Driving in Europe

[R60BBA]

q96169we

Thankyou. I have gone through idrive, located and now know what to do both going and then when back across the channel. Just need to work our where to stick UK badge or whether to just get new number plates with UK on instead.

I just got a sticker from halfords and stick it on the rear bumper. Ugly but I don't want any potential trouble with police, and peel it off as soon as I'm back.

If you have UK plates then you don’t need a UK sticker…

The only exception to this rule is when driving in Spain, Cyprus or Malta - which require a UK sticker regardless of whether you have UK plates or not.

I personally am not a fan of the sticker and so run UK plates. I haven’t been to Spain, Cyprus or Malta by car yet, but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I personally am not a fan of the sticker and so run UK plates. I haven’t been to Spain, Cyprus or Malta by car yet, but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

I hate stickers too, so I only ever used magnetic GB badges for my booze cruises back in the 80s/90s.

 

[q96169we]

q96169we

Thankyou. I have gone through idrive, located and now know what to do both going and then when back across the channel. Just need to work our where to stick UK badge or whether to just get new number plates with UK on instead.

I just got a sticker from halfords and stick it on the rear bumper. Ugly but I don't want any potential trouble with police, and peel it off as soon as I'm back.

If you have UK plates then you don’t need a UK sticker…

The only exception to this rule is when driving in Spain, Cyprus or Malta - which require a UK sticker regardless of whether you have UK plates or not.

I personally am not a fan of the sticker and so run UK plates. I haven’t been to Spain, Cyprus or Malta by car yet, but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

My last trip to eu include Spain so UK sticker.

 

[q96169we]

Anyone any thoughts on Waze/Google maps and France and speed cameras...?

I used both without issue. Speed camera warning in France is illegal. But, my personal feeling is that there isn't as many speed camera as in UK and they are all well highlighted by road signs. Only thing is that the sign tells you a range of distance that may have camera and sometimes it's in next 1km, sometimes it's in next 20km.

 

[tiglon]

A few years ago I drove to Venice via France, Switzerland, Germany and possibly a bit of Luxembourg. For some reason I thought I had UK plates and therefore I didn't put a sticker on. I only noticed when I got back that I did not have UK on the plates, and no one noticed/cared while I was out there, but probably not worth risking it on purpose.

It is worth getting a tag for toll roads if you'll be driving on a lot of them. I think Liber-T is the one I use. It will remove the need to stop and pay at toll booths, you can just cruise through at 30.

 

[R60BBA]

A few years ago I drove to Venice via France, Switzerland, Germany and possibly a bit of Luxembourg. For some reason I thought I had UK plates and therefore I didn't put a sticker on. I only noticed when I got back that I did not have UK on the plates, and no one noticed/cared while I was out there, but probably not worth risking it on purpose.

It is worth getting a tag for toll roads if you'll be driving on a lot of them. I think Liber-T is the one I use. It will remove the need to stop and pay at toll booths, you can just cruise through at 30.

I wouldn’t risk not having the appropriate plates.

But the sticker is another matter.

Imo it only becomes a problem if you get stopped by police, which is usually because of one’s driving behaviour.

Agreed on the tag for toll roads (particularly in France), although if you have a passenger then there’s no need (their left arm will do).

 

[R60BBA]

Anyone any thoughts on Waze/Google maps and France and speed cameras...?

Anyone any thoughts on Waze/Google maps and France and speed cameras...?

I used both without issue. Speed camera warning in France is illegal. But, my personal feeling is that there isn't as many speed camera as in UK and they are all well highlighted by road signs. Only thing is that the sign tells you a range of distance that may have camera and sometimes it's in next 1km, sometimes it's in next 20km.

Since Brexit the tickets no longer come through…one of the only perks of leaving the EU if you ask me…

 

[Argyll Andy]

but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

The G29 boots are a composite material and the magnetic ones won’t stick, needs to be a sticker. I bought a normal one and cut it down to as small as possible and stuck it at the side of the number plate

 

[R60BBA]

but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

The G29 boots are a composite material and the magnetic ones won’t stick, needs to be a sticker. I bought a normal one and cut it down to as small as possible and stuck it at the side of the number plate

Fair enough on the magnet point in respect of the G29 Z4. Although the boot lids on my cars are metal so my comment still stands…

Also, if by cutting the sticker you amended its shape from an elliptical form with the major axis horizontal - then technically you busted the rules.

So either you stick the sticker on there as is or run the risk of not displaying it at your own peril.

Annex 3

DISTINGUISHING SIGN OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

1. The distinguishing sign referred to in Article 37 of this Convention shall consist of one to three letters in capital Latin characters.

