Road trip essentials
Everything worth sorting before you set off — the bookings and gear we'd organise ourselves for a European road trip. We only list what we'd genuinely use; some are affiliate links that keep Roadcut free, at no extra cost to you.
Rent a car
Compare prices across suppliers — booking early wins the best rate.
Check prices →Find a flight
Compare fares to your start city — fly in, then pick up the car.
Check prices →Hotels & stays
Hotels, guesthouses and apartments all along your route.
Check prices →Campsites
Bookable campsites across Europe — pitches and cabins you can reserve ahead.
Check prices →Campervan
Rent a campervan and sleep where the views are.
Check prices →Tours & tickets
Skip-the-line tickets and tours for the stops on your drive.
Check prices →eSIM data
Get online the minute you land — no roaming bills.
Check prices →Travel insurance
Cover for the trip — don't drive abroad without it.
Check prices →Ferries
Compare and book ferry crossings for islands and fjords.
Check prices →Tolls & vignettes
Buy the vignette or toll box for the countries your route crosses, before you reach the border.
Check prices →Overnight spots
Find legal overnight and campervan spots — free to use.
Check prices →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What your car must carry, country by country
The kit that is compulsory in each country on our routes. Fines are small but common, and the rules differ more than most drivers expect.
- compulsory
- compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars
- not compulsory
| Country | Warning triangle | Hi-vis vest | First-aid kit | Spare bulbs | Fire extinguisher | Winter tyres / chains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albaniasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | chains on board Nov 1–Apr 30 |
| Austriasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 1–Apr 15, in wintry conditions |
| Belgiumsource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | not compulsory | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | no rule |
| Bosnia & Herzegovinasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 1–Apr 1+ tow rope+ spare wheel or repair kit |
| Croatiasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 15–Apr 15, on signed roads+ spare wheel or repair kit |
| Cyprussource | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | no rule+ two triangles |
| Czechiasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 1–Mar 31, in wintry conditions |
| Denmarksource | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | no rule |
| Francesource | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 1–Mar 31, on signed roads |
| Germanysource | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | not compulsory | not compulsory | when roads are wintry |
| Greecesource | compulsory | not compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | compulsory | where signs require |
| Hungarysource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | not compulsory | not compulsory | where signs require |
| Icelandsource | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | when roads are wintry |
| Irelandsource | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | no rule |
| Italysource | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 15–Apr 15, on signed roads |
| Montenegrosource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 15–Apr 1, in wintry conditions |
| Netherlandssource | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | no rule |
| North Macedoniasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | Nov 15–Mar 15+ tow rope+ extinguisher in LPG cars |
| Norwaysource | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | when roads are wintry |
| Polandsource | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | no rule |
| Portugalsource | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | where signs require |
| Romaniasource | compulsory | not compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | compulsory | when roads are wintry |
| Slovakiasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | when roads are wintry+ spare wheel or repair kit |
| Sloveniasource | compulsory | compulsory | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | compulsory for cars registered there — including rental cars | not compulsory | Nov 15–Mar 15 |
| Spainsource | compulsory | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | where signs require+ spare wheel or repair kit |
| Switzerlandsource | compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | where signs require |
| United Kingdomsource | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | not compulsory | no rule |
- Where a vest is compulsory, put it on before you step out onto the road; in several countries it must be within reach of the driver.
- France: carrying a breathalyser is still required, but there has been no fine for not having one since 2013.
- Greece: first-aid kit to a new standard since 18 June 2026, kept inside the car, not in the boot.
- Ireland: a left-hand-drive car must have its headlamp beam adjusted for driving on the left.
- Spain: cars registered in Spain, rental cars included, use a connected V-16 beacon instead of triangles since 1 January 2026.
Sources: the authorities and the automobile clubs (ÖAMTC, ADAC, TCS, ANWB, FDM, RAC), checked November 10, 2026. Rules change — the linked source is the one to trust.