Going Abroad With Your Caravan
By: Ken Taylor Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 Time: 5:16 PM
Before you take your caravan abroad remember to check the laws of the country that you plan to go to and the laws of all the countries that you will have to drive through to get there. Familiarise yourself with the traffic signs of each country.
In all European countries everyone in the car is required to wear seat belts, and in most European countries car seats have to be used for babies and small children. You also need a full drivers licence that covers you for towing a caravan. In addition you have to carry your original insurance documentation, not just a photocopy. In most European countries you are also required to prove that you own the vehicle and caravan, so will need the original registration documents and purchase receipts.
When towing a caravan you have to display a sticker for your country of origin on your caravan and your car. In addition, you usually need to carry; spare bulbs for the car, a fire extinguisher, 2 warning triangles, high vis jackets, a tool kit, a spare tyre, a jack and a first aid kit. Do not forget to fit headlight converters, not doing so is illegal and very dangerous. In a few countries you also need to carry a spare pair of prescription glasses, if you wear glasses to drive. Some countries also require you to carry a full set of spare bulbs for your caravan and to use caravan mirrors.
Before you leave get your car and caravan properly serviced. It is bad enough when your car breaks down abroad, but with a caravan it is much more hassle. Be sure that your breakdown cover is for your caravan as well as for your car. Make sure that it covers you for all of the countries you will travel through, not just for your destination country. Check that your tyres will allow you to travel at the maximum speed permitted, in some countries this speed is higher than in the UK.
Remember that the gas used in Europe is different from that used in the UK, so pack the necessary gas adapters. Also bear in mind that you usually cannot exchange caravan gas bottles with those from other countries, so take enough cash with you to buy the bottle as well as gas when travelling abroad.
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