Even if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019 it is unlikely that you will need a visa for short trips of 90 days or less according to European Commission proposals. STA Travel is a good resource to find out more about travel visas.

Observing the local rules will make your holiday go much smoother – attempting to discuss a driving offence with a police officer in a foreign language or using broken English and sign language is never easy! Stopping and parking are permitted on the right-hand side only of roads with two lanes of traffic; in one-way streets, stopping and parking are allowed on both sides if the street is wide enough. You are also advised to carry a first aid kit as it is compulsory for vehicles registered in the country. To make your trip to mainland Europe as safe and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.Vehicles that are parked illegally may be towed away and impounded, even if registered abroad. The owner is liable for the cost of impounding and for every 24 hours the vehicle is kept.

When filling up in France, remember that gazole means diesel, otherwise this could result in an expensive fuelling mishap. French road sign colours Overtaking trams in motion is normally permitted on the right only; it is permitted on the left in one way streets, if there is not enough space on the right. Who has priority? Headphones: All drivers and riders are prohibited from wearing headsets and headphones whilst driving, be it for music purposes or for phone calls. However, this does exclude motorcycle helmets that have integrated systems. Just 20 or so miles across the English channel, and easily reached by ferry or Eurostar, it comes as little surprise that, for us UK drivers, most trips to Europe by road involve some driving in France. Between sunset and sunrise, warning must be given by flashing passing lights. The horn may be used only in cases of absolute necessity.

Any driving holiday when you are using your car for long periods of time may increase wear and tear on your vehicle. A decree published in the Journal officiel on May 21st confirms the change made in January and means that there is now no legal obligation for drivers to keep disposable breathalyser tests in their cars.

At intersections, you must give way to vehicles approaching from your right, unless otherwise indicated.When driving to France from the UK, it’s possible to take a ferry, or alternatively, to travel via the Eurotunnel.

It is important to note, however, that the breathalyser kit must be compliant with French standards – which means it must have a National Approval Number (NAN) printed on it. France has much stricter alcohol laws than most of the UK. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg per litre of blood. Scotland and France, meanwhile, have a limit of 50mg, but France reduces this to 20mg for drivers who have had their licences for less than three years.Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.