The booking process and insurance side of renting a car abroad are covered in the car rental abroad guide — this one is about what happens once you're actually on the road. Driving rules across Europe vary more than most people expect, and not knowing them can mean a fine, or a surprise charge on your rental deposit.
🪪 Documents you'll need
- A Georgian driving license is accepted in much of the EU, but some countries require an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well — see the international driving permit guide
- Keep a photo of your license, passport and rental agreement saved separately on your phone
- Carry the rental insurance document in the car — border or police checks sometimes ask for it
⚡ Speed limits by country
- Germany — much of the autobahn has no fixed limit, though 130 km/h (81 mph) is the recommended speed; some stretches do enforce strict limits
- France, Italy, Spain — highway limits usually run 120-130 km/h (75-81 mph)
- United Kingdom — measured in miles per hour, not kilometers; 70 mph on motorways
- Built-up areas default to 50 km/h (31 mph) unless a sign says otherwise
Speeding fines in much of Europe get charged automatically to the rental company's card on file, often with an added administrative fee.
🍷 Blood-alcohol limits
- Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania — zero tolerance (0.0‰)
- Most of Europe — 0.5‰ (roughly one glass of wine)
- United Kingdom — 0.8‰ in England and Wales, 0.5‰ in Scotland
- General rule of thumb — if you're drinking at all, don't plan on driving that evening; the gap between countries is smaller than it looks
🌫️ Low-emission zones in cities (LEZ/ZTL)
Many major European city centers restrict which cars can enter, for environmental or historic-preservation reasons. Germany requires an Umweltplakette sticker, while Italian cities use ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) zones where an automatic camera records unauthorized entries — a fine can arrive months later, routed through the rental company.
Check the official rules before driving into a city center, especially in Milan, Rome, Florence and Germany's larger cities.
🛣️ Highway tolls
Austria, Switzerland and Czechia require a vignette to use the highway network, while France and Italy charge tolls at booth gates instead. See the highway vignette and tolls guide for the full country-by-country breakdown.
🦺 Mandatory equipment in the car
- France, Germany, Austria — a reflective vest and a warning triangle are legally required in the car
- Spain and Italy — license holders who wear glasses must also carry a spare pair
- This gear is usually already in the rental car — check before you drive off that it's actually there
Before you set off, check the travel insurance guide too — costs add up fast after a road accident in Europe. Search flights and compare fares on Travel365's price calendar.
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