2. When the distinguishing sign is displayed separately from the registration plate, it must conform to the following conditions:

(a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.08 m and their strokes a width of at least 01 m. The letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal. The white background may be of a retro-reflective material;

(b) When the distinguishing sign consists of only one letter, the major axis of the ellipse;

(c) The distinguishing sign shall not be affixed in such a way that it could be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility;

(d) On motorcycles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least 0.175 m and 0.115 m. On other motor vehicles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least:

(i) 0.24 m and 0.145 m if the distinguishing sign comprises three letters;

(ii) 0.175 m and 0.115 m if the distinguishing sign comprises less than three letters.

3. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate(s), the following conditions shall apply:

(a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.02 m, taking as a reference a registration
plate of 0.11 m.;

(b) (i) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration, which may be supplemented where applicable by the flag or emblem of the State or the emblem of the regional economic integration organization to which the country belongs, shall be displayed on the far left or right of the rear registration plate, but preferably on the left or the far upper left on plates where the number takes up two lines;

(ii) When, in addition to the distinguishing sign, a non-numerical symbol and/or a flag and/or a regional or local emblem is displayed on the registration plate, the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall obligatorily be placed on the far left of the plate;

(c) The flag or emblem supplementing where applicable the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so that it cannot impair the legibility of the distinguishing sign and shall preferably be placed above it;

(d) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so as to be easily identifiable and so that it cannot be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility. The distinguishing sign shall therefore be at least of a different colour from the registration number, or have a different background to that reserved for the registration number, or be clearly separated, preferably by a line, from the registration number;

(e) For the registration plates of motorcycles and their trailers and/or for registration plates taking up two lines, the size of the letters of the distinguishing sign as well as, where applicable, the size of the national flag or emblem of the State of registration or the symbol of the regional economic integration organization which the country belongs to may be appropriately modified;

(f) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply according to the same principles to the front registration plate of the vehicle when this plate is obligatory.

4. The relevant provisions of Annex 2, paragraph 3, shall apply to the distinguishing sign.

 

[Argyll Andy]

but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

The G29 boots are a composite material and the magnetic ones won’t stick, needs to be a sticker. I bought a normal one and cut it down to as small as possible and stuck it at the side of the number plate

Fair enough on the magnet point in respect of the G29 Z4. Although the boot lids on my cars are metal so my comment still stands…

Also, if by cutting the sticker you amended its shape from an elliptical form with the major axis horizontal - then technically you busted the rules.

So either you stick the sticker on there as is or run the risk of not displaying it at your own peril.

Annex 3

DISTINGUISHING SIGN OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

1. The distinguishing sign referred to in Article 37 of this Convention shall consist of one to three letters in capital Latin characters.

2. When the distinguishing sign is displayed separately from the registration plate, it must conform to the following conditions:

(a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.08 m and their strokes a width of at least 01 m. The letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal. The white background may be of a retro-reflective material;

(b) When the distinguishing sign consists of only one letter, the major axis of the ellipse;

(c) The distinguishing sign shall not be affixed in such a way that it could be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility;

(d) On motorcycles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least 0.175 m and 0.115 m. On other motor vehicles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least:

(i) 0.24 m and 0.145 m if the distinguishing sign comprises three letters;

(ii) 0.175 m and 0.115 m if the distinguishing sign comprises less than three letters.

3. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate(s), the following conditions shall apply:

(a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.02 m, taking as a reference a registration
plate of 0.11 m.;

(b) (i) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration, which may be supplemented where applicable by the flag or emblem of the State or the emblem of the regional economic integration organization to which the country belongs, shall be displayed on the far left or right of the rear registration plate, but preferably on the left or the far upper left on plates where the number takes up two lines;

(ii) When, in addition to the distinguishing sign, a non-numerical symbol and/or a flag and/or a regional or local emblem is displayed on the registration plate, the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall obligatorily be placed on the far left of the plate;

(c) The flag or emblem supplementing where applicable the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so that it cannot impair the legibility of the distinguishing sign and shall preferably be placed above it;

(d) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so as to be easily identifiable and so that it cannot be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility. The distinguishing sign shall therefore be at least of a different colour from the registration number, or have a different background to that reserved for the registration number, or be clearly separated, preferably by a line, from the registration number;

(e) For the registration plates of motorcycles and their trailers and/or for registration plates taking up two lines, the size of the letters of the distinguishing sign as well as, where applicable, the size of the national flag or emblem of the State of registration or the symbol of the regional economic integration organization which the country belongs to may be appropriately modified;

(f) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply according to the same principles to the front registration plate of the vehicle when this plate is obligatory.

