British tourists warned of ‘on the spot big fines’ driving in Europe

British tourists will need to watch out for hefty ‘on the spot’ fines in Europe this summer as several driving rules may have changed since their last holiday.

Post Office Travel Money has issued a warning for Britons heading to key destinations such as Spain and France this summer.

According to the team’s research, a third of Britons are planning on driving their own car or renting one for a European holiday.

However, a whopping two in five were unaware of new road rules in top destinations. Breaking one of the rules could see tourists hit with a heavy fine.

The research found that over 40 percent of Britons are unaware of new low emission zones in many of the continent’s leading destinations.

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Laura Plunkett, head of Travel Money at the Post Office, said: “With flight costs reported to be soaring, it is understandable that so many Britons have decided to drive to Europe this summer.

“However, it is worrying that many people have changed since their last trip and they could be risking big fines if they don’t learn the rules of the road.

“Popular destinations like France and Spain have long been operating spot fines so it is crucial for holiday motorists to carry foreign currency with them in case they are stopped for speeding or falling foul of new rules.”

The team also recommends planning driving routes carefully as the cost of filling a car with petrol can vary by as much as £100 across the continent. For example, filling the car in neighbouring Andorra is far cheaper than in Spain.

Tourists should also carry some foreign currency as not all foreign petrol stations will accept cash payments.

It’s also a good idea to skip the motorway and take a route through local towns as supermarket prices will be far cheaper than on main roads as is the case in the UK.