Compulsory Equipment For Driving In Europe

Taking a car across Europe is one of the best ways to get to grip with our continent, showing you the intimacy of smaller towns while still allowing you access to the cities. However, as we’ve previously pointed out, it’s important to be prepared when you set out on any journey driving in a foreign country as there are different rules you might not be aware of and there are certainly different pieces of kit which are legally required.

In this post we’ll go through some of the different European countries and list the compulsory items you need for your car. Sticking to this guide can help you avoid on-the-spot fines and save you a lot of hassle.

Belgium

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle
Reflective Vest

Denmark

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle
Reflective Vest (this must be kept in the passenger cell of your car)

France

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle
Reflective Vest (this must be kept in the passenger cell of your car)
Alcohol Breathalyser

Germany

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle
Reflective Vest

Holland

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle

Italy

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle

Portugal

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle
Reflective Vest

Spain

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Spare Bulbs
Warning Triangle (2 triangles needed)
Reflective Vest

Switzerland

GB Plate
Headlamp Beam Adaptors
Warning Triangle (2 triangles needed, one kept in passenger side)

Winter Tyres

There are plenty of countries which see a lot of snow, either as part of a harsh winter climate or because of higher lying ground. With this in mind, you should think about which countries require you to have winter tyres and which demand you have snow chains at the ready.

Winter tyres are mandatory in Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Slovakia and Sweden, while snow chains are recommended for Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden. Other countries in which you might want to consider winter tyres or snow chains include Switzerland, Norway and Bulgaria. It’s safe to say that it wouldn’t hurt to take snow chains wherever you are going just in case there is a legal requirement.

(Note: A fire extinguisher and a first aid kit aren’t legal requirements but are fairly common sense. You may never need to use them but you’ll be thankful should you ever find yourself in a situation in which they could save lives.)

At Wyatt Coaches we want your trip to get off to the perfect start, so if you need transport to or from the airport – including airport transfers – simply contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you with our dedicated coach services.