4. The relevant provisions of Annex 2, paragraph 3, shall apply to the distinguishing sign.

but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

OP has G29 so I was responding to your advice about taking a magnetic one and putting it on if stopped

I also forgot to put mine on fot first 4 days as it’d been pishing of rain at the port and forgot to do so when I got there

TBH if that was all we got police interaction for on our trips I’d be a happy camper

I also carry a few spare stickers in the boot, uncut of course

 

[R60BBA]

The G29 boots are a composite material and the magnetic ones won’t stick, needs to be a sticker. I bought a normal one and cut it down to as small as possible and stuck it at the side of the number plate

Fair enough on the magnet point in respect of the G29 Z4. Although the boot lids on my cars are metal so my comment still stands…

Also, if by cutting the sticker you amended its shape from an elliptical form with the major axis horizontal - then technically you busted the rules.

So either you stick the sticker on there as is or run the risk of not displaying it at your own peril.

Annex 3

DISTINGUISHING SIGN OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

1. The distinguishing sign referred to in Article 37 of this Convention shall consist of one to three letters in capital Latin characters.

2. When the distinguishing sign is displayed separately from the registration plate, it must conform to the following conditions:

(a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.08 m and their strokes a width of at least 01 m. The letters shall be in black on a white background having the shape of an ellipse with the major axis horizontal. The white background may be of a retro-reflective material;

(b) When the distinguishing sign consists of only one letter, the major axis of the ellipse;

(c) The distinguishing sign shall not be affixed in such a way that it could be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility;

(d) On motorcycles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least 0.175 m and 0.115 m. On other motor vehicles and their trailers, the dimensions of the axes of the ellipse shall be at least:

(i) 0.24 m and 0.145 m if the distinguishing sign comprises three letters;

(ii) 0.175 m and 0.115 m if the distinguishing sign comprises less than three letters.

3. When the distinguishing sign is incorporated into the registration plate(s), the following conditions shall apply:

(a) The letters shall have a height of at least 0.02 m, taking as a reference a registration
plate of 0.11 m.;

(b) (i) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration, which may be supplemented where applicable by the flag or emblem of the State or the emblem of the regional economic integration organization to which the country belongs, shall be displayed on the far left or right of the rear registration plate, but preferably on the left or the far upper left on plates where the number takes up two lines;

(ii) When, in addition to the distinguishing sign, a non-numerical symbol and/or a flag and/or a regional or local emblem is displayed on the registration plate, the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall obligatorily be placed on the far left of the plate;

(c) The flag or emblem supplementing where applicable the distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so that it cannot impair the legibility of the distinguishing sign and shall preferably be placed above it;

(d) The distinguishing sign of the State of registration shall be positioned so as to be easily identifiable and so that it cannot be confused with the registration number or impair its legibility. The distinguishing sign shall therefore be at least of a different colour from the registration number, or have a different background to that reserved for the registration number, or be clearly separated, preferably by a line, from the registration number;

(e) For the registration plates of motorcycles and their trailers and/or for registration plates taking up two lines, the size of the letters of the distinguishing sign as well as, where applicable, the size of the national flag or emblem of the State of registration or the symbol of the regional economic integration organization which the country belongs to may be appropriately modified;

(f) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply according to the same principles to the front registration plate of the vehicle when this plate is obligatory.

4. The relevant provisions of Annex 2, paragraph 3, shall apply to the distinguishing sign.

but if I were I would just take a UK magnet and only put it on if I got stopped by police.

OP has G29 so I was responding to your advice about taking a magnetic one and putting it on if stopped

I also forgot to put mine on fot first 4 days as it’d been pishing of rain at the port and forgot to do so when I got there

TBH if that was all we got police interaction for on our trips I’d be a happy camper

I also carry a few spare stickers in the boot, uncut of course

Tbh I wasn’t really advising the OP, I was just saying what I would do. Although I get your point that it’s not directly applicable to the G29 (which was an oversight of mine).

In all honesty though, how many Spanish, Cypriot or Maltese police will know this specific rule.

I also reckon that if you were to ask them whether they are aware of which Conventions on Road Traffic their country adheres to, I doubt they would know this either.

So in other words the likelihood for getting into trouble for not displaying the sticker is probably quite low (especially if you’re only passing through on a short trip).

Nevertheless having one to hand in case you got stopped seems feasible if you don’t fancy putting the sticker on the car. Or alternatively just put it on and go about one’s business.

Happy motoring

 

[CliveN]

In all my 40 years of travelling abroad I have never used a gb/uk plate except once when I felt compelled to use a magnetic U.K. plate but it blew off after 50 miles or so….. and my car currently lives most of its life in Spain. I have been pulled by the Guardia several times and they have never bothered about it. Occasionally they have liberated my wallet though. I have never used sticky back plastic headlamp adapters either. I recognise I will get some push back on all of this but it’s all unnecessary in my view nowadays with modern traffic mixing and auto lights. In 1930 perhaps. It’s not as though British plates are rare on the continent and if there is confusion then look which side the steering wheel is. Obvs when I next my car in Spain I will now get pulled but probably for doing 20 in one of Spain’s 12mph zones.