European Driving Requirements

[TheArchitect]

Hi Guys

I'm hopefully off to Austria in Feb for some snowboarding and after some guidance for the drive down.

What do I need:
-I have winter tyres (blizzacks)
-Do I need chains? I have socks available
-I'll get hold of a Triangle, High Vis Jacket, Spare bulbs.
-I'll speak with the AA about adding the european cover on.

Anything else I'm missing? If anyone can link to a decent info source that would be great as I'm sifting through the AA website now.

Cheers

[feef]

The Drive-alive site has pretty comprehensive info about driving abroad:

http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/driving-in-austri...

[stuwalsh]

Don't forget original reg docs and insurance. If the car is leased or a company car there is an alternative form in lieu of the V5

[johnao]

stuwalsh said:

Don't forget original reg docs and insurance. If the car is leased or a company car there is an alternative form in lieu of the V5

...and make sure you leave photocopies at home in case the original documents get lost or stolen.

[Cunning Punt]

Which route are you taking? Northern France -> Belgium -> Germany -> Austria?
Chains aren't specific requirements in any of these, though "having appropriate weather equipment" is a requirement in Germany and Austria. You'll be fine with winter tyres and socks.


You've covered most of the bases, except:
- First aid kit required for Austria and - I think - Germany.
- Fire extinguisher + first aid kit recommended for Belgium.


Ask your insurance company for a Green Card, if you don't have one. Europe-wide proof of insurance. Shouldn't cost anything, and will reduce hassle if you get stopped.

EDIT : this is recent and (apart from lacking information on weather equipment) fairly comprehensive.

'punt

Edited by Cunning Punt on Wednesday 2nd November 16:21

[tgr]

You need a high vis jacket each, stored in the cabin (i.e. to hand) rather than the boot. That's the main thing that to me is not intuitive

[davepoth]

For Austria you need an Austrian tax disc, they'll be available from petrol stations near the border. Aside from that I drove a van up over the mountains from Munich to Innsbruck on summer tyres a few years back between Christmas any new year and had no trouble (apart from some black ice in Luxembourg),

[GreatGranny]

tgr said:

You need a high vis jacket each, stored in the cabin (i.e. to hand) rather than the boot. That's the main thing that to me is not intuitive

In France its just for the driver, is it for each person in Austria?

Check out the AA website.

Spare bulbs aren't compulsory (at least not in France) but I have a set in my car anyway dito triangle and hi vis vest.

[matthias73]

I got stopped and breathalised in france, and in terms of papers they were satisfied with my insurance policy papers, did not want to bring the v5 with me...

In germany they asked me if it was my vehicle and then asked me to prove it. Same insurance sheet and they just glanced at it to make sure the name was correct. They did however check my tyres, and were satisfied with my snow and mud tyres. (i was in the mountains). They didn't check for snow chains, but if I had gotten stuck in snow with no chains they would have been pissed off.