marc 2708
15 Sep 2012 / #1
Hi I'm thinking of driving to Poland from the west Midlands I have European sat nav so won't get lost will I need insurance to drive abroad and what else would I need to prepare for my journey.
Driving to poland from the west midlands
You certainly need insurance. Ask your insurer about cover. You will need to read up the requirements of each country you are passing with regard to their driving laws.
Just think, if you have an accident, and it is your fault or the third parties fault - how do yopu expect top get treatment and get yourself and the car back to England?
Simples????
Just think, if you have an accident, and it is your fault or the third parties fault - how do yopu expect top get treatment and get yourself and the car back to England?
Simples????
Wroclaw Boy
15 Sep 2012 / #3
Most UK insurers offer Three months EU cover as standard - but check to make sure, always keep the following documents with you: drivers licence, insurance doc, MOT and V05 (vehicle registration).
Check Germanys driving regs, they are bastads for pulling over UK plated cars and can generally find something to nail you on, such as not having a fire extinguisher or not having matching tyres on the same axle, high visibility vest, and hazard sign. I think its also compulsary to have a first aid kit in the vehicle.
Its illegal to run out of fuel on the German Autobhans.
Check this out:
theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/compulsory_equipment.html
Theres a list of EU regulations.
Check Germanys driving regs, they are bastads for pulling over UK plated cars and can generally find something to nail you on, such as not having a fire extinguisher or not having matching tyres on the same axle, high visibility vest, and hazard sign. I think its also compulsary to have a first aid kit in the vehicle.
Its illegal to run out of fuel on the German Autobhans.
Check this out:
France - breathalysers for all and reflective jackets for motorcyclists
Several changes have been made to motoring laws in France in support of the International Decade on Road Safety.
From the 1st July 2012 all drivers in France, including vehicles registered outside of France, must carry one unused breathalyser, to French certification. This includes motorcycles.
From the 1st November 2012, failing to produce a breathalyser will result in an on-the-spot fine.
Several changes have been made to motoring laws in France in support of the International Decade on Road Safety.
From the 1st July 2012 all drivers in France, including vehicles registered outside of France, must carry one unused breathalyser, to French certification. This includes motorcycles.
From the 1st November 2012, failing to produce a breathalyser will result in an on-the-spot fine.
theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/compulsory_equipment.html
Theres a list of EU regulations.
I have European sat nav
So check this out - whether you use a TomTom or not, your satnav cannot warn you about the position of fixed or mobile speed cameras while you are driving in France. If your satnav has a Speed Camera service and you continue to use the service, you risk a fine of up to €1500.
uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5560/locale/en_gb
Englishman 2 | 276
15 Sep 2012 / #5
You have to carry a breathalyser in France.
You're all trying to scare the poor chap? Is that it ? :-). If driving across Europe was that complicated as you describe no one would ever travel anywhere :).
We do it from Newcastle - Amsterdam by ferry then drive the rest. It's not so bad (but then again I'm the passenger not the driver)
The first time we done it non - stop to Warsaw but my other half was absolutely knackered and uncomfortable for the last few hours, even with god knows how much coffee and energy drinks in his system.
so since then we always stay overnight either in Germany or just after entering Poland, then continue the next day.
The Autobahn is quite an experience in itself :@
Make sure you have some Euro's, in Germany it can cost you to visit the loo, depends where you stop. I learnt this the hard way and at the point of my bladder almost bursting, would have happily gave my soul or even a body part to the lady guarding the loo door in lieu of payment.
One piece of advice for a return journey - if you have a ferry to catch leave plenty of time to reach it. My parents-in-law missed theirs back to the UK last month after being stuck in traffic for over 3 hours.
The first time we done it non - stop to Warsaw but my other half was absolutely knackered and uncomfortable for the last few hours, even with god knows how much coffee and energy drinks in his system.
so since then we always stay overnight either in Germany or just after entering Poland, then continue the next day.
