Brits have been warned over making one mistake while driving in Europe that could result in a £1,980 fine. A European road trip offers the freedom to explore multiple countries at your own pace, but British drivers often make the mistake of assuming driving rules are the same across the continent.
While the EU has many consistent regulations across the bloc, there are still differences that can catch tourists completely off guard. Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at Ovoko, explained: “Every year, thousands of British drivers get caught out by rules they simply didn’t know existed. What’s perfectly legal in one country can land you with a substantial fine just a few miles across the border.”
For example, an environmental badge must be placed on the windscreen of a car to allow drivers into larger cities in Europe.
The aim of the badge is to improve the quality of life and of air in environmental zones – usually in city centres – so that only vehicles that produce minimum levels of pollution are allowed in.
Environmental zones have been introduced in Germany, Austria or France and their number has been increasing throughout Europe.
France operates the Crit’Air system with coloured stickers based on your vehicle’s emission standards, while Germany uses Umweltplakette green stickers for city centres.
Italy takes it further with ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato) zones that restrict access to historic city centres entirely.
According to the environmental badge website, failure to comply with the rule may result in a fine of €2,180 (£1,980) for both trucks and passenger cars, depending on the country in question.
Urbonas added: “These aren’t suggestions. Drive into Milan’s ZTL without permission and you’ll face fines of €80 to €300, often arriving weeks later by post.”
Another surprising way to get a fine while driving in Europe is by not having your car’s lights on the correct setting.
Several European countries require headlights or daytime running lights during daylight hours. This includes Denmark, Sweden, and parts of Eastern Europe, with fines up to €200 (£173).