To Europe by car. Independent travel around Europe. Travelling by car

Today, more and more of our compatriots decide to independently go to Europe by car. At first glance it seems that it is quite simple: took a vacation, loaded the trunk - and forward, towards adventure. In fact, such a journey requires serious preparation. So, it is necessary not only to take care of the availability of documents that you may need abroad, but also to check the serviceability of your car, as well as to carefully develop the route. So, today we offer a more detailed understanding of how to go on an independent journey through Europe on your own car. For this, we will consider the main points that should be given increased attention when planning a trip.

We are developing the route: by car in Europe

First of all, you need to think about an approximate plan for the trip, and then carefully develop all its details. Of course, in this case everyone is free to be guided by their preferences, and also by financial possibilities. However, we will give the main recommendations. First of all, do not put too long travel in your route: by car in Europe, though it is pleasant to drive, but it is very tedious. As a result, wanting to cover as many cities and countries as possible during the holiday, you will be very tired, so you have to spend more time on vacation than on walking and sightseeing. In addition, when planning the time that you spend on the road, be sure to consider stopping for snacks, etc.

Navigation

Planning a trip by car in Europe, it is advisable to use the service "Google Maps" or a navigator, with which you can route the route in accordance with some of the entered parameters (for example, excluding toll roads). If your car is not equipped with a full-time GPS, then we recommend that you purchase it, especially since the price of these devices is now widely available. And when you find yourself in a completely unfamiliar country where people speak a language incomprehensible to you, this little device can become a real wand for you. After all, he not only shows you the way, warns about the permissible high-speed regime, but also informs about the nearest gas stations, ATMs and cafes. On paper cards it is better not to count, although you can throw a couple into the glove box just in case.

Hotel reservation

When going to Europe by car, you should take care of booking rooms in hotels, where you will stay on your trip. For the selection and booking of suitable hotels it is very convenient to use popular sites. Pay attention to whether the hotel that you like pre-payment collects. After all, when you apply for a Schengen visa, the embassy will most likely require you to confirm 100% prepayment of hotel rooms for the entire period of your trip. Also, try to find out if there is a parking lot at the hotels where you plan to stay. Do not be discouraged, even if it is paid. On arrival, it is advisable to park the car near the hotel and go for sightseeing on foot, by public transport or taxi. To go to the city center on your own car makes sense only if you are sure that you can find parking for him. The fact that the situation with parking in all more or less large and popular with tourists in European cities is quite bad. In addition, this pleasure is far from cheap. If you can not find a parking lot and leave the car in the wrong place, then be sure that you will be imposed a considerable fine, and maybe even take the iron horse to the parking lot.

To Europe by car: documents

After you have developed a travel plan, have booked hotels and received appropriate visas for all participants of the trip, it is worth remembering about other necessary documents. So, going to Europe by car, be sure to take with you a passport with a valid visa, medical insurance (it is inexpensive, but in case of emergency will save you a tidy sum, because medical services in European countries are by no means cheap), international car insurance Green Card), documents for the vehicle (technical passport and, if necessary, a certified power of attorney), driving license.

In addition, it is advisable to have printed confirmation of hotel booking, copies of pages of your passport with visas, international driving license. Further we propose to elaborate on car insurance and international driver's license, as these questions often cause a lot of questions among people planning to go to Europe by car.

International vehicle insurance

Most of this insurance is known by its English name - Green Card. "Green Card" is a kind of analogue of the usual OSAGO, operating in the territory of all European countries (with rare exceptions). This policy insures the driver's civil liability. Thus, payment on it is received by the party suffered in road and transport incident according to the legislation of the state where there was an accident.

As for the value of the Green Card, it is the same in all insurance companies and is regulated by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The cost of the policy is affected by three factors: its validity period (minimum - 15 days, maximum - 12 months), type of vehicle and territory of use. On average, the "Green Card" for 15 days will cost you fifteen hundred rubles.

International driving license

Many travelers are sure that they need international rights to travel to Europe. This term means an international driver's license (or IDP), which is a translation of the national driving license and confirming your right to drive a particular category. On the territory of Russia, the MVU has the right to issue only traffic police. Keep in mind that the international driving license is valid only in tandem with national rights.

For the sake of justice, it should be noted that traveling by car to Europe in most cases does not require the presence of a driver of the IDP. It is enough to have a national driving license. However, in states that have signed only the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, adopted in 1949, you may still be entitled to international rights from you today. In Europe, such countries are Albania, Ireland, Andorra, Iceland, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey and the Netherlands. Of course, the requirement for IDPs in most cases is purely formal, and local police infrequently punish foreign drivers for the lack of this document. However, in order not to worry again and protect yourself from possible problems, it is better to spend a little time and get international rights. Moreover, this procedure takes only 20 minutes (in Moscow) and will cost an average of one thousand rubles.

Preparing your car for a long journey

I want to say that if on the agenda is a trip by car to Europe, then the issue of preparing your iron horse should be one of the paramount. Be sure to remember that you wanted to repair in your car and everything was put off for later. Also see when the next maintenance plan should be carried out. And if very little time is left before it, it is better to do it in advance. Whatever it was, the diagnosis will not be superfluous, because not all the problems of the car can be identified with an external examination.

