Worried about driving in Europe

[ClaudiaMM]

We're taking the kids on this big road trip next year, and we're hitting as many countries in Europe as possible. I want to do France and Spain, but where else would be good for a family of 4? I'm so anxious about driving in other countries.

I've done a bit of research (see below) but does anyone have any other bits of advice?

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu
• https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2026/05/ultimate-guide-driving-europe/
• https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/driving-europe-tips
• https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/blog/greencard/checklist-driving-europe/

What are you worried about? We’ve done several driving/camping holidays across Europe including France, Spain, Germany and Italy. Happy to help if you have specific questions.

How long have you got? Assuming a couple of weeks, I really wouldn’t overdo it. We regularly drive to the south of France. It’s 9 hours driving from Calais….worth it imo, but it’s a long time in the car particularly for children. I’d suggest picking a couple of places (probably in France) and limiting the distance you’re driving. Given you’ve never driven over there, break yourself in gently.

Also factor in the time of year… if summer, temperatures may be brutal.

Have you planned out a route? I love a holiday like this but no way would I wing accomodation last minute.

We've done many holidays like this. Italy/Slovenia/Croatia was a big win, as was a big loop of The Netherlands / Belgium /Luxembourg /Germany /The Netherlands.

For our honeymoon DH and I spent 8 weeks driving round Europe - France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria , Italy and back through France. We could have taken it a bit quicker but not massively. I would pick 2 or 3 countries max - if you’re set on France and Spain I’d add Portugal and leave it at that.

Also perhaps look at the overnight ferry back to Portsmouth from North Spain?

Definitely break down your journey into bitesized chunks, i usually go 6 hours before an overnight stay, i’d do 12 or more if it was just me but with kids it’s not really fair, don’t worry about the roads/drivers as in Europe although they tend to drive at a quicker pace it seems to just work, the standard of driving is better than it is here, oh and if you can, try to buy your fuel from places other than the motorway as the prices are extortionate.

I’d also get a bipngo toll tag so you can just drive through the tolls without stopping, you’ll get the bill a month later ish: www.bipandgo.com/en

I'm so anxious about driving in other countries

Trust your senses. The reality is that unless you end up on a traffic-less road with no signs (won't happen!) you will have lots of cars around you to guide you. As someone who's driven in Portugal/Europe for 20 years I get confused in the car park when I pick up a hire car in the UK but as soon as I join the traffic it's easy.

I would start but deciding on your daily milage target, as this will greatly affect your planning.

We find around 200 miles is a good balance of making progress and being able to enjoy lunch and the hotels at either end.

The odd day might be 350+, but it's the exception. The daily milage will help you plan your trip.

If you're considering France and Spain, you might like to look at taking the Ferry from the UK to Northern Spain, and then drive back to the UK via Spain and France. It's an interesting cost calculation, and might be more fun for the children.

For example Santander to Calais is around 900 miles so 4.5 days at 200 miles a day.

It's a common mistake to be over ambitions and spend too much of your holiday driving.

I adapt to the driving on the "wrong" side very quickly, and generally find the standard of driving to be better than the UK, with the odd crazy exception.

If you can give an indication of the duration and the age of the children I may be able to help further.

We regularly drive from France via Belgium, Netherlands to Germany.

The only thing you really have to be careful nowadays is the emission rules required a permit/badge several EU cities now have. But they are often easily ordered online.

If you want to 'tick off' as many countries as possible, I'd concentrate on the smaller ones (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, which will necessitate driving through France and Germany, once you're in Denmark, Sweden is very close).

However, I don't think you should try and go as far as Spain as well, won't you have a nicer holiday with less driving and more relaxation and experience of local attractions? So either France and northern Spain, or northern European countries, not both.

We drove to northern Spain about 30 years ago and I'd love to do it again, but I could fill a month or more to just drive down through France, stopping at a few places on the way, south of France, through the Pyrenees, along the Costa Brava, Girona, Barcelona and back up to northern Spain stopping at a few places along the way, Basque coast, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Guernica and back over the Bay of Biscay from Santander.

We have got the ferry to Santander and ‘done’ a bit of northern Spain then driven back through the West (Atlantic side) of France that could easily fill two weeks for you!

Are you taking your car? I find it easier to drive a left hand drive in Europe, as you’re already on the “wrong side” of the car. Do you have an opportunity to practice before you go? Can you do a shorter trip to build your confidence?
I used to be scared of it, but I honestly don’t bat an eyelid now, and generally the roads in France and Spain are well sign posted, well maintained and easy to drive on. They are generally also less crowded, so it feels easier in some ways to me.

It’s fine driving.

I would say don’t squeeze in more than you have time for. Realistically France alone is at least a 2-3 trip if you want to do more than speed through.
your better off spending time on route to enjoy, less travel hours per day, and ideally drive and stop 3 nights at least in each stop off so your not constantly driving and everyone knackered.

If you want to do France and Spain this trip, that’s probably plenty. You could possibly add Portugal if heading that direction in Spain, or Belgium and Netherlands if that direction back north.

have you considered taking boat back with car from Portugal for example? Or there’s also ferries from Netherlands I think if your north England

We did this too for two weeks. Stayed in northern Spain a few days driving around (caves, mountains, Bilbao, San Sebastian), then headed over to the Pyrenees for a few days to an Airbnb, then up to the Gironde to a Eurocamp, then near Ile d’Oleron to another, Futuroscope for two days (hotel) and finally two nights near Tours (Airbnb) then the ferry home. Apart from Futuroscope and Tours we stayed three nights in each place.

Thank you to everyone who has given advice!

I should have specified that I'm an anxious driver on the best of days haha - I just wanted to know some recommended stress-free routes and any countries in Europe that have possibly driving laws that would make me want to avoid them.

I'm thinking three weeks and taking my own car but any other advice is helpful as i am still planning a lot of the trip.

Have you considered interrail? Great way of traveling round Europe in the summer. Cos if you are an anxious driver on the best of days, maybe a driving holiday is not a great option...? Unless you are specifically wanting to prove to yourself that you can do it? And even if you are a confident, experienced international driver, European highways in tourist areas during peak season can be stressful.

For a three-week trip, once you're clear on your itinerary look into possibly getting a transponder box for the various toll systems. Also, as a pp noted, emissions permits for driving in inner city zones e.g. in Germany.

We are currently on a Euro driving trip! We took the ferry to the Hook of Holland, and have been through the Netherlands to Belgium. Now in Luxembourg, before driving through Germany.

YY to insurance and breakdown cover.
Also search “clean air zone emissions driving xxxx” where xxxx is each town or country you plan to drive through. For Brussels we had to register online that our vehicle was Euro 6 engine or later, for Berlin we need a green sticker for the windscreen that we had to buy in advance online. I think it was €5, and again I think cost depended on your engine type & emissions.

France & Germany require you to have a high vis jacket or vest for everyone in the car.

The RAC give info about driving abroad.

You'll also need a Crit'air sticker for France:

The only legitimate way to obtain a Crit'Air sticker is to apply online through the official French government website, certificat-air.gouv.fr. You must upload a scan of your vehicle's registration document (such as the V5C for UK vehicles) in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format, ensuring the file size is under 2MB (some sources specify under 400KB).

It's easy to apply and doesn't cost much.