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Monday, December 1, 2025

Motorhome Journey & Driving in Europe after BREXIT- 10 important issues to know


Travelling from the UK to Europe after BREXIT with a motorhome, campervan or caravan? Wish to know what paperwork you want and what modifications will have an effect on your street journeys? Not sure about driving within the EU after BREXIT? Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential to know

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Driving in Europe after BREXIT- issues it’s essential to know

Whether or not you prefer it or not, the BREXIT transition interval has now completed and the UK has left the EU.

Which signifies that the foundations for journey from the UK to Europe have modified, and there are some modifications for driving within the EU after BREXIT.

Right here’s a information on what the modifications are, and which of them have an effect on you.


There are a few large issues it’s essential to examine earlier than you journey from the UK to the EU after BREXIT:

  • examine your passport
  • examine your healthcare/ journey insurance coverage
  • examine you’ve gotten the suitable driving paperwork
  • organise pet journey paperwork

Extra on every part is beneath, in addition to some smaller suggestions you would possibly discover helpful

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Travelling to Europe after BREXIT?

If you happen to’d choose to look at a video as a substitute of learn, right here you go (simply click on the picture to look at)

NOTE: This video was filmed earlier than the GB stickers modified to UK and varied different small modifications. Learn beneath for all of the updated data.

Travelling to Europe after BREXIT and Driving in Europe rule modifications video

We hope you discovered the video helpful. If you happen to did, why not observe us on Youtube. We share new movies with suggestions for motorhoming and campervanning within the UK and Europe weekly, plus street journey concepts and epic locations.


Journey from UK to Europe after BREXIT- Examine your Passport

British passports MUST have at the very least 6 months left on them earlier than you enter the European Union. You MUST examine that the expiry date is ONLY 10 years from the date of situation, not longer.

That is actually important- many passports over the past 10+ years have been issued with an additional 9 months on them- however this won’t be acknowledged by the EU. So in case your passport was issued on 01 September 2015, it would expire (within the EU’s eyes) on 01 September 2025, whatever the precise expiry date.

So you will need to have 6 months left earlier than THAT date. (Eire is the exception for this- you’ll be able to journey to Eire for the size of your present passport). Get extra suggestions for motorhoming or campervanning in Eire.

Additionally, any passport older than 10 years must be renewed asap. You are able to do this on-line or at your native Submit Workplace.

YOU DO NOT NEED A BLUE PASSPORT- hold utilizing your crimson one till it’s essential to renew it, even when it says EU on the duvet. Nonetheless, you gained’t be capable of use the EU citizen entry lanes at border management.


Insurance coverage and Medical therapy in Europe after BREXIT

If you happen to presently have an EHIC card for healthcare therapy within the EU, that can stay legitimate till it expires.

There’s a newer model of this, known as the International Well being Insurance coverage card (GHIC), which is nowhere close to as far-reaching.

In some nations, sufferers are anticipated to instantly contribute a share in direction of the price of their state-provided therapy. This is named a affected person co-payment. If you happen to obtain therapy below such a healthcare system, you’re anticipated to pay the identical co-payment cost as a affected person from that nation.

The EHIC/ GHIC will not be a substitute for journey insurance coverage. It won’t cowl any personal medical healthcare or prices, similar to mountain rescue in ski resorts or being flown again to the UK. The EHIC/ GHIC will not be legitimate on cruises.

NOTE: The GHIC is FREE for eligible UK residents. Do NOT pay for it, use the NHS web site right here.

The brief reply is, count on to pay for healthcare- or at the very least purchase an honest journey insurance coverage coverage earlier than you go.


Driving within the EU after BREXIT- Paperwork you want

If you happen to’re going to be driving a motorhome or camper or automotive within the EU or Europe after BREXIT, you will need to carry:

  • Your UK card driving licence (examine it’s in date!)
  • Your insurance coverage paperwork
  • Automobile V5 logbook (which should present your right handle)
  • Automobile should be legally taxed and MOT’d
  • Trailer certification (if required)
  • Inexperienced card (not wanted for many UK registered autos, however nonetheless doubtless wanted for trailers- examine along with your insurer)
  • A UK sticker on your car. If you happen to’re going to Spain you MUST have the white oval on the again, even when you’ve got it on the reg plate too.
  • IDP if required

There are different gadgets it’s essential to for driving in Europe– see all of them right here and seize your FREE guidelines


Inexperienced Card

You do NOT want a inexperienced card when taking your car to any nations within the EU, together with motorhoming in Eire, Andorra, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Switzerland. You clearly nonetheless want legitimate car insurance coverage.