After you have ascertained that your iron horse is completely technically sound and that a trip to Europe by car does not end on one of the SRTs, you can start to quietly staff it with everything you need. So, to enter the territory of the European Union in your car must have a first-aid kit of European design, an emergency stop sign, a fire extinguisher, as well as a reflective waistcoat. And these items are not only necessary in emergency situations. Their presence can also be checked by policemen at the border.

We sorted out the necessary items. Now let's talk about optional, but very desirable things that you need to have with you, going on a long journey by car. So, it does not hurt to put a compressor in the trunk for pumping tires. Also check the condition of your reserve or "dock". If you plan a trip in the autumn-winter time, then keep in mind that it is forbidden to use studded rubber in Europe.

Do not lose sight of the tow rope. Of course, in which case you can use the tow truck, but it is often much easier to tow a stalled car, especially if you are traveling on a multi-car journey. It is desirable to capture and all the vital for your machine fluid to top up. After all, this in case something can help you get to the nearest service, and maybe even to Russia, which will seriously save the cost of repairs. In addition, take with you a set of basic tools: pliers, wrenches and screwdrivers. Also, plastic clamps, scotch tape and insulating tape will be superfluous. All these items will not take up much space in the trunk, but in some situations can be literally irreplaceable.

Border crossing

So, any trip to Europe begins with the crossing of the border. Since the price of gasoline abroad is quite high, we recommend that you fill a full tank in the CIS. On the border with the European Union you can record the number of liters in the tank, but you do not have to worry about it, and nobody will take money in the form of a duty for it.

When dealing with border guards and customs officers, behave correctly and politely. Follow all requests coming from their side. So, they can ask you to open the trunk, hood or show the contents of the bags. Surely the border guard will ask about the purpose of your trip. Do not invent some tales, answer as is.

If the front windows are smeared on your car, then bear in mind that this can cause problems on the border. The fact is that in Europe such toning is prohibited. It may even go so far that you will be asked to film, which is quite difficult, especially in the winter. However, even if you safely enter the territory of the European Union with tinted windows, you should not flatter yourself and think that all the problems are behind. After all, you can easily stop the first cop found. And already in this case you will not only be forced to get rid of toning, but also pay a pretty decent fine.

By European roads

So, you have successfully overcome all the formalities, and your iron horse brushes the first kilometers along the roads of the European Union. But you should not relax here either. First of all, it is recommended to pay for travel on autobahns at once. In Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria you need to buy a sticker, which should be attached to the windshield. It will mean that you paid the fare on the autobahns. The cost of the sticker may vary depending on the country, but on average it will cost about 15 euros.

Now for a car trip to Europe to bring you exceptionally positive emotions, it remains only to carefully observe all the rules of the road. Before entering every country that is part of the European Union, you will see an information board indicating the speed limits for the city, country roads and motorways. It is very important to remember these numbers and not exceed them. Indeed, speeding even for a few kilometers per hour can result in a minimum fine of 30 euros. For more serious violations, the fine can be several hundred, or even thousands of euros! And it is unlikely to escape punishment, since all roads have modern video fixing equipment. If the policeman stops you, do not even try to give him a bribe. Not only will he not take money, he can also hold you accountable for attempting to bribe an official.

However, when traveling by car in Europe and concentrating on observing the speed limit on European roads, one should not forget about other traffic rules. So, watch closely the signs, traffic lights and markings. By the way, the latter in most cases is done very competently and is capable not only of not confusing, but, on the contrary, to help the driver to correctly cross the intersection or intersection. Of course, as a rule, the first kilometers along the roads of Europe are accompanied by a slight stress in our drivers. However, gradually you will enter the taste and are very surprised by the manner of driving our compatriots after returning home.

The cost of traveling by car

It is naive to believe that tourist trips to Europe by private car are much cheaper than when traveling by plane. Therefore, the expense part is an important point in planning your vacation. We briefly ask how much travel to Europe can cost on your own "iron horse" and which items of expenditure should include your budget.

1. Costs for the preparation of the necessary documents for the driver and car. This item implies the purchase of the "Green Card" and, if necessary, the registration of the IDP. It will cost about 2500 rubles.
2. Expenses for medical insurance and registration of a Schengen visa. On average, the registration of these documents will cost 4,000 rubles per person.
3. The cost of preparing the car for the road. Here everything depends on the brand of your car and its technical condition. Also at this point we will include the acquisition of the navigator. So, a good device with loaded maps of Europe will cost about 8 thousand rubles.
4. The cost of gasoline you can calculate, only having on hand the final plan of the trip. On average, if you go on the route Moscow - Warsaw - Berlin - Brussels - Paris, you have to spend about 18 thousand rubles. Do not forget to put into the budget the purchase of gasoline and for the return journey.
5. Expenses for toll roads and parking. Here everything will depend solely on the country where you keep going, and also on whether you plan to leave a car in the hotel parking and walk around the city on foot, or everywhere you want to move around on your "iron horse".
6. Accommodation, food and entertainment expenses. Everything here is purely individual. After all, someone does not mind living in cheap hotels away from the center, and someone definitely needs 4-star and 5-star hotels in the heart of the city. The same goes for eating with entertainment.