43 European countries covered

Drive in Europe
with confidence

Country-by-country guides covering driving laws, toll rules, rental insurance, and the best car hire companies — before you get behind the wheel.

Find your country
43
Countries covered
200+
Driving law details
50+
Driving tips & guides
✅ Before you drive in Europe
  • 🪪
    Get an International Driving Permit
    US drivers can get an IDP from AAA or AATA for ~$20. Bring your valid licence, two passport photos, and a completed application. Processing is same-day in person or 2–3 weeks by mail. Always carry it alongside your US licence.
  • 🏷️
    Check vignette requirements
    Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic and others require a motorway sticker before you even enter the country.
  • 🛡️
    Confirm your CDW insurance
    Ensure your rental includes collision damage waiver. Some US credit cards cover the excess — check before you pay at the counter.
  • 📱
    Save the emergency number
    112 works across the EU. Save it before you travel and note the local roadside assistance number for your rental company.
  • 🌿
    Check emission zone rules
    France, Germany, Italy and Spain restrict older vehicles in city centres. Confirm your rental car qualifies before planning city driving.

All country guides

43 countries
🇦🇱 Albania Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
Confirm cross-border rental permission
🇦🇩 Andorra Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
No motorway tolls
🇦🇹 Austria Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Motorway vignette required — buy online or check if car already includes one
🇧🇪 Belgium Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
LEZ zones in Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent
🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
Confirm cross-border rental permission
🇧🇬 Bulgaria Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Zero alcohol tolerance for new drivers
🇭🇷 Croatia Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
Headlights on year-round
🇨🇾 Cyprus Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Left-hand traffic
🇨🇿 Czech Republic Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Zero alcohol tolerance
🇩🇰 Denmark Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Headlights on at all times
🇪🇪 Estonia Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
🇫🇮 Finland Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
🇫🇷 France Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Crit'Air sticker for city emission zones
🇬🇪 Georgia Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
🇩🇪 Germany Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
No speed limit on some Autobahn sections
🇬🇷 Greece Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
Tolls on most major routes
🇭🇺 Hungary Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Zero alcohol tolerance
🇮🇸 Iceland Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
F-roads require 4x4 — rentals may restrict
🇮🇪 Ireland Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Left-hand traffic
🇮🇹 Italy Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
ZTL restricted zones in city centres
🇽🇰 Kosovo Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
Some rental companies restrict entry
🇱🇻 Latvia Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Headlights required year-round
🇱🇹 Lithuania Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Headlights required year-round
🇱🇺 Luxembourg Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
No motorway tolls
🇲🇹 Malta Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Left-hand traffic
🇲🇩 Moldova Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
Road toll required at border
🇲🇪 Montenegro Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
Confirm cross-border rental permission
🇳🇱 Netherlands Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Low emission zones in major cities
🇲🇰 North Macedonia Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Recommended
Confirm cross-border rental permission
🇳🇴 Norway Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Toll rings around major cities
🇵🇱 Poland Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
Tolls on motorways
🇵🇹 Portugal Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Electronic tolls — Via Verde system
🇷🇴 Romania Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Many unmarked speed cameras
🇸🇲 San Marino Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Uses Italian road network — same rules apply
🇷🇸 Serbia Guide
No vignette
IDP: Recommended
Confirm cross-border rental permission
🇸🇰 Slovakia Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Zero alcohol tolerance
🇸🇮 Slovenia Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Required
Motorway vignette required — buy at border or petrol stations
🇪🇸 Spain Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
Low emission zones in Madrid, Barcelona & Valencia
🇸🇪 Sweden Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Congestion charges in Stockholm & Gothenburg
🇨🇭 Switzerland Guide
Vignette required
IDP: Recommended
Annual vignette CHF 40 — even for EVs
🇹🇷 Turkey Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required
HGS e-toll tag required for motorways
🇬🇧 UK Guide
No vignette
IDP: Not required
Left-hand traffic · ULEZ charges in London
🇺🇦 Ukraine Guide
No vignette
IDP: Required

What every guide covers

⚖️
Driving laws

Speed limits, alcohol limits, required equipment, lane rules, and local quirks that catch tourists off-guard.

🛣️
Tolls & vignettes

Which roads charge fees, how to pay, and whether your rental includes a vignette for countries that require one.

🛡️
Insurance breakdown

Understand CDW, excess cover, and why third-party insurance from your credit card may not be enough.

🚗
Rental car providers

Which providers operate at each airport, what fleet they carry, how to decode rental car codes (CDMR, EDMR, FWAR…), and what each car category actually means.

💳
Best U.S. credit cards for rentals

Which U.S. credit cards offer the best coverage for European car rentals — so you can skip expensive counter insurance.

✈️
Major airport guides

Pickup tips for the main international airports in each country — terminals, rental desks, shuttle buses, and what to watch for.