Driving to mainland Europe and Covid restrictions

pedgepuk

Wanted to check what the general feel is on potentially driving to mainland Europe for a week - France, Spain and destination ending in Portugal. Stop off for fuel/rest in France and Spain only.

I've my own accommodation in a predominantly rural region in southern Portugal with 26 officially reported cases since March, and have no intention of travelling to the worst affected regions of Lisbon and surrounding areas.

I can't see any restrictions to foreign travellers by car between France/Spain and Spain/Portugal according to their official government websites, nor can I find that car insurance isn't covered during the pandemic but this will be checked. Also, the European breakdown quotes I've received don't have any exclusions nor advice against travel, but do mention that restrictions could result in less recovery services being available. The FCO are advising against travel and understand that I would have to quarantine which I have no issues with.

Is there anything else I may need to be aware of?

iainscomputer

Hi, I posted a similar question on this forum. You will be travelling through Spain on your return from Portugal, so you should quarantine for 14 days from leaving Spain. If you spend 2 days driving through France that will be a 12 day quarantine in the UK. 
Portugal is still on the quarantine list, there is no difference between driving or flying regarding the quarantine. If Portugal is added to the air bridge countries & you transit Spain without stopping or leaving the car you could be exempt. But there is a possibility that France is added & you would then have to quarantine.
I am travelling to Poland in September & have the same dilemma/query.

pedgepuk

iainscomputer said:

Hi, I posted a similar question on this forum. You will be travelling through Spain on your return from Portugal, so you should quarantine for 14 days from leaving Spain. If you spend 2 days driving through France that will be a 12 day quarantine in the UK. 
Portugal is still on the quarantine list, there is no difference between driving or flying regarding the quarantine. If Portugal is added to the air bridge countries & you transit Spain without stopping or leaving the car you could be exempt. But there is a possibility that France is added & you would then have to quarantine.
I am travelling to Poland in September & have the same dilemma/query.

I hope to do the 10hr stint overnight through France to get to Spain with 2 fuel stops in France. Spain will incur a 1 fuel stop before Portugal. I won't be venturing anywhere and the intention is to get to my destination as quick as I can.

Since Portugal is the destination and the FCO advises against travel, then yes it would be a full 14 days quarantine once I'm back in the UK. My car insurance has confirmed that there are no restrictions on the Europe cover due to Covid.

Thrugelmir

Entirely your personal decision. You need to weigh up the potential risks and downsides. No one can say what might happen in the future. Ensure that you have a plan B though. 

silvercar

If you want to have medical travel insurance when you get there, you need to check that they will cover you if you are travelling against FCO advice. You can take out a policy that covers this, but it will cost more than  the average comparison site deal.
If you rely on your EHIC card, you wouldn't be covered for repatriation.