To drive in Europe with a UK licence you need your photocard driving licence, your V5C log book (or a VE103 for a hired or leased car), proof of insurance, and the UK identifier on your car. You don't need an international driving permit in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you hold a UK photocard licence.
The two things that catch people out are the sticker and the old paper licence. Get those right and the rest is mostly kit you can buy at a motorway services.
I've checked every rule below against GOV.UK in October 2026, because the post-Brexit advice has changed several times and lots of older articles still tell you to carry a green card or a GB sticker.
The document checklist
| What to carry | When you need it (GOV.UK, as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| UK photocard driving licence | Always. Check it hasn't expired before you go |
| V5C log book | If you're taking your own vehicle |
| VE103 certificate | If the vehicle is hired or leased in the UK |
| Insurance certificate | Always. UK policies give minimum third party cover in the EU |
| Green card | Not needed in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland |
| International driving permit | Not needed in the EU with a UK photocard licence; may be needed with a paper licence or a Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man licence |
| Licence check code | Useful for car hire; you can get one up to 21 days before your trip |
The UK sticker rule, explained simply
This is the one people get wrong at the ferry port. GOV.UK says you don't need a UK sticker if your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. You must display a UK sticker if your plate has any of these:
- numbers and letters only, with no flag or identifier
- a GB identifier with the Union flag
- a European Union flag
- a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
Here's the insight most guides skip: in Spain, Cyprus and Malta you must display a UK sticker whatever is on your plate, even the Union flag version. In Ireland you don't need one at all. And if you still have an old GB sticker, GOV.UK says to cover or remove it, because UK stickers have replaced them. Don't put the sticker on the plate itself.
When you do need an international driving permit
For a holiday in the EU with a UK photocard licence, you don't. GOV.UK says you might need an IDP in some EU countries and Norway if your licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, and that if you still have a paper licence you'll need to update it to a photocard or get an IDP.
There are three types of IDP (1926, 1949 and 1968), and the one you need depends on the country. You get them in person at certain shops with PayPoint. Don't apply for one if you're moving abroad: you'll need to exchange your licence in your new country instead.
If you're hiring a car instead
GOV.UK says insurance is included when you hire a car, but you should check what you're covered for with the hire company. The hire desk may ask to see your driving licence information, and you can share it with a licence check code, which you can get up to 21 days before your trip. Generate it close to your pick-up date so it's still valid.
Some hire companies set their own rules on international driving permits even where the law doesn't need one, which is why GOV.UK keeps telling hirers to check with the company first. A two-minute email before you book is cheaper than being turned away at the counter.
Equipment and local rules
- Check the kit list for each country. GOV.UK says many countries require a reflective jacket and a warning triangle.
- Look up emission stickers for city driving. Some European cities need one, and GOV.UK warns you may need to buy it weeks before you travel.
- Learn the local speed limits and drink driving limits before you set off, because GOV.UK warns you can be fined if you break them.
- If you're towing a trailer over 750kg, make sure your licence shows category BE.
- If you're hiring, it's your job to check the hire car has the required kit.
If you're flying out and hiring a car rather than driving from home, sort your data too. My guide to eSIMs for international travel saves you roaming bills on the sat nav.
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Border checks: the new Entry/Exit System
The EU's Entry/Exit System is being implemented across the Schengen area. The Foreign Office says you may need to register fingerprints and a photo on your first visit, there's no cost to register, and you should allow extra time at the border. You can still stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
If your trip goes wrong on the way, my guide to UK flight delay compensation covers the flying side.
My verdict
Check three things the week before you go: your licence is a photocard and in date, your plate or sticker matches the country (Spain, Cyprus and Malta always need the sticker), and your insurer's certificate is in the glovebox with the V5C. Leave the green card and the GB sticker at home. Everything else is a reflective jacket, a triangle and a quick look at the speed limits.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an international driving permit to drive in Europe?
Not in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a UK photocard licence. You may need one with a paper licence or a licence from Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
Do I need a green card to drive in Europe?
No. GOV.UK says you don't need a green card in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, but you still need valid insurance.
Do I need a UK sticker on my car?
Not if your plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag, except in Spain, Cyprus and Malta, where you must display a UK sticker whatever your plate shows.
What documents do I need to drive my own car in Europe?
Your driving licence, your V5C log book and your insurance certificate. For a hired or leased vehicle you need a VE103 instead of the V5C.
Can I still use a GB sticker?
No. GOV.UK says UK stickers have replaced GB stickers, and you should cover or remove a GB sticker before driving outside the UK.