The Autobahn is quite an experience in itself :@
Make sure you have some Euro's, in Germany it can cost you to visit the loo, depends where you stop. I learnt this the hard way and at the point of my bladder almost bursting, would have happily gave my soul or even a body part to the lady guarding the loo door in lieu of payment.
One piece of advice for a return journey - if you have a ferry to catch leave plenty of time to reach it. My parents-in-law missed theirs back to the UK last month after being stuck in traffic for over 3 hours.
Wroclaw Boy
20 Sep 2012 / #8
You're all trying to scare the poor chap? Is that it ? :-). If driving across Europe was that complicated as you describe no one would ever travel anywhere :).
Dude i just used to drive, i didn't find out about the need to keep your documents in the car till i tried to park at Warsaw airport about 6 months after i moved to Poland.
With regard to my info on driving Germany those chaps have taken 200 Euros off me on two separate occasions, i learned the hard way.
Make sure you have some Euro's, in Germany it can cost you to visit the loo,
Its a 50 cent coin and gets refunded if you buy something at the service station, hell those Kraut toilets are worth it, they have self cleaning - rotating toilet seats. Bloody marvelous....Ohh and some even have dog refreshment areas with complimentary dog biscuits and water.
I've done this a few times, and will be again at the end of October.
What others have said IS sensible; there are traffic police out in force close to most national borders, waiting to catch fines from unwary foreign travellers. Fines can be dished out for driving without lights on, without beam adjusters fitted or for getting out of the car without a high-vis jacket. And these police are very unsympathetic.
The sensible thing is to pack food and blankets in the car, and some small change in euros AND zlotys. Polish motorways are toll roads, and you will have to stop and pay up to five times between Warsaw and the German border, so be prepared. Other than that, just be sensible and take regular brakes. The roads are good, but it's still 1500km across the continent and the worst part of it is the Polish section, which you don't want to drive when exhausted. And if your GPS is more than a year old, expect it to be useless for navigating in Poland; the roads change with alarming frequency.
Last time I went, it was Dec 23rd. At exactly half way between Warsaw and Calais, we hit a blizzard that locked the autobahn solid for seven hours. We didn't move an inch. Fortunately we had sleeping bags and thermoses to cope with the freezing temperatures, because there's no way the car could have provided heat for that long. So back everything you need for an impromptu picnic.
What others have said IS sensible; there are traffic police out in force close to most national borders, waiting to catch fines from unwary foreign travellers. Fines can be dished out for driving without lights on, without beam adjusters fitted or for getting out of the car without a high-vis jacket. And these police are very unsympathetic.
The sensible thing is to pack food and blankets in the car, and some small change in euros AND zlotys. Polish motorways are toll roads, and you will have to stop and pay up to five times between Warsaw and the German border, so be prepared. Other than that, just be sensible and take regular brakes. The roads are good, but it's still 1500km across the continent and the worst part of it is the Polish section, which you don't want to drive when exhausted. And if your GPS is more than a year old, expect it to be useless for navigating in Poland; the roads change with alarming frequency.
Last time I went, it was Dec 23rd. At exactly half way between Warsaw and Calais, we hit a blizzard that locked the autobahn solid for seven hours. We didn't move an inch. Fortunately we had sleeping bags and thermoses to cope with the freezing temperatures, because there's no way the car could have provided heat for that long. So back everything you need for an impromptu picnic.
OP marc 2708
27 Sep 2012 / #10
Really guys thanks for all the advice it will all be taken on bored
g60edition 6 | 174
27 Sep 2012 / #11
If you are driving in the winter months winter tyres are compulsory in Germany.Strange that they are not in Poland but you would be a fool to not have them.I would also sort out breakdown recovery.My car broke down on the autobahn some years ago driving back to the UK from Munich it was the best money I spent as they sorted recovery all the way back to Dover and from Dover to home as well as sorting a hotel for the night in Germany.