New Travel Rules for UK Drivers Heading Abroad

If you're planning to drive in Spain, France, or Italy this summer, be aware of a new mandatory car equipment rule.

The three countries have issued a joint travel alert aimed at foreign drivers, including those from the UK, just as the busy holiday season begins.

To improve road safety and manage the huge number of tourists expected this year, all drivers using personal or rental cars must carry specific safety items. These rules apply across all three countries, and failure to follow them can result in on-the-spot fines, driving restrictions, or even vehicle seizure.

What You Must Carry in Your Vehicle

All drivers must now have the following items in their cars:

• High-visibility reflective vests – one per passenger, stored inside the car (not in the trunk)
• Warning triangles – one in Spain and Italy, two in France
• Headlight beam deflectors – needed for UK cars to adjust headlights for driving on the right
• UK sticker – or UK letters on the number plate
• Spare bulbs – especially for France and Italy
• Breathalyzer kit – required in France
  

France: Extra Rules and Environmental Zones

France has some of the strictest rules.

Drivers must:

• Have one reflective vest per person, accessible inside the car
• Carry two warning triangles
• Have a breathalyzer kit (though fines for missing it are currently suspended)
• Use beam deflectors and carry spare bulbs
• Display a UK sticker (unless your plate includes the UK flag)

Low-emission zones (ZFE) are also in effect in over 12 French cities. You’ll need a Crit’Air sticker that shows your vehicle’s emission level. Driving without it could result in fines of up to €135.

Spain: Fines for Missing Gear and Expanding Green Zones

In Spain, police are focusing on the Mediterranean coast and cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

Required items include:

• One reflective jacket (must be worn when leaving the car on a highway)
• One warning triangle
• Beam deflectors for UK cars
• UK sticker or plate with UK symbol

Spain also has Low Emission Zones (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones). In places like Madrid and Barcelona, tourists must register their vehicles and display eco-badges to avoid fines from traffic cameras.

Italy: Tourist Drivers Treated Like Locals

Italy enforces similar rules, especially in regions like Tuscany, Lombardy, and along the Amalfi Coast. 

Tourists must have:

• One reflective jacket
• One warning triangle
• Beam deflectors
• UK sticker
• Spare bulbs (recommended)

Italy also has ZTLs (restricted traffic zones) in most cities. These areas are monitored by cameras, and driving through them without permission can lead to heavy fines.

The warning comes as the UK’s May Bank Holiday kicks off a wave of travel across Europe.

Many travellers rent cars or take road trips, making this new rule especially relevant.

Car Rentals: What UK Tourists Should Do

If you're renting a car abroad, don’t assume it comes with all the required safety gear. Ask the rental company to confirm:

• Reflective jackets and warning triangles are included
• Headlights meet local requirements
• Breathalyzer kits are provided (France only)
• The vehicle is registered for low-emission or ZTL zones

You are legally responsible for ensuring the vehicle is compliant, even if the rental agency hasn’t equipped it properly.

UK Government Advice

The UK Foreign Office urges travellers to follow local driving laws in Europe. Failure to do so could affect your travel insurance, especially if you’re involved in an accident or roadside emergency.

Make sure you have:

• Your UK driving license (and international permit, if needed)
• Vehicle registration (V5C or rental agreement)
• Proof of insurance (a green card isn’t required but is recommended)
  

This mandatory car rule is part of a wider push by Spain, France, and Italy to improve road safety, reduce pollution, and manage the surge in tourist traffic.

Before you go:

• Double-check the driving laws in each country
• Make sure your car or rental vehicle has all required items
• Apply for low-emission or ZTL permits ahead of time
• Keep your insurance documents handy
  

Ignoring these rules could lead to delays, fines, and added stress—not what you want during your summer holiday.

Do you need to renew your passport? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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Charlie

Travel and Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager at IaM (Immigration and Migration)

Charlie is IaM’s resident Travel & Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager. They craft clear, engaging guides that demystify complex visa and migration rules - and then personally supports each client through every step of their journey.

Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".

When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.

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