7th July 2016
Driving abroad can be a daunting experience with different laws, speed limits and traffic signs to contend with. A small amount of research beforehand, however, can make your journey a lot less stressful!
Merityre Specialists have put together a guide on driving in Germany, Spain, Italy and France. We would recommend that you use this as a starting point and you should also research traffic signs and other laws when you are considering driving abroad.
In Germany, cars drive on the right hand side of the road and you must remember that all speed signs are in kilometres, which may be confusing if you plan to drive your own vehicle which displays speed in miles.
Traffic lights work in a three light system. When a red light with a green arrow displays, motorists may turn in direction of the arrow as long as they give way to other road users and pedestrians.
Speed Limits
The speed limits in Germany, unless otherwise signposted, are:
50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas
100 km/h (62 mph) outside built up areas
130 km/h (80 mph) on dual carriageways
130 km/h (80 mph) on motorways
In bad weather the maximum speed limit is 50 kmph.
To Carry
It is recommended that you carry the following items when driving in Germany:
Other Information
In Spain you must be over 18 years old to drive, regardless of the legal age to drive in the country you hold a licence. You must drive on the right hand side of the road and be aware that speed limits are displayed in kilometres.
Most Spanish motorways are toll roads and these can be paid in cash or credit card at toll booths positioned along roads where tolls are levied or you can rent a VIA-T box, register a payment and drive through toll roads without stopping.
Speed Limits
The speed limits in Spain, unless otherwise signposted, are:
50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas
90 km/h (55 mph) outside built up areas
80 km/h (49 mph) on dual carriageways or motorways in built up areas
120 km/h (74 mph) on motorways
To Carry
When driving in Spain you must carry the following items or you may face a fine:
Other Information
In Italy cars drive on the right hand side of the road and speed limit signs are displayed in kilometres. Like in Spain, you must be over 18 years old to drive a vehicle.
Italian motorways are frequently toll roads and will charge a fee dependent upon distance. You can pay these fees at the tollbooths situated at different points on toll roads. Alternatively, Europeans may register online for a Telepass which will connect to your bank account and automatically pay the tolls for you.
Speed Limits
The speed limits in Italy, unless otherwise signposted, are:
50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas
90 km/h (55 mph) outside built up areas
110 km/h (68 mph) on dual carriageways
130 km/h (80 mph) on motorways
In wet weather, speed is restricted to 90kmph (55mph) on dual carriageways and 100kmph (62 mph) on motorways.
To Carry
When driving in Italy you must carry the following items or you may face a fine:
Other Information
In France cars drive on the right hand side of the road and speed limit signs are displayed in kilometres. You must be over 18 years old to drive a vehicle, except for a motorcycle up to 80cc which you are allowed to drive from 16.
French motorways are privately owned and most are toll roads. Tolls can be paid by cash or credit card. You can register for the electronic liber-t télépéage tag, however, you will need to pay an application fee and a refundable security deposit.
Speed Limits
The speed limits in France, unless otherwise signposted, are:
50 km/h (31mph) in built up areas
90 km/h (55 mph) outside built up areas
110 km/h (68 mph) on dual carriageways
130 km/h (80 mph) on motorways
If you have been driving for less than three years or in wet weather, speed is restricted to 80kmph (49mph) outside built-up areas, 100kmph (62mph) on dual carriageways and 110kmph (68 mph) on motorways.
To Carry
When driving in France you must carry the following items or you may face a fine:
Other Information
Things you must carry when driving in any European country:
Stay Safe
We would also recommend that you carry spare bottled water in case you need to top up your engine coolant whilst driving, an in-car mobile phone charger and a paper map in case you run in to difficulty on the road.
If you are driving in your own vehicle it is your responsibility to ensure that it is in good condition. This means checking the pressures, condition and tread depth of your tyres and ensuring that your lights and brakes are in working order. In addition, you should also check that all engine fluids are filled sufficiently.