What stickers / certificates do I need for driving in Europe?
- Thread starter dave_b
- Start date
Lots of French cities need Crite de aire - a simple process to apply via French Govt website - I think I had to upload a scan of the V5 showing emissions data and pay a few euros. Had a confirmation email straight away and sticker in post in about 5 days.
There are lots of ‘other’ websites that do the same but also apply a fee!
There are lots of ‘other’ websites that do the same but also apply a fee!
Inside the windscreen.
Crit'Air goes in your windscreen, you can see it in my van in the drivers side bottom (the yellow sticker)
I got it as I was driving through Rouen on a trip last year. What you need in terms of stickers or passes depends entirely on where you're going.
I got it as I was driving through Rouen on a trip last year. What you need in terms of stickers or passes depends entirely on where you're going.
Inside - I stuck mine directly to the glass and I expect it will rip/deform if removed. In hindsight I should have used an old style tax disc holder to make it removeable should I ever need a new windscreen.
Yeah they're designed to rip if you try to remove them. If I ever need a new windscreen I'll order another, they're only a few quid.
I got the crit air and obviously a UK badge.
What I noticed at the ferry terminal was that most people had absolutely nothing or the GB badges that shouldn't be used now.
What I noticed at the ferry terminal was that most people had absolutely nothing or the GB badges that shouldn't be used now.
if going to any of the following LEZ yiu need to register your vehicle (it lasts 5 years and is free):
- Brussels
- Gent
- Antwerp
Think you have to do them individually (I did as was not sure if they covered more than one area).
- Brussels
- Gent
- Antwerp
Think you have to do them individually (I did as was not sure if they covered more than one area).
Although the Geneva Convention, which is international treaty and thus higher law than any UK or Eupopean domestic legislation, has not been amended and still says GB badges should be displayed.
As a practical matter though the GC element hasn't been enforced since Maaastricht.
This will give you a good general guide and links to details for individual countries you may go to. Watch out for individual ULEZ zones (e.g. Brussels) and vignettes (e.g. Switzerland) around your route.
AA driving in Europe
AA driving in Europe
You will need a high viz jacket (per person) and adviseable to carry a fire extinguisher and spare wheel which is my dilemma as l have neither wheel or carrier. You will also need V5, insurance and l guess licences for any drivers.
There will no doubt be other valuable additions that will be suggested by other members although in the same situation as I’m in the process of also compiling, breakdown recovery being one of them.
There will no doubt be other valuable additions that will be suggested by other members although in the same situation as I’m in the process of also compiling, breakdown recovery being one of them.
As mentioned above, you will need French CritAir sticker if you want to venture into French ULEZ zones (the number of which is growing!) and it's so easy and cheap to apply on line it's worth doing wherever you plan on driving BUT as someone mentioned above, make sure you apply on the official site as there are a few others out there which can charge a hefty transaction fee. @JumpShip seems to have covered most of the other stuff but I think spare bulbs might also need to go on the list - a friend of mine got pulled by the Gendarmes a couple of years ago (not in a van!) and they actually went through all the stuff above including bulbs - he politely explained that he had LED headlights and spares bulbs were not relevant but they still insisted that he needed them - after a bit more chat, and his near fluent French probably helped, they waved him on. That's never happened to me though and I don't know of any other such incident. A couple of other things that I would mention are that the Hi Viz jackets/gilets should be easily accessible when you're on ther road and there should be one for each occupant. Also, until a couple of years ago, carrying a couple of breathalysers was also a legal requirement in France but I believe that's now gone.
BUT also do your own research then you've only got yourself to blame if things go t1t's up!
BUT also do your own research then you've only got yourself to blame if things go t1t's up!
With LEDs it might be less traumatic to buy the cheapest bulb pack possible.
