Driving aroune Europe,hints and tips

hartcjhart

after reading 'old gits' post in this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3928387

I thought we could do with one where you can all post your tips for particular countries

It seems there are a fair few in here that are planning or have done a 'europe road trip' and it would help me with mine and others with theirs
Thanks

fivetide

Make sure you have all the bulb kits and flou vests etc that are required.

Keep the speed down in France especially.

Not all parts of the autobahn are deristricted.

Switzerland needs you to buy a tax disc called a Vignette. These are actualyl valid for a year so it isn't hard to get one off eBay and flog it on again although they aren't that expensive.

Holland is very expensive for fuel. fill up in France or push through to the next country and you'll save a fair bit!

That's off the top of my head although most of my experience has been on motorbike trips around Europe rather than in cars.

5t.

Millionaire

Don't forget to drive on the right.

Inner_Zone

fivetide wrote: »

Switzerland needs you to buy a tax disc called a Vignette. These are actualyl valid for a year so it isn't hard to get one off eBay and flog it on again although they aren't that expensive.

Also required in Austria, but in both countries only if you us the motorways.

Note in France and maybe others speed limits on motorways are reduced when it rains.

See the AA website for full information by country.

fivetide

Inner_Zone wrote: »

Also required in Austria, but in both countries only if you us the motorways.

Forgot Austria.

Quite right on the motorway front but I'd advise getting one. simply because if you are going across Europe you'll probably do it on a motorway and the open borders mean you can quickly find yourself on the wrong side of the law. That and chances are you'll want to use an M/way at some point.

France is slightly easier to dodge the tolls as their A-roads are very similar to our motorways (I think). Look for spots marked "Aire" in France. These are often nice little laybys with toilets and a place to get frites/picnic. Good if you don't need a proper services for fuel etc.

5t.

hartcjhart

Inner_Zone wrote: »

Also required in Austria, but in both countries only if you us the motorways.

Note in France and maybe others speed limits on motorways are reduced when it rains.

See the AA website for full information by country.

apart from ebay,do you buy these things at the border or on the Mway,
I am currently planning a road trip by car travelling through loads (some of the eastern eu)of countries heading towards greece then back up and around italy france ending in spain

gabitzul

Inner_Zone wrote: »

Also required in Austria, but in both countries only if you us the motorways.

Note in France and maybe others speed limits on motorways are reduced when it rains.

See the AA website for full information by country.

It is needed in Hungary and Romania as well (if you get towards the East), however in Hungary I think you also have the option to buy it for a more limited amount of time (1 day and 30 days).

gabitzul

Also don't forget the spare wheel, very important. Forget the run flat tyres non-sense, you need a proper spare wheel.

mgdavid

fivetide wrote: »

Forgot Austria.

Quite right on the motorway front but I'd advise getting one. simply because if you are going across Europe you'll probably do it on a motorway and the open borders mean you can quickly find yourself on the wrong side of the law. That and chances are you'll want to use an M/way at some point.

France is slightly easier to dodge the tolls as their A-roads are very similar to our motorways (I think). Look for spots marked "Aire" in France. These are often nice little laybys with toilets and a place to get frites/picnic. Good if you don't need a proper services for fuel etc.

5t.

Er, no. And yes. A-roads in France ARE Motorways 'cos motorway translates to Autoroute. If you want to avoid the tolls then you use N-roads (route Nationale) and they are nothing like our motorways. Often very busy with trucks avoiding tolls, and also often nowhere to overtake.

tim9966

I was stopped at the border at Switzerland when I had to buy one of those stickers. Just paid cash and was on my way within 5 mins. I didn't have one in Austria.

For the Alps area check the roads will all be open, we went in October and found some passes already closed for the winter.

Inform your insurance company before you go and check you are valid in every country. I ended up in Liechtenstein which I later found out I wasn't covered for. I hadn't planned to go there, but just ended up there.

Take a few tools, bulbs, high viz, warning triangle and a headlight beam kit. I found alot of countries seemed to drive with lights on all the time, so I did the same. A GB sticker unless you have the Euro number plates with the blue stars and GB which I have.

I booked a hotel the first night, then for every other night just found somewhere to stay which was no problem.

mikey72

mgdavid wrote: »

Er, no. And yes. A-roads in France ARE Motorways 'cos motorway translates to Autoroute. If you want to avoid the tolls then you use N-roads (route Nationale) and they are nothing like our motorways. Often very busy with trucks avoiding tolls, and also often nowhere to overtake.

I've used toll and non-toll roads. I didn't find much diference in them, apart from the surface of the toll roads are slightly better.