Driving overland gives you the freedom to go where you want, whenever you want. Whether motoring from Malta in your own car or renting once at your destination, you need to read up on practical information on driving licences, motor insurance, car hire, safety, speed limits, and tolls.

Driving licence

If you hold a driving licence issued in Malta or in any EU member state, you may drive in all EU countries, provided that your licence is valid and that you only drive the category of vehicles that you are entitled to.

To drive in a non-EU country that is party to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, it is advisable that you obtain an international driving permit. This is issued for one year, on presentation of a valid licence issued either in Malta or in an EU member state. You will be required to produce a completed application form (DRV.06), your identity card or passport, two passport-sized photographs, and a medical certificate (DRV.08) if you are over 70 years of age.

In some countries it is compulsory to carry an emergency warning triangle with you

The permit will be issued immediately against a fee of €29.11. In some countries, apart from a valid driving licence, you need your vehicle registration document.

Motor insurance

Your car insurance policy will automatically provide the minimum cover (third party liability) required by EU law. This also applies to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. If you have comprehensive insurance, check that the cover extends to travelling in other countries. You may want to consider vehicle breakdown assistance such as the European Breakdown Service provided by RMF.

A green card is not obligatory when travelling in the EU but it serves as internationally recognised proof of insurance and it makes it easier to claim compensation. If you do not take a green card with you, you should carry your certificate of insurance.

The green card system currently covers 44 countries. Your insurer can give you a European accident statement form, a standard document that makes it easier to make a declaration on the spot if you have an accident in another country.

Driving safely

In all EU countries, it is compulsory to wear seatbelts in both the front and back of the car. Child car seats have to be used for children travelling in cars.

In some countries, such as Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Portugal, you normally have to give way to traffic coming from your right.

Using a mobile phone while driving is forbidden in all EU countries. In some countries,the use of hands-free devicesis tolerated.

Although in the majority of EU countries the maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5mg/ml, in others it varies between 0.2 mg/ml and 0.8 mg/ml (0.9mg/ml in Cyprus) and some countries do not allowany alcohol in the bloodwhile driving.

Every other country in Europe, except the UK, Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, drives on the right-hand side of the road.

If you are driving a left-hand drive car, overtaking on European roads should be done withextra caution.

In some countries it is compulsory to carry an emergency warning triangle with you. Some countries including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Croatia also require you to have a reflective jacket in your car in case you need to get out of the vehicle on a busy road.

Before you go, you will need to adjust your car’s headlamp beam pattern for driving on the right-hand side: this is compulsory in most countries. Headlamp beam converter kits are widely available. In the event of an accident, call for free the European number 112, which covers the whole EU territory.

Warning triangle and reflective vests

Motoring law in France and in other European countries requires all vehicles to carry a ­warning ­triangle and reflective waistcoats. The law in Spain requires two warning triangles. Anybody providing roadside assistance, or leaving a stranded vehicle, should wear a reflective vest. The European Transport Safety Council suggests the use of reflective vests in the event of vehicle immobilisation. This has led to a number of countries adopting reflective vests as a legal requirement, to be carried in all vehicles at all times.

Changes to EU traffic penalties

In December 2008 the European Commission agreed to cross-­border enforcement of traffic penalties. This means that your government, at the request of another government, will enforce fines if you have been caught ­committing a traffic offence in any member country of the EU.