Chances are you’ll want a inexperienced card to go to different nations in Europe, together with Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Albania, Azerbaijan and Russia. Please examine along with your insurer, which is who you get the inexperienced playing cards issued from.

If towing a trailer with a motorhome, you’ll nearly definitely want to hold a inexperienced card for the trailer, even when one will not be wanted for the primary car.

If one IS wanted for the primary car, you will want a separate inexperienced card for the trailer or any extra autos you may be towing (like a automotive.

Examine along with your insurer what you want earlier than you journey.

Apply at the very least one month earlier than you might be attributable to journey and ensure the small print on the cardboard are correct- we’ve heard a number of situations of one thing being fallacious and a brand new one needed to be posted out.


Do you want an IDP?

No. Most individuals don’t want an IDP to drive within the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein when you’ve got a card driving licence issued within the UK.

You would possibly when you’ve got:

  • a paper driving licence
  • a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

(If you happen to do want an IDP, right here’s an in-depth information on methods to get an Worldwide Driving Allow and which one(s) you want from a UK put up workplace.

Will my UK driving licence be legitimate within the EU after BREXIT?

Your present driving licence will proceed to be legitimate for driving in Europe, even when it has the EU image. Clearly, it must be in date and you will need to have a licence for the car you might be driving.

Driving in Europe after BREXIT- get a UK sticker in your car

You MUST have a UK sticker or reg plate on the again of your car- the GB sticker or EU emblem will not be acceptable.

If you’re going motorhoming in Spain, you will need to have the white sticker with black letters, even when you’ve got the UK sticker in your reg plate.

Speaking of France, you would possibly discover these posts helpful on your journey:


Hiring a motorhome or automotive in Europe after BREXIT

Sure, you’ll be able to nonetheless lease a motorhome or automotive in Europe after BREXIT. You will have:

  • a sound driving licence (appropriate for the car you’ll be driving)
  • Probably an IDP code from the DVLA- examine with the rent firm in advance.
  • If you’re travelling with a rent car exterior of the UK, you will want proof that you’re allowed to cross borders with it (usually a VE103 certificates)

How lengthy are you able to keep within the EU after BREXIT?

Ah, the large one.

UK residents are actually restricted on how a lot time you’ll be able to spend within the Schengen space. This contains the entire of the EU besides Cyprus and Eire, however DOES embody Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

You might be allowed to remain within the Schengen space for 90 days in any rolling 180 day interval. This contains the day you arrive and the day you depart.

You may keep for one lengthy journey, or a collection of smaller journeys, so long as you don’t exceed 90 days in any 180.

And yes- your passport can be stamped. Be certain that it will get stamped whenever you depart too.

On the entry border, you might have to point out:

  • a return or onward ticket
  • you come up with the money for on your keep
  • proof of medical insurance coverage

UPDATE: If you happen to’re travelling with a motorhome, caravan or campervan, we don’t know anybody who has been requested to supply any of those bits of knowledge.

You’ll in all probability want to make use of separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss residents when queueing on the border. It ought to be properly signposted.

Nations that are exempt from the 90-day rule

These nations usually are not within the ’90-day’ rule, and subsequently you’ll be able to go to every for 90 days on high of your 90 days within the Schengen space:

  • Cyprus & Eire are the one EU member states NOT within the Schengen space. (Cyprus goals to grow to be a part of the Schengen Space by the top of 2025)
  • Non-EU Nations in Europe: Albania, Andorra. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine
  • Morocco
  • Eire permits limitless visits for UK nationals- no stamps required!

You need to use this short-stay calculator to assist (though personally I don’t discover it that straightforward to make use of)

Europe Motorhome travel- free checklists

Wish to head to Europe along with your motorhome?

Seize your FREE (printable) guidelines and uncover 25 belongings you NEED to take with you whenever you journey in Europe. Make your life simpler as we speak.


Will I want a VISA to go to Europe after BREXIT?

Not on the moment- nevertheless it’s coming.

Very quickly, all British Residents might want to apply for a European Journey Data and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS) visa upfront. These will work equally to the USA ESTAs and are proposed to be energetic later in 2025.

It’s geared toward decreasing the “migration, safety or public-health threat” from nationals of visa-exempt third nations

For the time being, estimated prices are at 7€ and the ETIAS can be legitimate for 3 years (though that doesn’t imply you’ll be able to spend 3 years exploring Europe continuous).

There may even be an EES (EU Entry/ Exit System), which is because of be operational in October 2025 (however has been delayed a number of occasions already!)

