spare bulbs + tools to change them. Also: UK sticker. In some cities (Barcelona, Madrid), low-emission zone stickers required. |
| Germany | Warning triangle, first-aid kit (DIN 13164 standard), reflective jackets, headlight beam deflectors. Emissions zones (Umweltplakette) required in many cities — order at tuv.com. |
| Italy | Warning triangle, reflective jacket, headlight beam deflectors. Snow chains required in some mountain regions November–April. |
| Belgium | Warning triangle, reflective jacket, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher. |
| Switzerland | Warning triangle, motorway vignette (CHF 40 / ~£35, valid 14 months — buy at border). Snow chains often required in winter. |
| Austria | Warning triangle, reflective jacket, first-aid kit, motorway vignette (€9.90 for 10 days, €28.80 for 2 months — buy at border petrol stations or online at asfinag.at). |
🇬🇧 UK Sticker (No Longer GB)
Since September 2021, you must display a UK sticker on the rear of your vehicle when driving abroad — not a GB sticker. Exception: if your number plate already includes the UK identifier with the Union flag (Union Jack), you do not need an additional sticker for most EU countries. For non-EU countries, a UK sticker is still required regardless of number plate design.
📞 Contacts & Links
- DVLA: 0300 790 6801 (Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–2pm)
- Driving Abroad Advice: gov.uk/driving-abroad
- FCDO Travel Advice: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- IDP Post Office Finder: postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-permit
- AA European Driving Guide: theaa.com/european-driving
- RAC European Driving Guide: rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad
- Crit’Air (France): £4.50 — certificat-air.gouv.fr
- Umweltplakette (Germany): €5.95 + postage — berlin.de or tuv.com
Last updated: June 2026. Driving requirements change — always check FCDO travel advice for your destination before departure.