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quoteWe bring you some updates if you’re planning a motorhome trip to a European country (including Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Serbia, Andorra or Liechtenstein) after Brexit.
(Updated January 29th, 2020)
Planning a holiday to Europe in your motorhome or campervan in 2020?
Our Prime Minister has confirmed that we’ll leave the European Union at 11 pm on January 31st, 2020. We’ll then enter a transition and negotiation period until December 31st, 2020.
During this time travelling between the UK and EU will be very much ‘business as usual’ and nothing will change.
To help you prepare to travel to the EU in your motorhome or campervan in 2020, here’s what you need to know.
Ferries and the Eurotunnel for motorhomes and campervans will be running as normal and you won’t need to do anything extra when travelling to Europe during 2020.
The current rules on travel will continue to be in force during the transition period, however, some drivers might consider taking extra documents on their European holidays in 2020 for their own peace of mind.
We’ll update this blog post as and when the Brexit negotiations move forward, or you can sign up for updates via the Government website.
What do I need to consider in 2020?
Driving licence
You’ll need your UK driving licence to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as normal.
Insurance validity in the EU
If you’re a UK motorist, with a UK registered vehicle, you’ll continue to hold the same motorhome insurance cover as you do now.
Our motorhome insurance policy provides the legal minimum insurance cover required by law for travel to countries who are members of the European Union or European Economic Area (EEA). A full list of these countries can be found on the Government’s website. Many customers choose to extend this cover from the minimum required third party liability cover, to include comprehensive cover for damage to their motorhome and equipment whilst abroad. Your motorhome insurance policy schedule will tell you which cover you have in force.
Passports
Make sure your passport is valid for travel.
Healthcare and travel insurance
Check that you have adequate health cover on your travel insurance. You can use the existing EHIC during the transition period.
Pet passport
Arrange pet travel with your vet at least four months before you travel.
Green Card
A Green Card is issued by your motorhome insurance company and is a standardised document recognisable at borders. It demonstrates that you have the necessary minimum motor insurance cover in place to be on the roads.
Drivers have to physically carry the Green Card with them when driving.
A Green Card can be issued for a minimum of 15 days, but cannot be extended beyond your motorhome insurance policy period. It can include all the countries you are travelling to, so it can cover more than one trip.
A Green Card is NOT needed for journeys before December 31st, 2020 for countries listed in our territorial limits. However, if you’re planning to travel to Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia. Montenegro, Romania or Serbia in your motorhome during 2020, then please contact us.
Driving to Europe in your motorhome after December 31st 2020
There may be changes after December 31st, 2020 and the Government is advising drivers from the UK that they might need extra documentation when driving in the EU.
Passports
Check your passport is valid for travel to Europe using the GOV.UK passport checker. If you’re travelling to Europe after December 31st, 2020, you might need to renew your passport earlier than planned.
You can check the validity of your passport and find out more by visiting gov.uk/brexit-check-passport.
International Driving Permit (IDP)
After the 31st December 2020, you’ll probably need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in some countries, such as France, as well as your UK driving licence.
The IDP is a multi-language translation of your driving licence and currently costs £5.50 and can be bought from a Post Office.
There are three different types of IDPs, depending on the EU country you are driving in. You might need more than one if travelling through several countries. You can find up-to-date information on the Government’s website.
If you hold a UK licence, you won’t need an IDP to travel across the Northern Ireland / Republic of Ireland border – just your driving licence.
A Green Card
After December 31st, 2020 you’ll need a Green Card to drive your motorhome in the EU. You can request a Green Card via our webform and this will be issued FREE if requested online.
We suggest you do this 10-14 days before you go on your 2021 holidays.
Some European countries might also need a Green Card as proof of third-party liability insurance if you’re towing a trailer, so in these circumstances, you might need two Green Cards – one for your motorhome and one for the trailer.
A GB sticker
You’ll need a GB sticker for your motorhome and any trailer after December 31st, 2020.
European Accident Statement form
This is a standardised carbonated document making it easier for drivers involved in an accident to exchange details and facts of any incident. They’re not compulsory, so you don’t need to have one in your motorhome.
We do however provide these to customers automatically when they first take out our optional extra of fully comprehensive European cover, or on request, for peace of mind in the event of an incident or accident.
Motorhome insurance
You’ll need a copy of your motorhome insurance (including your certificate of insurance) as you would now.
