Road Trip Packing List for International Driving

Packing for an international road trip is a different exercise from domestic driving. Different countries have different legal requirements for what you must carry in your vehicle, and gaps in your preparation can result in fines, delays, or worse. This comprehensive checklist covers everything from essential documents to country-specific safety equipment — covering you across Europe and beyond.

Documents — The Non-Negotiables

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Your document wallet is the most important item in your car when driving internationally. Keep it in the glovebox, easily accessible.

Driving licence: Your national driving licence must be current and valid. If your licence is in a non-Latin alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, etc.), most countries require an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it. EU licence holders driving within the EU do not need an IDP. UK licence holders visiting the EU should carry a 1968 Convention IDP.

Passport or national ID: Required at border crossings. Within the Schengen Area, EU/EEA nationals may use a national ID card; non-EU nationals need a passport.

Vehicle registration document: The V5C (UK) or equivalent. If driving someone else’s car, carry written permission from the owner.

Proof of insurance: Your insurance certificate or Green Card. EU drivers within the EU no longer need a physical Green Card, but it remains the clearest evidence of cover. UK drivers in the EU and drivers in non-EU Green Card countries must carry it.

International Driving Permit: If required, this must be carried alongside your original national licence — not as a replacement for it.

Breakdown cover documentation: Contact numbers for your roadside assistance provider, policy number, and any vehicle recovery documents.

Mandatory Safety Equipment by Country

The following items are legally required in one or more countries you may drive through. To avoid country-by-country research, simply carry all of them — the cost is minimal and the protection is real.

Warning triangle (1 or 2): Required in most European countries. France requires one; Spain requires two. Place behind your vehicle at least 50 metres before the obstruction to warn approaching traffic.

High-visibility (hi-vis) vest: Required in France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Norway, and others. The vest must be within the passenger cabin (not in the boot, as you need to put it on before getting out of the car). Carry one per occupant.

First aid kit: Required in Austria, Germany, Greece, Croatia, and many Eastern European countries. A basic kit meeting DIN standard 13164 satisfies German requirements and is available from motorway service stations.

Fire extinguisher: Required in Turkey, Greece, and several Eastern European countries. A small 1 kg powder extinguisher stored in the footwell is sufficient.

Spare light bulbs and fuses: Required in France and Spain. A standard spare bulb kit for your vehicle type costs under €10.

Headlamp beam deflectors: Required in all right-hand traffic countries for left-hand drive vehicles (UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia). These adhesive deflectors adjust your headlamp beam pattern to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. Available for under £5 at UK petrol stations and ferry ports.

Tow rope or tow bar: Not legally required in most countries but strongly recommended, particularly for remote or mountain driving.

Snow chains: Legally required in many Alpine countries (Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France) during winter on mountain roads. See our dedicated article on snow chain laws for details.

Navigation and Communication

Offline maps: Download offline maps for your destination countries before you go. Google Maps and Maps.me allow country-level offline downloads. Mobile data roaming in Europe is free for EU residents but has fair use limits; non-EU visitors may face high data charges without a local SIM.

Car charger and cables: A dual USB charger with both USB-A and USB-C ports covers most devices. Pack a long cable so your phone reaches from the charging port to a dashboard mount.

Portable battery pack: Invaluable if your car battery fails or you are stuck with a dead phone far from a charger.

European emergency number card: 112 reaches emergency services across the EU. The US equivalent is 911. In Australia, 000. Keep a card in your glovebox with the emergency numbers for each country you are visiting.

Vehicle Essentials

Spare tyre and tools: Ensure your spare is correctly inflated before departure. Know how to use your vehicle’s jack and wheel brace — test them at home, not on a motorway hard shoulder.

Windscreen washer fluid: Top up before crossing to countries with extreme temperatures. Standard summer fluid freezes; use an all-season mix in winter.

Engine oil: Carry a litre of the correct grade. Long distances and hot climates increase oil consumption.

Coolant: Check levels before departure. Overheating is more common on sustained motorway driving, especially in summer in southern Europe.

Jump leads or a jump starter pack: A compact lithium jump starter fits in a glovebox and can restart a flat battery without needing another vehicle.

Comfort and Practical Items

Cash in local currency: Many toll roads, parking metres, and small fuel stations in rural Europe accept cash only. Carry at least €50–€100 per country in mixed denominations.

Vignette stickers or transponders: Several European countries (Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia) require a vignette for motorway use. These are available at border petrol stations and online. Driving without one results in heavy fines.

Sun shades: Essential for driving west in the afternoon or east in the morning. European summer sun can be blinding and is a genuine safety hazard.

Rubbish bag: Keeps the car clean on a long trip, and is particularly useful for countries where roadside littering is aggressively fined (Germany, Switzerland).

Country-Specific Research

Before any international trip, spend 30 minutes researching the specific rules of each country on your route. Speed limits, drink driving limits, mobile phone laws, and mandatory equipment all vary, and ignorance of local law is generally not accepted as a defence. Resources like TyreMap’s individual country driving guides provide this information in a consistent, comparable format.

A well-prepared car and a well-prepared driver are the foundations of a great road trip. Pack thoroughly, check twice, and enjoy the journey.

Related Resources

Explore more guides and tools on TyreMap.com:

• Travel Checklist tool
• international driving permit guide
• Road Trip Cost Calculator