Drivers warned of number plate and licence rules when driving in Europe

Many Britons are gearing up to travel abroad on holiday this summer, with many looking to drive to mainland Europe to soak up the sun.

However, when travelling across different countries, motorists must ensure they abide by the rules to avoid being hit with fines.

The GOV.UK website outlines what motorists need to do to be able to safely drive around Europe under the most recent guidance.

Motorists do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to visit and drive in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

However, they may be required to have an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if they have a paper driving licence or if the licence was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

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An IDP costs £5.50 and can be purchased over the counter at the Post Office, with drivers needing to be a resident of Great Britain or Northern Ireland, have a full licence and be 18 or over.

According to the Government, all UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third-party cover to drive in the EU (including Ireland).

When driving abroad, motorists must display the UK identifier when driving a UK-registered vehicle abroad.

If a number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union flag (also known as the Union Jack), they will not need a UK sticker.

However, in some circumstances, motorists will need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of their vehicle.

This applies if a number plate has a GB identifier with the Union flag, a Euro symbol, a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales or if it only has numbers and letters (no flags or identifiers).

If someone is driving in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, they must display a UK sticker no matter what is on the number plate. No sticker or identifier is required to drive in Ireland.

In the event of an accident in a European Union country, motorists should first notify their insurance providers.

Drivers are warned that they will not get compensation in some countries if the accident is caused by an uninsured driver or if the driver cannot be traced.