Can someone please tell me what documents etc we need in order to drive through France and Spain that we do not normally need in the UK. We were told that we will need the new style photo driving licence and a Green Card for insurance purposes etc is this accurate? We know about the red triangle and the fluorescent waistcoat - but any other info on what is required we are a little unsure about - so any help, tips and advice will be very welcome.
Thanks a lot.
Sue
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SONESTA'S MOTTO IN LIFE ..... LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU. CRY AND YOU CRY ALONE!
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Hi Sue, You do not need the new photocard licence but if you already have one you must take the counterpart licence as well. You do not normally require a Green Card as most insurance certificates have the necessary printed on the back, assuming of course that it covers you for use in the EU. Make sure that any countries that you intend to visit are covered by the insurance. Beam Benders for your headlights are available in Halfords and are quite easy to fit. I leave mine on all year, the M/H or car will pass the MOT with them on.
insurance, light bulbs, triangle, driving licence, beam deflectors & i was always under the impression that it was law to have the GB sticker on the back, but during recent trips to Northern Spain i've noticed several vehicles from the Uk without.
as long as your rearmost numberplate has the Euro badge on it, you don't need to display the GB sticker. If you feel better WITH a GB sticker, you can buy the magnetic ones if you don't want to stick 'owt on the car or 'van. Obviously these are ok for cars and trailers. No good for the plasic moulding of a caravan.
Another lesser known requirement in France is that if you wear prescription glasses, you must have a spare pair with you!
The glasses rule that stu mentioned also apply's in spain I would also sugest you still carry bail bonds with you in spain If you have the old type licence ie no photo you will need to get one or get an international one from AA they like their photo's
International licence is not now available from the AA, they stopped some time ago. This is now done by the post office, and only certain post offices. I got one last year £4.
You do not need to carry bulbs but it is illegal to drive with a light out.
You do not need headlamp deflectors, you can use electrical tape on the correct part of your headlamp lens to dip the beam vertically.
A GB sticker is still law but nobody seems to care nowadays.
I think you need two triangles in Spain.
I think the glasses rule is only if you use them for driving.
In France you are looking for Gazole, instead of Diesel, and Sans plomb is lead free.
Clive, You don't need an International Driving Permit for the EU, if you travel outside the EU then you do. If you have number plates with the EU symbol and a country identifier, eg GB or Eng or Sco or Cym then you do not need the large oval sticker any more.
I can assure you clive phil is wrong the spanish require a licence with the photo on it our old type licence is not acceptable as it has no photo if you have the new photo one then no probs if not I know this because my wife who is spanish nearly got arrested last year because she handed them her english non photo licence luckily she also had her spanish licence with her and of course could explain things easily I did demand the bribe money back from the police as they let me down
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I can assure you clive phil is wrong the spanish require a licence with the photo on it our old type licence is not acceptable as it has no photo if you have the new photo one then no probs if not I know this because my wife who is spanish nearly got arrested last year because she handed them her english non photo licence luckily she also had her spanish licence with her and of course could explain things easily I did demand the bribe money back from the police as they let me down It is also a deffinite legal requirement in spain to have spare bulb set and carries an on the spot fine if not carried or arrest take your pick
PS wife tells me if your new licence does not have a spanish translation on it then you need the international one Please believe me the Spanish do not follow the eu rules like we do and speaking from experiance its no good saying but were in the eu and that makes it alright you will spend a night in jail even if your right so for £4.00 why risk it
Romany, try looking at the DVLA website on driving licences, the current paper driving licence is accepted throughout the EU which I believe includes Spain, unless they have opted out recently The old type licence which I think was green, was replaced a long time ago by the pink one. I agree that if you still have the old style licence it is not valid outside GB.
Phil knowing spain as well as i do they don't care what the DVLA say when your stuck in a spanish village and they don't want to recognise something they won't its all about doing things easily I don't have a new licence and after wifes probs with her British lic i did speak to the wife's sister because she works at Iberian travel agents in spain to get the latest lie of the land and was told if NO SPANISH translation on driving lic then get an inter one. The spanish are a great nation and people which is why i married one but trust me they can be bl'dy difficult and don't follow rules unless they want to Especially EU
Romany, I understand what you're saying and it's a pity when the local police can't or wont follow the rules, any way the easy way out is to get a photocard licence which then doubles as an ID card. I used to have an IDP and it was always amusing if I got stopped for anything and showed it I would always get a smart salute and get waved on. On one occasion the police even stopped the traffic to let me proceed. I obtained it when in the RAF and for occupation it said 'Government Service' so I expect that accounted for the unusual treatment