The online vehicle retailer Motor Match has warned tourists thinking about taking their vehicle abroad to make the necessary preparations to avoid losing significant amounts of money.
When travelling to nearby European countries, many holidaymakers like to bring their own car along so they can see a mix of popular cities and off the beaten track destinations at their own pace.
However, before setting off, a spokesperson for Motor Match suggested that tourists must find out what safety equipment they are required to take with them.
They advised: “UK drivers abroad need to ensure they are fully prepared with the required equipment when driving in Europe. Items such as a warning triangle, a high-visibility jacket, and a first aid kit are essentials.
“Also on the list is a magnetic UK sticker. Brits need to display a UK sticker clearly on their vehicle if the number plate features a GB identifier with the Union Flag, a Euro symbol, a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales, or numbers and letters only.”
Unlike the UK, many European countries require all motorists to carry a number of items that could help them and other occupants stay safe in an emergency.
In many cases, this includes a warning triangle, which can be placed behind the vehicle if it has broken down in order to alert other road users.
Since many European countries also drive on the opposite side of the road, drivers will also need to fit reflectors to their headlamps to see correctly when driving at night.
Motor Match’s spokesperson also recommended that drivers make sure they have all the necessary paperwork, including their licence and insurance information.
They added: “Every driver should double-check their paperwork before heading overseas. A valid driving licence, car insurance details, and vehicle registration documents are needed at all times.
“Missing any of these could significantly disrupt your plans and result in fines of up to €750 (£640). It’s better to be over-prepared than to face any delays.”
Finally, the company stated that tourists thinking about travelling to France and Cyprus should see if they can turn off a setting on their sat-nav that could land them in serious trouble.
They continued: “While using sat-navs, drivers must be aware of restrictions. In countries like France and Cyprus, sat-navs are prohibited and can lead to fines as high as €1,500 (£1,275) as they make drivers aware of speed cameras.
“It may be worth looking into whether you can turn the speed camera detection feature off.”