Fly-drive or your own car: which road-trip format to pick
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A road trip does not have to start on your driveway. You can drive your own car, fly out and hire one, hire a campervan, or book a vehicle with a local driver. Compare the formats before you choose a route. The vehicle can change where the trip starts, where it ends and which roads belong in the plan.
Taking your own car
Your own car gives you familiar controls and your own luggage space. Build the route from home, including crossings, overnight stops and the drive back. Count those days before you decide how much time is left at the destination.
For UK drivers, GOV.UK's driving abroad guidance says you need to take your Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence. If you are taking your own vehicle, you also need your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate. You might need an international driving permit in some countries, and possibly one for each country you visit.
Check that your vehicle insurance covers each country on your route. GOV.UK refers you to its vehicle insurance guidance for more detail.
Flying and hiring a car
A fly-drive holiday can put more of your time into the region you want to explore. Compare the full rental quotation, not only the headline rate. Look at the car category, where you collect and return it, who can drive, the deposit, the insurance, the mileage, the fuel or charging rules and the cancellation terms.
GOV.UK says that if you hire a car, insurance is included, and you should check what you are covered for with the hire company. It also says it is your responsibility to check that you have the equipment you need.
Ask about the exact route. Name the borders, ferries, unsealed roads and remote sections you plan to use, rather than asking only whether road trips are allowed. Keep the written answer with your booking.
Plan an achievable first night. If you arrive late, consider staying near the airport and collecting the car the next day. Compare that with the demands of collecting the car straight away and driving on.
Hiring in the UK and driving abroad
If you hire or lease a vehicle in the UK and take it abroad, GOV.UK says you need a VE103 certificate. Your hire company may ask to see your driving licence information. You can share it with a check code up to 21 days before your trip.
Stickers, emission permits and equipment
You may need to display a white oval UK sticker on the back of your vehicle when driving outside the UK. You must display one to drive in Spain, Cyprus and Malta, whatever your number plate shows. You do not need one to drive in Ireland, whatever your number plate shows. Do not put the sticker on your number plate (GOV.UK: flags, identifiers and stickers).
GOV.UK also says you may need emission stickers or permits for some European cities, and that you may need to buy them weeks before you go. Equipment rules vary by country. For example, many countries require a reflective jacket and a warning triangle.
Campervan touring
A campervan combines transport and accommodation, so assess both together. Check the sleeping arrangements, passenger seats, storage, water supply, vehicle dimensions and the overnight places you intend to use. Before you choose a remote stop, work out where you can refill water and empty waste.
A vehicle with a local driver
Compare this option when you want a road-based holiday but would rather someone else drove. Establish who supplies the vehicle, what the service includes and how itinerary changes work.
Agree driving hours, overnight arrangements, luggage capacity and waiting time in writing. Discuss whether you can shorten a day or spend longer somewhere. A driver arrangement still needs a workable itinerary.
Compare the whole holiday
Use four headings: getting there, vehicle and driving, accommodation and activities. Include any one-way charges, parking, transfers and any extra arrival or departure nights that the transport choice creates. Use dated quotations rather than general estimates.
Choose the format that fits the travellers, the route and the written permissions. Then build the daily plan around it. For the wider picture, see the Worldwide road trips hub.
FAQs
Do I need a UK sticker to drive in Spain?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must display a UK sticker to drive in Spain, Cyprus and Malta, whatever your number plate shows.
Do I need a VE103 for a car I hired in the UK?
Yes, if you take that vehicle abroad. GOV.UK says that if you take a vehicle abroad that you hired or leased in the UK, you need a VE103 certificate.
Is insurance included when I hire a car?
GOV.UK says that if you hire a car, insurance is included. Check what you are covered for with the hire company.
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