Discuss the Driving in Europe guide

DCFC79

Cambia wrote: »

Can you add in driving speed limits for motorhomes? Lots of us go abroad and this would be a great help. Thank you.

Should help you.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/planning-your-route/european-speed-limits/

I see to turn the sat nav is mentioned but you dont mention (Apologies if you have I couldnt see it) radar detector/ speed trap detection device.
Have you mentioned about taking the alcohol test kit, dont think its a requirement but useful.

lovesgshp

Dashcam restrictions in Europe:


https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/998528/Dash-cam-car-Europe-fines-prison

backroad_traveller

I just joined the forum today and would thank you for the driving in Europe guide. We have just purchased a camper van and my wife and I plan to travel around Europe next summer. This guide will be very useful to us and we will keep a lookout for any updates that are posted on your site.

martindow

Why does the banner in the OP link to an article on sanitary products!?

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/cheap-sanitary-products/

MSE_Kelvin

My bad martindow :embarasse

I copied the code used for the Cheap Sanitary Products thread - have amended it now.

Thanks for the heads up!

MSE_Kelvin

Thank you very much for the feedback, backroad traveller. I'll endeavour to add more to the guide over the next few weeks.

Really pleased you've found it useful. Sounds like you and your wife's trip will be ace

hollydays

The issue of gb stickers.
It's not just that you should have gb on your number plate , in tiny letters, it's useful for other drivers to clearly see you are a furriner so as to anticipate any stupid moves you might make, this is particularly important for larger vehicles.
Also to let motorcyclists know you are right hand drive.

lovesgshp

This may be of interest to anyone traveling to Italy over the winter months. It mainly covers those months on the motorways.

Police vehicle checks for tyres/chains can also happen on other routes as well. Many Italians change their tyres just before the required dates.


https://www.autostrade.it/en/la-nostra-rete/operazioni-invernali

AlexMac

(Excellent feature. I may have missed it, but how about adding a specific cautionary note about !!!8230;)

Car Hire Pitfalls
Some operators, including those listed by intermediaries; holiday operators' or brokers' sites, advertise very cheap headline rates of a few pounds per day, but have a business model based on high pressure selling of top-up insurance or other expensive extras, sometimes with intimidation at the pick-up desk or threats of delay or over-rigourous inspections on return. Even worse, there are some Companies who routinely bill clients' credit cards for unjustifiable (but difficult to recover) sums after return, for imaginary damage, minor scratches or chips which were already there but which went un-noticed on pick up, excessive fuelling charges or cleaning fees.

Check the T&Cs; Whether hiring through a broker or a holiday operator, it is the local car hire company's terms and conditions that count. Read these before booking, again at the desk and understand what you are signing.

Check online reviews of the local rental operator (not of the agent or the brokers) before booking. The most notorious European car-hire Company gets over a quarter of a million hits; mainly allegations of fraud or overcharging. Regional Tripadvisor forums can help identify reputable or rogue companies; use that website's forum search facility. Cheapest is not always best.

Check fuel policy and cost; full-full, full-empty, any initial charge and if they will refund for a full or art-full tank on return, and any admin charges for refuelling?

Take out Excess Insurance; most rental quotes include minimum legal cover but typically demand a sizeable excess for even minor scrapes, and do not cover damage to tyres, windscreens, underbody etc. Freestanding excess insurance is available cheaply online, or if not, consider whether you want to pay for the car-hire Companies' more expensive cover (local operators will try hard to sell you this, even if you have your own, often with aggressive sales techniques or hints of delay when you return the car). Some companies demand a deposit on your credit card, some take the money and refund, others just block the amount and unblock on return.

Check for even minor defects; inspect the car, including underbody and wheels and ensure all damage is listed on the contract paperwork; you can even take photos of the outside and inside of the car including the dashboard when you pick up the car and also when you return.

Check the boot; for a replacement tyre or repair kit (people have been charges for replacements even if missing on pick-up) and any other legally required kit such as hi-viz jackets or safety triangles.

Familiarise yourself; with indicators and how the lights are switched on before you set off.

Leave time for check in on return; ensure lots of time to catch your flight in case you do have a problem with the return; especially if you have not taken up the rental companies' own top-up insurance as this may mean they conduct a more thorough inspection of the vehicle.

Felix49

The advice to remove headlight converters on return to the UK is at best unnecessary and at worst a con (i.e. by the retailers of converters, which aren't that cheap if you make several trips a year buying new ones each time). I've left converters on my car for at least the past 3 years, covering several trips a year to Europe. The effect of the converters is simply to cut out glare from the segment of headlight designed to illuminate road signs on the left in the UK. To be honest I've never really noticed the loss of that feature when driving with converters in the UK. Importantly the existence of converters on headlights in the UK doesn't affect passing the MoT. So my advice is to leave them on permanently and save money!