europe
yes, you can take the van abroad.
france, the alps, the atlantic coast — our vans are built for exactly this kind of trip. tell us when you book and we'll sort the paperwork. here's what we arrange, what you need to do, and what to expect once you're off the ferry.
how it works
tell us. we'll do the boring bit.
tick “going to europe or ireland” when you book (or email us afterwards). we arrange the ve103 hire certificate, add european insurance at £10 per day, and put the eu driving kit, a uk sticker and headlight deflectors in the van. you book the crossing, order a crit'air if you're heading into cities, and sort your dog's paperwork if they're coming.
who does what
we sort. you sort.
we arrange
- the ve103 hire certificate — proof you're allowed to take the van abroad
- european insurance cover (£10 per day, added to your hire)
- rac breakdown cover — fixed on the spot or recovered back to the uk
- a uk sticker and headlight deflectors (you fit them on the crossing)
- the eu driving kit — warning triangle, hi-vis, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, breathalyser
you arrange
- your ferry or eurotunnel crossing, booked as a campervan (not a car)
- a valid passport and your uk photocard licence
- a crit'air sticker if you're driving into french cities
- tolls, vignettes and any low-emission charges along the way
- your dog's paperwork, if they're coming too
the details
everything we tell every guest.
paperwork
licencea normal uk photocard licence is fine for driving in the eu, france included — no international driving permit needed in most circumstances. bring the physical card, your passport and the rental agreement you sign at pickup.
passportit must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter, and stay valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave. check both dates before you book the crossing.
ve103a hired uk vehicle needs a ve103 vehicle-on-hire certificate to leave the country — it proves the owner said yes. we arrange it before your trip and leave the original in the van. keep it with the rental agreement.
insuranceour insurance covers driving in europe. it's charged at £10 per day on top of your hire, so tell us about the trip when you book.
breakdownthe rac cover we provide works in europe. if the van breaks down it either gets fixed where it is or recovered back to the uk.
the border
ees checksthe eu's entry/exit system registers uk travellers electronically at the border, biometrics included. allow extra time at the ferry or eurotunnel terminal, especially at busy times.
van dimensionsferry and tunnel bookings ask for the real size of the vehicle. boris, debbie and graham are 6 m long, 2.8 m high and 2.4 m wide, and carry two passengers. ness is 5 m long and 2.5 m high. book as a campervan — car pricing doesn't apply.
on the road in france
drive on the rightroundabouts go anticlockwise, you overtake on the left, and at some junctions traffic from the right has priority unless the signs say otherwise. it clicks after twenty minutes.
tollslots of french motorways charge. card, cash or an electronic tag all work — a uk card is normally fine, but carry some euros. campervans are often classified by height and weight rather than as a car, so expect a different rate.
fuelall four vans are diesel — in france that's gazole, not essence. a full tank is roughly €140–215 depending on the price that week, and some stations make you pay before the pump releases.
crit'airfrance runs low-emission zones (zfe) and many cities require a crit'air sticker, foreign vehicles included. it costs about €5 from the official french site — order it before you leave, not from a lay-by outside paris. this one's on you, not us.
other low-emission zonesother countries have their own stickers and vignettes. check each city before you drive in. any fines picked up on the trip are the hirer's to pay.
the kitthe van carries the eu driving kit — warning triangle, hi-vis vests, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, headlamp deflectors, breakdown details and a breathalyser. fit the deflectors on the crossing; we'll show you how at pickup.
sleeping
parking vs campingparking a campervan and camping in one aren't the same thing. chairs, a table or levelling blocks can turn parking into camping in the eyes of whoever's watching. rules change by country, region and car park — if a sign says no camping, believe it.
aires and campsitesthe safe bet is an official campsite or a designated motorhome aire. most french towns have one, often free or a few euros, with water and a chemical-waste point. park4night is the app. buy your bread in the village — it's what keeps the aires open.
wasteempty the toilet cassette and grey water only at campsite facilities, motorhome service points or approved disposal points. never into a public toilet.
money
cardstake a visa or mastercard that works abroad, a backup card, some euros and your bank's emergency number. a card with low or no foreign-transaction fees saves a surprising amount over a week.
if something goes wrong
accidentsget everyone safe. call 112 if you need the emergency services — it works across the eu. then call us on +44 7491 344815, and the breakdown provider as instructed.
photograph everythingboth vehicles, number plates, damage, road position, road signs, the junction, the other driver's insurance details and any witnesses.
before you set offtake your own photos of the van at pickup so you've got a record of its condition. we do the same for our insurance.
the checklist
print this. stick it on the fridge.
the short version of everything above, in the order it happens. we send it with your booking too.
before you go
- tick 'going to europe or ireland' at checkout, or confirm with us
- confirm we're obtaining your ve103
- check passports and driving licences
- check the ferry booking and vehicle dimensions
- check crit'air and environmental zones
- check tolls and vignettes
- check overnight parking rules
- check pet paperwork if a dog's coming
in the van
- ve103
- insurance documents
- rental agreement
- breakdown details
- emergency contact
- eu driving kit
when you get to france
- drive on the right
- watch for toll roads
- follow the speed limits
- check crit'air before restricted areas
- read the parking and camping signs
- keep some euros
- keep the emergency numbers handy
before coming home
- check the return crossing
- dog? book the tapeworm treatment in the window
- fill up with diesel
- empty and clean the toilet
- return the van as the rental agreement says
bringing the dog?
they can come — with a microchip, a rabies jab, an animal health certificate from the vet, and a tapeworm treatment before you come home. the timings matter, so we've written them all down.