If you’re one of the many motorists that are planning on driving in Europe this summer, then there’s plenty more to remember than simply sticking to the ‘wrong’ side of the road.

Seasoned travellers will know the ins and outs of motoring on the Continent, but for anyone embarking on their first motoring holiday the differing rules and regulations can be daunting.

That said, it’s only a problem if your preparation extends to little more than checking the tyre pressures and chucking a map in the car.

To find out what you need for visiting a specific country, it’s best to visit a website like that of the AA – www.theaa.com. However, a few essentials are high visibility vests (compulsory in countries including France and Austria), a GB sticker (compulsory within the EU), headlamp beam adaptors to ensure your car is fit for the road, spare bulbs (you must always be in a position to replace any blown exterior light), and, if you’re driving in France, even an in-date alcohol breathalyser.

Carrying a sat nav can land you with a fine
France and many other countries also require you to carry a warning triangle, while a first aid kit and fire extinguisher are even more of a good idea as, under the European Good Samaritan Law, you are required to stop and help in the event of an accident.

Also, be aware that carrying any device capable of detecting speed cameras, including satellite navigation systems, can land you with a fine from the French Police.

If you’re hiring a car, then there’s no need to worry about much of this, as it should come with any extra equipment that might be required by law. What may be an issue though, is the DVLA’s recent decision to scrap the paper counterpart of your driving licence.

What this means is that to hire a car, you’ll need to log onto the DVLA’s website to generate a licence check code before you go – the code usually lasts for 72 hours. This code will enable rental companies to check details of penalty points and endorsements, but there is concern that these businesses won’t be aware of the change and will still insist on seeing your paper licence – even if it has no legal status. The best advice is to get the code before you go, but still take the paper counterpart of your licence.