Offline information pack for a European road trip
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Prepare for the moment when the person navigating has no mobile data or a flat phone. A small offline pack keeps the next steps clear, without storing every detail of the holiday on paper.
Save the next essential actions
Keep the route to your crossing, your accommodation address and check-in instructions available offline. Save your booking references and the operator's contact number.
Download offline maps for your route in your navigation app, and check that the area you need is covered. Do not assume a route you can see on screen will still be available without a connection.
Keep official documents with you
You need your Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence to drive abroad. If you take your own vehicle, you also need your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate. If you take a vehicle you have hired or leased in the UK, you need a VE103 certificate (GOV.UK: Driving abroad).
You might need an international driving permit for some countries, so check each country on your route (GOV.UK: Driving abroad). For more detail, see driving licence and IDP abroad.
A saved copy of a document is a useful backup. It is not a replacement for the document itself, so keep the originals with you. Date the information you save, so you know when it was last checked.
Insurance, breakdown and towing
If you take your own vehicle, GOV.UK says to carry your insurance certificate. If you tow a trailer or caravan, check whether you need a green card or additional insurance for the country you are visiting (GOV.UK: Driving abroad). For cover options, see insurance and breakdown cover for Europe.
Share the pack with another adult
Make sure another traveller can find your insurer, breakdown provider and accommodation details. Keep sensitive documents secure, and do not write passwords into a printed itinerary.
Record the most important contacts on paper as well as in your phone.
Check the pack before departure
Switch off mobile data for a short while and check that you can still find the next overnight address, the booking and a support number. If the pack depends on a fresh email download or a login you cannot complete without a connection, fix that gap at home.
A modest mix of saved files, paper information and shared knowledge is easier to keep up to date than a complicated archive that nobody can find their way around. For a wider set of checks before you go, use the driving abroad checklist.
FAQs
Do I need an international driving permit?
You might. GOV.UK says you might need one to drive in some countries, so check the rules for each country on your route (GOV.UK: Driving abroad).
Do I need my log book and insurance certificate?
If you take your own vehicle, GOV.UK says you need your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate (GOV.UK: Driving abroad).
Should I check travel advice before I go?
Yes. GOV.UK tells you to check the travel advice for all the countries on your route (GOV.UK: Driving abroad).
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