This guide takes you through planning a European road trip in six steps: choosing a route and how long to take, sorting documents, preparing the car, budgeting for fuel and tolls, booking accommodation and pacing each day. Two weeks covers two or three countries comfortably, and May to June or September are the easiest months.
Step 1: Choose Your Route and Timeframe
Start with where you want to go and how many days you have. These five routes are a good starting point; there are more on our road trips page.
Popular European Road Trip Routes
- The French Riviera Loop: Start in Paris, drive south through Provence, along the Cote d'Azur, and back through the Alps. Allow 10-14 days.
- Italy Top to Bottom: Milan to Rome via the Tuscan hills, Cinque Terre, and Amalfi Coast. Allow 14-21 days.
- Iberian Peninsula: Barcelona through Andalusia, across to Portugal's Algarve, and up to Lisbon. Allow 14-18 days.
- The Alpine Route: Switzerland, Austria, and the Dolomites in northern Italy. Allow 7-14 days.
- The Balkans: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Slovenia. Increasingly popular and very budget-friendly. Allow 10-14 days.
How Long Should Your Trip Be?
A common mistake is trying to see too much. As a rule of thumb, plan no more than 3-4 hours of driving per day, and budget at least two nights in each major destination. A two-week trip works well for covering 2-3 countries at a comfortable pace. Our 7, 14 and 21-day itinerary templates show what that looks like day by day.
Use Plan Your Road Trips to map out your route and discover points of interest along the way. It shows where to stop and gives realistic driving times.
Step 2: Sort Your Documents and Paperwork
European border crossings within the Schengen Area are usually seamless, but you still need certain documents in order and there are important rules to be aware of.
Essential Documents
- Valid passport: For UK travellers in the Schengen area, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
- Driving licence: A UK photocard licence is all you need to drive in EU and EEA countries; you don't need an International Driving Permit there. Older paper licences and some non-EU countries are different, so see our guide to using a UK driving licence abroad.
- Vehicle registration document: The V5C (UK) or equivalent. If the car is not in your name, you will need a letter of authority from the registered keeper.
- Motor insurance: Your policy must give at least third-party cover in every country you visit. UK drivers no longer need a Green Card for the EU, but check with your insurer what cover you have abroad and for how many days.
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or GHIC: For EU/UK citizens. Non-EU visitors should have comprehensive travel insurance with medical cover of at least 100,000 EUR.
- Visa or ETIAS: UK and other visa-exempt visitors will need an ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts (currently due for late 2026), and the EU's Entry/Exit System now takes fingerprints and a photo at the border. Check the current status before you book.
Country-Specific Requirements
Many European countries require you to carry specific items in your vehicle by law:
- France: High-visibility vest within reach of the driver (one per occupant is sensible), warning triangle, headlight beam deflectors. A breathalyser is still required on paper, though there's no fine for not having one.
- Austria & Switzerland: Motorway vignette (sticker or digital) required before using any motorway. See our guide to toll systems in Europe.
- Italy: High-visibility vest, warning triangle. ZTL (restricted traffic zones) in city centres can result in fines if entered without authorisation.
- Germany: First aid kit, warning triangle, high-visibility vest.
Create a physical folder with printed copies of all your documents, including confirmation emails for accommodation and car rental. Phone batteries die at the worst moments.
Step 3: Vehicle Preparation
Own car or hire car, a few checks before you go save a lot of hassle.
If You Are Driving Your Own Car
- Service and inspection: Get a full service at least 2-3 weeks before departure. Check tyres (including the spare), brakes, oil, coolant, and all lights.
- Breakdown cover: Get European breakdown cover. The AA, RAC (UK), and ADAC (Germany) all offer pan-European packages. Don't go without it.
- Headlight adjustment: If you are driving a right-hand drive car in continental Europe, you need headlight beam deflectors or to adjust the beam pattern to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
- UK sticker: Required if your number plate doesn't show the UK identifier. Old GB stickers are no longer valid.
If You Are Renting a Car
- Book early: Summer rental prices in popular destinations can double or triple if you wait until the last month. Book 2-3 months ahead.
