Going abroad to Europe (including ROI)

Driving in Europe in your electric car can be an incredible adventure filled with new experiences and breathtaking scenery.

We want to make sure your journey is not only enjoyable but easy, so here’s all you need to know.

If you want to take your EV abroad (including the Republic of Ireland), there are a few things you must do:

1. Check your licence is valid for your whole travel period. If you have a paper driving licence, you may require an International Driving Permit. You can check the specific driving licence requirements on the Gov website.
2. You need to show that you’re authorised (by us) to take it to another country. You can do this by getting a VE103 document.
3. You’ll need to have a “UK” sticker on the back of your car (GB stickers have now been discontinued). This shows native drivers, and officials, that you’re driving in a foreign country. Again, you can check the requirements for UK stickers/number plates on the Gov website.
4. Use Eurolites - these are a legal requirement in all EU countries. These make sure your car’s headlights are adjusted to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. While some cars automatically adjust, it’s advisable to carry headlamp stickers in case manual adjustments are required.
5. Pack a warning triangle - you’ll find one in your car when it’s first delivered.
6. Check specific winter tyre laws in the countries you plan to visit - some may require specific tyres during certain times of the year.

You can obtain your VE103 online.

Your VE103 costs approximately £20 and will last you for 12 months.

You must carry the original document with you when driving. This document will be sent via post, so please ensure you allow enough time for this to arrive.

We recommend keeping it on your person along with your passport and driving licence, when driving.

It's your responsibility as the driver, to ensure that you have valid European Breakdown cover for the entirety of your travels. This is not included in your lease agreement but may be provided by your vehicle manufacturer.

If you have Octopus-supplied vehicle insurance, you are only covered to travel in Europe for a maximum total of 60 days in a calendar year

France has a few extra legal requirements, including:

• You’ll need to carry hi-vis vests for everyone in the car (though, this is also good practice in case of a breakdown anywhere).
• You’ll need a Crit’Air sticker - this shows that you won’t need to pay a pollution tax in certain cities. You can get your sticker for around €5 from the French transport website. You will require a PDF V5c summary to obtain this. Please call the Driverline on 020 3322 2601 to obtain this.
• There are different speed limits depending on the weather - so slow down when it rains, especially on the Motorway. In fog, with visibility of less than 50 metres, all French roads are limited to 50kph (about 30mph).
• Give way to the right when cars are joining the carriageway.
• It's your responsibility as the driver of the vehicle to ensure that you are compliant with local laws and regulations when travelling - we recommend you always do your research before setting off.

Now all the legal stuff is out the way, why not check out our blog: 5 top tips for travelling abroad.