Vehicle registration document (V5C)
The Government recommends you carry this and it must show your current address.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
After the December 31st, 2020, the EHIC might no longer be valid, so you’ll need to make sure you have adequate health cover on your travel insurance before you travel.
Travelling to Europe with pets
You won’t be able to use the existing pet passport scheme after December 31st, 2020. To make sure you can travel with your pet after Brexit, you should start to prepare at least four months before your travel date by visiting your vet for advice.
Pet owners will need to complete the following steps before travel:
– Get your pet microchipped
– Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccination is up to date
– Allow at least 30 days after your pet’s last rabies vaccination before returning to a vet for a blood test to check it’s worked
– Wait three calendar months after a successful blood test before travel
– Return to a vet within 10 days of travel for an animal health certificate
On arrival in the EU, you will need to enter through a designated Travellers’ point of entry with your pet and you might need to prove that you have taken all the steps above and present your pet’s health certificate. To prepare for changes visit gov.uk/brexit-pet-travel
For more information about driving and visiting Europe after Brexit visit the Government’s travelling abroad website.
(26 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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Come 2300 hrs on 31st January 2020, Our PM, Boris Johnston WILL be taking us out of the EU. WE then enter into the TRANSITION PERIOD until 31st January 2020, during which the UK & EU are supposed to be NEGOTIATING the new UK/EU trade deals. WE have been told that during this period, “everything should carry on as is now” ! ?
So in theory, as I live in Northern Ireland, I should still be able to travel across the border to ROI, at Newry, Armagh, Enniskillen, Londonderry, or any road that crosses the border, with the same documentation as now, and that includes taking our dog with us. ( ALL of Ireland is currently Rabies free. As I would not be travelling to or from Mainland Europe before entering Southern Ireland, I should have no problems.
What happens when one can’t get health insurance? Is this the end of the EHIC?
Big worry for us as we spend the winter in the sun normally. Big insurance premiums due to pre-existing conditions and max 30 day stays. ??
I heard that Spain is to honor it’s agreement with the UK regarding health cover. Lots of Spanish in the UK No doubt many UK tourists don’t or can’t insure.
There’s still uncertainty around the EHIC until the Brexit negotiations have been finalised. At the moment you can still apply for a EHIC. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, talk to a GP and your insurer about how to get the right cover and how this affects your travel. The Money and Pensions Advice Service has information about buying travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions:https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/travel-insurance-for-over-65s-and-medical-conditions
As I am going away in Feb 2020 for 2months this information is very useful and keeps me up to date in regards to documentation etc leading to a unspoilt holiday as things are “up & down” in regards to Brexit.
Thank you – – very useful. I was not aware of the need to carry an accident form – where can I can one of those please
Martini
Hi Martin, A European Accident Form is not compulsory, so you do not need to have one in your car.
Thank you for the information it covers most of things i think i need to know
I have just got a green card insurance document as I am currently in Spain, however they do not tell you that you can only get a green card via the web if you are in the UK , otherwise you have to telephone them directly and it will cost you £15 UK pounds to get one sent to your address in Spain. This should be included in the information pack listed above.
Hi Robert, a Green Card document always had to be set up and issued via the telephone, costing £15 to send to a customers UK policy address. Due to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit we worked hard to set up a free online service to help customers go ahead with their travel plans. We are hopeful Green Cards will not be needed to travel in Europe but we are encouraging those travelling at the end of the month and in April to obtain as a precaution. We viewed this service as proactive and beneficial to our customers.
We wouldn’t normally send a green card to an EU address, but due to the current exceptional circumstances we’ve agreed this was possible with our underwriters RSA, and the fee is to cover those administration and secure international postal costs. Our information pack has been well received by most customers and we’ve tried to keep it concise, providing two delivery options for those in the EU, one of them being free.
Thank-you, very informative.
Good information. Wish I had seen this earlier.
Excellent information and concise if you was to travel prior to the 29 March
Brilliant and concise document. Thank you.
A very good article showing what we need todo
Good clear article. We need to be properly informed and this article does exactly that.
i will be 76 in december when my driving licence is due for renewal but an international driving licence is for 3 years from application or until licence renewal date .so for me only 8 months as we go to france in may not very fair!
An excellent report with full information of requirements and even a direct link to order a green card.
Hi I didn’t realise that you needed separate driving permits for France and Spain until I called at the post office to get a license
It seems strange that you need one for each country even though they are both in the EU.
Allan Humphreys
This is just the information we require in these uncertain times for a safe, and hopefully stressless holiday.
Excellent information, covers all bases