The EES is a brand new digital border system that can require British nationals travelling to the Schengen space to register their biometric particulars, similar to fingerprints or a photograph, when arriving at a Schengen border. EES registration will substitute the present system of manually stamping passports when guests arrive within the EU.


Taking your canine to Europe after BREXIT

There have been some large modifications relating to taking a pet from the UK to Europe. The UK Pet passport scheme is now out of date, and you’ll require an animal well being certificates as a substitute.

For a step-by-step information, please learn: Easy methods to take a canine to Europe after BREXIT (and get an AHC)

Don’t overlook, if you’re going campervanning in Norway with a canine, you will want to get a tapeworm pill administered by a vet 1-5 days earlier than you enter Norway. After which you will want ANOTHER one administered 1-5 days earlier than returning to the UK.


Responsibility Free limits for alcohol?

When travelling from the EU to the UK, anybody aged 17+ can carry (taken from the Gov.Uk website- please examine for any modifications):

  • beer – 42 litres
  • wine (not glowing) – 18 litres

It’s also possible to herald both:

  • spirits and different liquors over 22% alcohol – 4 litres
  • fortified wine (for instance port, sherry), glowing wine and alcoholic drinks as much as 22% alcohol – 9 litres

You may cut up this final allowance, for instance you may carry 4.5 litres of fortified wine and a couple of litres of spirits (each half of your allowance).

Tobacco allowance

You may herald one from the next:

  • 200 cigarettes
  • 100 cigarillos
  • 50 cigars
  • 250g tobacco
  • 200 sticks of tobacco for digital heated tobacco units

You may cut up this allowance – so you may herald 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars (each half of your allowance).

You’ll have to pay VAT, customs or excise responsibility on alcohol or tobacco you declare.


Taking Meat, Milk and different merchandise to/ from Europe

You’ll not be allowed to usher in meatmilk or their merchandise (until you’ve gotten lower than 10kg and are coming from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland)

There may be additionally an exemption for powdered toddler milk, toddler meals, and particular meals or particular pet feed required for medical causes, if weighing lower than 2 kilograms and supplied that:

  • such merchandise don’t require refrigeration earlier than opening
  • that they’re packaged proprietary model merchandise for direct sale to the ultimate shopper, and
  • the packaging is unbroken until in present use

You may journey with as much as 20kg of fish and sure shellfish similar to prawns, lobsters, useless mussels and useless oysters, or the burden of 1 fish if that is increased. There is no such thing as a such weight restriction for travellers coming from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland

For different animal merchandise, similar to honey, dwell oysters, dwell mussels and snails for instance, travellers are allowed to usher in as much as 2 kilograms

These guidelines don’t apply to animal merchandise transported between the EU Member States, or for animal merchandise coming from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland. Full particulars could be discovered on the EU web site right here

You’ll want a certificates to take sure crops and plant merchandise into EU nations. 

This type subscribes you (free!) to the Wandering Fowl mailing record. We share suggestions, itineraries, and useful guides like this for street trippers and motorhomers.

We by no means spam (yuck) and you’ll unsubscribe at any time.

2025 Import modifications

In 2025, the UK Authorities has banned bringing any of the next INTO the UK from the EU, to attempt to cease the unfold of foot and mouth (which is presently affecting some nations in Europe).

  • Cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat
  • dairy merchandise  

“This contains bringing gadgets like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, uncooked meats or milk into Nice Britain – no matter whether or not it’s packed or packaged or whether or not it has been purchased at responsibility free.”

It’s unclear how lengthy this ban will final for- updated info could be discovered on Gov.UK right here.


Driving in Europe after BREXIT- Telephone Roaming Fees

The UK authorities handed some laws which imposes:

  • A £45-a-month restrict on the quantity that clients might be charged for utilizing cell information overseas earlier than having to opt-in for additional use
  • Guidelines stating clients should be knowledgeable after they have reached 80% and 100% of their information allowance
  • “cheap steps” must be taken to keep away from clients being charged for unintentional roaming in Northern Eire, which might occur if a telephone in Northern Eire locked onto the cell sign coming from the Republic of Eire.

Knowledge roaming prices in Europe are actually relevant again- please do examine along with your community to see what they may cost you for utilizing your telephone/ information overseas.


Will my UK financial institution card be legitimate?

Sure, you’ll be able to nonetheless be capable of use your UK financial institution playing cards in Europe, simply as you probably did earlier than. Be sure you are conscious of any prices your financial institution might impose.


I hope you now really feel a little bit extra ready or educated about travelling to Europe after BREXIT and driving within the EU.

 
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Europe road trip tips- driving in Europe after BREXIT 2020

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