Driving in Europe – Let’s explore here
If you’re thinking about driving in Europe on an overland journey, you should make yourself aware of the different regulations for each country. Our European country pages detail lots of information by country. This page summaries information for the whole of Europe on international driving permits, green card requirements, road tolls, as well as other useful information.
Do you require an international driving permit in Europe?
You may require an international driving permit in Europe, depending on which country you are travelling through. There are three types of permit: 1926, 1949 & 1968. The 1968 permit lasts for 3 years or until your UK driving licence expires, whichever comes first. A 1926 or 1949 permit lasts for 12 months.
For UK citizens, international driving permits can be bought from the post office.
The table below shows which European countries require an international driving permit – as you’ll see, excepting Andorra, only a 1968 type permit is required.
Although we have one, we have never been asked to produce an international driving license, although they may be required in the case of an accident.
Can you use your UK driving license when driving through Europe?
For some European countries you do not require an international driving license, as your UK driving license is valid. This is especially the case for short term visits, or when transiting through the country on an overland journey.
The table below shows which European countries you can drive in with your UK driving license.
Do you need a green card to drive in Europe?
A green card is proof that you have vehicle insurance when driving abroad. You should check which countries your current insurer covers you for, as they can vary quite considerably by insurer. Contact your insurer to get one for your vehicle.
Although a green card may not be required, you may still need to purchase separate insurance if you aren’t currently covered. Purchasing insurance for a specific country can often be done at the border, although not at all borders. Note that purchasing insurance at a border in Europe often requires a cash transaction in Euros or the local currency.
We’ve detailed those country borders we’ve come across where you cannot purchase insurance on the individual country pages.
The table below also shows which European countries require a green card.
Road tolls in Europe
Many countries in Europe charge a toll for motorway road use and have toll gates that you drive though. You can usually pay the toll in cash or by card at the toll gate. For those countries that drive on the right, road tolls can be a hassle if you’re driving a RHD car.
Some tolls roads however can be paid for online, and some tolls roads can only be paid for online!
The table below shows the European countries that have the electronic payment systems for toll roads.
You may also find it useful to refer to our other information on driving abroad within each individual country page, as well as our information on obtaining a Carnet de passage. You may also find it useful to refer to our other information on visas.
International driving permit, Green card and toll road info by European county
| Country | International driving permit required | Green card required | Electronic road toll / vignette |
| Albania | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at border | – |
| Andorra | 1949 | No | – |
| Armenia | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at border for 5000AMD (£10). Also have to pay 10000AMD (£20) car import tax (obtain car declaration form) | – |
| Austria | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online |
| Azerbaijan | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at border | – |
| Belarus | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at border | Choose length of stay and pay online – BelToll Toll Collection System |
| Belgium | No | No | – |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1968 | No | – |
| Bulgaria | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online. Many roads have now become toll roads in Bulgaria. The fine for not registering online is BGN70 per day (November 2023). Maximum 3 fines per calendar year – if you get three fines, do not pay vignette moving forwards. |
| Croatia | No | No | – |
| Cyprus | No | No | – |
| Czechia | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online |
| Denmark | No | No | Øresund Bridge or Forsea ferries or StenaLine |
| Estonia | No | No | – |
| Finland | No | No | – |
| France | No | No | – |
| Georgia | 1968 | Green card no longer accepted. Buy at border or online | – |
| Germany | No | No | – |
| Gibraltar | No | No | – |
| Greece | No | No | – |
| Hungary | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online |
| Iceland | No | No | – |
| Ireland | No | No | – |
| Italy | No | No | – |
| Kazakhstan | 1968 | Green card not required. If not covered, buy at border | – |
| Kosovo | 1968 | Yes. Also, easy to buy insurance at the main Elez Han [Hani i Elezit] border for €15 (£13) | – |
| Latvia | No | No | – |
| Liechtenstein | No | No | – |
| Lithuania | No | No | – |
| Luxembourg | No | No | – |
| Malta | No | No | – |
| Moldova | 1968 | Green card not required. If not covered, buy at border. If entering Transnistria, there is a €5 car import tax | Pay for the vignette online. Note: €85 fee may be required from January 2023, although we were not required to pay this (2023). |
| Monaco | 1968 | No | – |
| Montenegro | 1968 | Green card not required. If not covered, buy at border | – |
| Netherlands | No | No | – |
| North Macedonia | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at some borders [Qafe Thane – Kafasan] for €50 (£43). Not available at [Tushemisht – St. Naum] border | – |
| Norway | No | No | Register vehicle with Epass24.com |
| Poland | No | No | For sections of the A2 and A4 motorways you must pay online. As of 01 July 2023, tolls have been cancelled for cars, motorbikes and combinations of vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of 3.5 tonnes. |
| Portugal | No | No | Some roads use eTolls. Register to pay by one of the payment methods. Check online to see if you’ve passed through a toll. |
| Romania | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online |
| Russia | 1968 | Green card no longer accepted. Buy at border. | – |
| San Marino | 1968 | No | – |
| Serbia | 1968 | No | – |
| Slovakia | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online |
| Slovenia | No | No | Choose length of stay and pay online |
| Spain | No | No | – |
| Sweden | No | No | Øresund Bridge or Forsea ferries or StenaLine |
| Switzerland | No | No | Buy annual vignette sticker at border, petrol stations, post offices |
| Turkey | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at border for TRY2200-2500 (£60-£70) | Purchase HGS sticker/card from PTT (post office) to use toll roads. Check for outstanding fines before leaving the country |
| Ukraine | 1968 | Yes. Also buy at border | – |
| UK | No | No | Dartford Crossing online. Overview of tolls in UK. |
You may also find it useful to refer to our information on visas and the Schengen area.