- Cross-border fees: Many rental companies charge extra for taking the car across international borders. Some prohibit certain countries entirely (e.g., taking a car rented in Italy into Eastern Europe). Read the terms carefully.
- Pick-up and drop-off: One-way rentals (pick up in one city, drop off in another) are available but cost significantly more. Returning to the same location saves money.
- Insurance: The Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) included in most rentals still leaves a high excess (often 1,000-2,000 EUR). Consider buying standalone excess insurance from a third party for a fraction of the cost.
Step 4: Budget and Costs
Costs vary a lot between countries and travel styles.
Fuel Costs
Fuel prices move with oil prices and tax changes, so treat these as a rough guide and check a price app before you go:
- Western Europe (France, Germany, Netherlands): 1.60-2.00 EUR per litre for petrol.
- Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy): 1.50-1.90 EUR per litre.
- Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary): 1.30-1.60 EUR per litre.
A mid-size car averaging 7 litres per 100km, covering 250km per day, will cost roughly 25-35 EUR per day in fuel in Western Europe.
Tolls
Toll roads are common in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. A drive from Paris to the south of France on the autoroute will cost 60-80 EUR in tolls one way. Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia use vignette systems where you buy a sticker for a fixed period.
Daily Budget Estimates
- Budget (camping/hostels, self-catering): 50-80 EUR per person per day.
- Mid-range (hotels, eating out once daily): 100-160 EUR per person per day.
- Comfortable (good hotels, restaurants): 180-300 EUR per person per day.
Eastern and Southern Europe offer far better value. Your daily budget in Portugal, Greece, or Croatia will stretch roughly twice as far as in Switzerland or Scandinavia.
Step 5: Book Accommodation Strategically
You do not need to book every single night in advance, but having key stops reserved gives you structure and peace of mind, especially in peak season.
Booking Strategy
- Book your first and last nights: Arriving in a new country tired from travel is not the time to search for a room.
- Book weekends and peak destinations: Barcelona, Rome, and Paris fill up fast. Book these 4-8 weeks ahead in summer.
- Leave gaps for spontaneity: Some of the best road trip experiences come from unplanned detours. Keep 30-40% of your nights flexible.
- Consider a mix: Alternate between hotels and self-catering apartments. Apartments with kitchens let you save money on meals while experiencing local markets.
Step 6: Plan Your Days (But Not Too Tightly)
Leave slack in every day. Traffic, roadworks and good lunch stops all take longer than you think.
Daily Planning Tips
- Limit driving to 3-4 hours per day: This leaves time for stops, sightseeing, and actually enjoying where you are.
- Identify 2-3 must-see stops per day: Research viewpoints, towns, and attractions along each stretch of your route.
- Plan rest days: Every 3-4 days of driving, schedule a day with no car travel. Explore a town on foot, visit a beach, or simply rest.
- Start early: European roads are quieter before 9am, and you will find parking much more easily at popular attractions.
- Download offline maps: Mobile data coverage can be patchy in rural areas, especially in mountainous regions. Download Google Maps or Maps.me offline maps for every country you will visit.
Use our trip planner to find places worth stopping at between your main overnight stops.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an International Driving Permit for Europe?
Not if you hold a UK photocard licence: it's valid across the EU and EEA without an IDP. EU licence holders don't need one either. US, Canadian and Australian licence holders should carry one, as it's required or strongly recommended in Italy, Austria, Spain, Greece, Poland and several other countries.
Is it better to rent a car or drive my own?
For trips of two weeks or less, renting is usually more cost-effective when you factor in fuel, wear on your vehicle, ferry or tunnel costs (if crossing from the UK), and breakdown cover. For longer trips of a month or more, driving your own car typically becomes cheaper. Renting also gives you the flexibility of one-way trips and avoids putting high mileage on your personal vehicle.
What is the best time of year for a European road trip?
May to June and September to early October offer the best combination of good weather, lighter traffic, and lower prices compared to the peak July-August season. Shoulder season also means fewer crowds at popular attractions. If you are heading to Scandinavia, July and August are ideal. For the Mediterranean, even April and November can be pleasant for driving, though some mountain passes may be closed.