Driving Abroad This Summer? Get Your Car and Tyres Ready
Before driving abroad this summer, give your car a thorough check of tyres, fluids, brakes and lights, set the tyres to the laden pressure, and make sure you carry any safety equipment the countries you visit legally require, which often includes a warning triangle and hi-vis vests. A pre-trip service adds peace of mind far from home.
Check the essentials
A breakdown is stressful at the best of times and worse in an unfamiliar country, so check the basics thoroughly before you go.
- Tyre tread, condition and pressures, plus the spare or repair kit.
- Engine oil, coolant and screenwash levels.
- Brakes and all lights working correctly.
- Wiper blades in good condition.
Sort anything marginal before you travel, not at the roadside abroad.
Tyres for a loaded, long trip
Touring holidays usually mean a fully loaded car covering long motorway distances in summer heat, which is demanding on tyres. Set pressures to the laden figure in your handbook.
Make sure your tread is healthy before you go, as a worn tyre that is fine for short local trips may not cope as well with sustained high-speed, fully loaded driving. If in doubt, have them checked or replaced before the journey.
Know the local rules
Many European countries legally require you to carry certain items, and you can be fined if you do not have them. Requirements vary by country, so check before you travel.
Commonly required kit includes a warning triangle, hi-vis vests for all occupants, and sometimes spare bulbs or a breathalyser. You may also need headlight beam adapters for driving on the right, and a UK identifier on the car.
Driving on the right and beam adapters
If you are driving in a country that drives on the right, your headlights point slightly the wrong way and can dazzle oncoming traffic at night. Beam deflector adapters, or a headlight setting on some cars, correct this and are required in many places.
Take time too to get used to driving on the right, especially at junctions, roundabouts and after stops, where it is easy to slip back into habit. Plan your route, know your tolls and low-emission zones, and allow extra time so you are not rushing on unfamiliar roads.
Breakdown cover and documents
Check your breakdown cover specifically includes European travel and the kind of trip you are taking, as standard UK cover often does not extend abroad. Add European cover if needed, and keep the policy details and emergency number to hand.
Carry your driving licence, V5C logbook, insurance documents and passport, and check whether your insurance needs to be notified of the trip. A folder of documents and breakdown details saves a lot of stress if something goes wrong far from home.
Consider a pre-trip service
If your car is due a service, getting it done before a major trip abroad is sensible, as professional help is harder and more expensive to arrange away from home.
We can carry out a service or safety check and fit tyres before you travel. Book early as summer is busy, and head off knowing the car is ready for the miles ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to check before driving abroad?
Check tyres including tread, condition, pressures and the spare, top up oil, coolant and screenwash, and make sure brakes, lights and wipers are good. Set tyres to the laden pressure for a loaded car, and confirm you carry any safety equipment the countries you visit legally require.
What equipment is legally required to drive in Europe?
It varies by country, but commonly required items include a warning triangle, hi-vis vests for occupants, and sometimes spare bulbs or a breathalyser. You may also need headlight beam adapters and a UK identifier. Check the specific rules for each country you plan to drive in before you travel.
Should I service my car before a trip abroad?
If a service is due or close, doing it before a long trip abroad is wise, since getting help is harder and costlier away from home. It catches worn brakes, tyres and low fluids before they cause a breakdown. A pre-trip safety check is a good alternative if a service is not yet due.
Why do I need headlight beam adapters abroad?
In countries that drive on the right, your headlights point slightly the wrong way and can dazzle oncoming traffic at night. Beam deflector adapters, or a built-in headlight setting on some cars, correct this and are legally required in many places, so fit them before night driving abroad.
Does my breakdown cover work in Europe?
Often not by default. Standard UK breakdown cover frequently does not extend abroad, so check your policy and add European cover if needed before you travel. Keep the policy details and emergency number to hand, along with your licence, V5C, insurance and passport.
Book With Norwich Tyres & Auto Service
Need a hand from a real, independent Norwich garage? Call 07933 900901 or pop into Ber Street, NR1 3ES. Same-day tyre fitting is available on most common sizes, with free parking on site.
Hero image: “Wenzhou.” by @yakobusan Jakob Montrasio (source), licensed under CC BY.