5 Important Things To Know Before Your Next EU Road Trip

Everybody expected Brexit to negatively influence tourism, encouraging British holidaymakers to think twice about their EU vacations. However, the pandemic has turned up the dial on the whole phenomenon. And as everybody is staying safely at home, EU tourist hotspots are missing their British visitors more than ever. In Brittany, the picturesque coastal town of Saint-Malo relies heavily on tourism to survive. However, for visitors, the zone is under amber rating, which means that visitors need to provide a negative COVID test upon travelling, another few on their return, and they have to self-isolate in quarantine for 10 days. The pandemic made Brexit look like a harmless joke. Touristic towns are feeling the impact. Shops and restaurants in Saint-Malo were used to speak English all the time, welcoming British tourists via ferry connections. But since 2020, the old fortress town has not seen many visitors from across the Channel. 

Mont Saint-Michel, one of France’s top attraction one-hour drive from Saint-Malo, receives on average 2.5 million tourists every year. Unfortunately, the pandemic has emptied its quirky cobbled streets for over a year. As vaccine rollouts progress, travel plans can come back into focus. But will it be enough for popular EU destinations, such as France, which rely on British tourists? If you are planning a future road trip to the EU after your vaccine, you’ll need to consider Brexit and COVID impacts in your planning! 

Can I travel to the EU?

It’s the million-dollar question. The answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Contrary to the start of the pandemic when travel was pretty much banned, people travelling from the UK do not need a compelling reason to enter the EU territory. In other words, travellers do not require explicit business or family reasons to cross the border. Yet, that doesn’t mean your travel plans will not be eventful. 

According to the communiqué issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, travellers aged 11 and over, will need to provide a sworn declaration and a negative covid test during checks. The declaration refers to the commitment to self-isolate for a number of days (7) and take a second test during the period of self-isolation. Currently, individuals who have received the vaccine will need to obey the same self-isolation rules. However, self-isolation and tests will likely be made redundant once a significant portion of the population gets the vaccine. 

It is also worth mentioning that the British government has not yet lifted travel restrictions. However, restrictions for international travel are expected to be removed from 17 May 2021. 

How to plan a road trip through the EU?

As travel restrictions will be lifted soon, now’s the right time to plan your road trip to the EU. There’s so much to see that it’s worth considering car or motorcycle touring in France to make sure you can catch up on time lost to the pandemic. However, popular destinations are likely to welcome a wave of tourists at once. So, if you’re hoping for a spontaneous road trip, you may want to reach out to expert travel agents to help you plan the best route. The advantage of going with a pro is that you don’t need to worry about making your trip Brexit-compliant. 

Indeed, in a post-Brexit world, British tourists are expected to provide a full route of their trip, including pre-booked accommodations and proof that they can afford all the expenses of their stay. This can make it tricky to plan by yourself. 

Do I need a new driving permit?

Does leaving the EU mean that your British driving licence isn’t recognised for your French road trip? The good news is that UK drivers do not need to apply for an international driving permit. The EU recognises British driving licences, as long as you do not hold a paper license anymore. 

To use your vehicle in the EU, you will need to pack with you: 

• A recognisable proof of ID (passport is preferable)

• A valid UK driving licence

• Your car insurance certificate

• V5 registration document

Vehicles from the UK also need a GB sticker, unless you have an EU number plate that shows the country code. If you are towing a motorbike, you should also make sure that the plate of the boke and the towing equipment are both equipped with a GB sticker. Some cities in France also require a Crit’Air vignette, or clean air sticker, which identify your vehicle emissions. You will need to apply on the French government website for yours. 

Vehicles also require to carry essential items, such as spare bulbs, breathalyser, warning triangle, reflective jackets. Every British vehicle with a left-hand steering wheel requires headlamp beam deflectors to be placed manually. These can also be easily removed after your trip. 

How does Brexit affect my trip?

Brexit changes the way UK travellers can prepare for EU trips. The EU isn’t a free travel zone for British citizens. The Brexit discussion settled on an ESTA-style system, similar to the US digital visa. The EU system is called the ETIAS, and will grant you 90 days in the EU over a period of 3 years. So, if you are planning to spend only 2 weeks on your road trip in 2021, you still have 90 - 14 days left (76 days) on your ETIAS. You’ll need to apply and pay for your ETIAS before planning your trip. However, once you’re in the EU, you can roam freely across the EU bloc without needing an additional visa. 

Last details for planning your road trip

British citizens are concerned about roaming costs. After experiencing roaming free services across the EU, many are worried about accumulating costs on their next trip. The good news is that mobile operators have confirmed that they’ve been working closely with EU partners to prevent the end of free EU roaming. So, there’s nothing to worry about concerning your smartphone bills. 

However, Brexit will change how you pack for your trip. Indeed, you are not authorised to bring food into the EU, except for honey, egg products and some fruit and vegetables, as long as you can provide a plant health certificate. IN other words, you better eat your ham and cheese sandwich before the border! 

Planning for your next trip into the EU is now an option again from May 17th. If you haven’t travelled to the EU since the end of the Brexit transition period, you will need to account for both covid and Brexit requirements. 

Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash