“Driving your own car gives you freedom to experience traveling differently compared to a traditional flight or package trip abroad. Perhaps the most famous road trip that comes to mind first for most people is the legendary Route 66 across the USA. Traveling by car abroad can also be enjoyed in Europe, for example, to the highest points of different countries. This blog post serves as a checklist when the purpose is to fulfill a road trip with your car towards the new landscapes in Europe. Please note that the listing is written from a Finnish perspective. Thus, some things, especially, related to a car insurance etc., may be different in your own country.
Some things, such as a travel insurance, is good to have even on a regular trip abroad. Some of the points on the list need to be put in order when you decide to do a road trip with your own car. For the clarity, this post is divided first into things related to the car and second things related to passengers. I have also included many links to the pages dealing with different topics, as the following list was written for the year 2024 summer trip in Europe. The following text and links do not contain advertisements but I present pages and things that have significantly helped me when preparing a road trip. If you are reading this post later or you are going on a road trip far in the future, it is always worth reviewing things in the light of the latest information.
And then it is time to start the engine!”
Things related to car - Driving in Europe
– Driving license / International Driving Permit (IDP)
Driving licenses issued in EU countries are usually valid in other EU countries based on the Driving License Directive. In some European countries, an international driving permit is recommended. However, the requirements of each country can be found, for example, on the Autoliitto website.
– Technical part of the registration certificate
You will need the technical part of the registration certificate when you driving abroad (including Åland). As the owner of the car, you can order it from the Traficom website. The document is free of charge and will be delivered by post.
– Power of attorney (if necessary)
If your name does not appear in the registration extract as the owner or holder of the vehicle, you also need a power of attorney. I that case, you have to ask it from the car owner or finance/leasing company to drive the car abroad.
– Car insurance (motor liability insurance / full comprehensive insurance)
According to The Finnish Motor Insurers’ Center website, the motor liability insurance granted in Finland is valid in all EEA countries and Switzerland. EEA countries include the following countries.
However, the content of the full comprehensive insurances and the extent of compensation can vary abroad. I checked that my own insurance company’s full comprehensive insurance is valid abroad. It is still mentioned that the substitute car insurance is only valid in Finland. Also, the theft insurance and deductibles of the full comprehensive insurance can vary from country to country. Therefore, you should check the validity, terms and conditions of your car insurance cover abroad from your own insurance company.
– Green Card
The Green Card is an international certificate of valid motor liability insurance. Outside the Nordic countries, the Green Card is mandatory in many countries according to The Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre website. However, it’s worth taking it with you on the trip even in those countries where it is only recommended. Having a Green Card can make handling in case of possible accidents with local authorities easier.
The Green Card can be ordered from your car insurance company. It is free of charge and can be printed online. I received my Green Card the very next day after the order. However, according to the my insurance company, the order should be done no later than a week before the trip. You should also check the information of your card by yourself. I had to order the card again due to incorrect dates concerning the validity period. Personally, I would recommend ordering the card as soon as your new insurance period has started. The card is still valid until the end of the whole insurance period. You should make sure that the validity doesn’t expire before the trip to avoid ordering it later again.
– International Accident Statement
It is recommended to print out an international accident statement from The Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre website. You probably need it in case of a possible traffic accident.
– Mandatory safety equipment for the car
In Finland, the only mandatory safety equipment for the car is a warning triangle. However, there are different regulations concerning to safety equipment in different European countries. In some countries, a first aid kit, a powder fire extinguisher or a reflective vest, are mandatory equipment. You should check those requirements in different countries before your trip. If you don’t know which countries you’re going to visit, it’s a good idea to order them at home. For example, getting a reflective vest for a car is not a big financial investment. It still significantly improves the visibility and safety of people outside the car in the dark.
You can find these equipment cheaply in many department stores. However, it is good to compare, for example, the content of first aid kits when making a choice. Also whether you want to get a 2 kg powder fire extinguisher directly required for bigger cars or boats. You should also take special care to secure the powder fire extinguisher in the trunk. The loose objects can cause greater risk of injury in case of the car accident.
– Other necessary items
You should make a list of other items you will probably need on the trip. At least, a car charger or a power bank can be good options to take with. Also, when traveling abroad it is worth checking whether a different adapter is needed.
– Road tolls
Road tolls may be collected from drivers traveling by car abroad. Payments and payment methods can vary from country to country. There are road tolls mostly for large and fast roads or longer bridges and tunnels. Although most tolls are only a few euros, one of the most expensive is certainly the Øresund bridge. This bridge connect Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark and costs even 60e. Tickets can be purchased in advance (fee 470 DKK, year 2026) on the Øresund bridge website and if you sign up for the newsletter the discounted (-10%) fee is 420 DKK. The Storebælt Bridge in Denmark is also an expensive one, when crossing it costs 235 DKK, which is about 30 euros (year 2026). Furthermore, familiarize yourself with the local traffic.For example, in Norway, fines are noticeable even for a small amount of speeding.
In Norway, you can get discounts on road fees if you register in the Autopass system. You can order a toll transmitter for your car from one of the Autopass service providers before your trip. However, if you don’t want to do this, a toll invoice will arrive your home address about six months after the trip. The invoice is detailing the toll points and amounts where tolls are charged. However, by ordering a toll transmitter, you can get discounts. I recommend ordering “a tag” if you are going to make several trips to Norway. The same thing is if you drive across the whole country because there are significantly more toll cameras in southern Norway.
Please note that the Autopass tag also works on the mentioned Øresund bridge and The Storebælt Bridge in Denmark. By registering your Autopass tag number and creating a free additional agreement with The Storebælt Bridge, crossing the bridge costs 205 DKK instead of full price of 235 DKK (in year 2026). However, for a single or short trip to Norway, you can wait for the invoice afterwards. You can also pay the Danish bridge tolls when driving to the bridge, however without a discount. Read more about the Danish bridges as well as Norwegian road tolls, Autopass discounts and ordering an Autopass tag in this article.
– Environmental zones and Environmental Badge in Germany
There are also so-called environmental zones in some European countries. There driving is either prohibited or you have to buy an environmental sticker for the car’s windshield.
In Germany, an environmental sticker is demanded when driving in green zone area in a city center in many cities. On this website, you can check which German cities the environmental sticker is needed.
– Rescue sheet and sticker
The rescue sheet shows where the important parts affecting the rescue work are located. It shows, for instance, the best cut points of the car body or the locations of the airbags. The rescue sheet is not mandatory, but recommended for possible accident situations . You can print the rescue card for free from this website by clicking on the car brand and choosing a more specific car model. The rescue sheet is placed in the driver’s visor and a sticker indicating this is glued to the lower edge of the windshield on the driver’s side. Stickers can be obtained, for example, from Autoliito service points or K1 inspection stations.
– Car maintenance
The car should be serviced before going on a long journey. Due to high mileage, it is good to change the oil and oil filters. There is more stuff and thus weight in the car when driving a road trip. That’s why the condition of the tires and the air pressure of the tires should be checked. Also, CRC FIX Tire Repair Foam can be good to take on the trip. It repairs a damaged tire by forming a protective latex film on the inner surface of the tire to reach the service point. In addition, pay attention to packing, because too many items visible from the car may attract thieves. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, loose objects can easily cause serious injurie
Things related to passengers - Traveling in Europe
– Passport / Identity card
As an EU national, you have the right to travel freely in the 27 EU member countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland carrying either a valid passport or a national identity card. Your travel document must be valid on the day of travel. More information can be found on the official website of the European Union.
– European Health Insurance Card
You can order a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by Kela. You just need to be insured in Finland or if Finland covers the costs of your treatment. The card allows you to receive necessary medical treatment when you travel or stay temporarily in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain or Northern Ireland. However, a European medical card is not required in the Nordic countries. More information and ordering the card on Kela website.
– Travel insurance
When traveling or driving abroad, you should take care of the validity of your travel insurance. Please note that some labor unions, e.g. OAJ, may include travel insurance in the union’s payments. Therefore, the union’s insurance may be enough. The certain credit cards offered by banks may also include travel insurance. Mostly they demand that a certain minimum share of the total travel expenses is paid with the credit card. It’s worth checking the terms of your insurance and the size of the insurance cover. Possible consider a need to expand it from your trade union or credit card company.
– Credit card
A credit card is often a handy help when traveling. It usually works more reliably abroad, for example when refueling, compared to a regular Debit card. Travel insurance can also be included in certain credit cards. Examples of credit cards that include travel insurance are Nordea Gold and OP Gold. Check the valid insurance conditions on the banks’ websites before making travel reservations. However, the following information was valid in April 2025.
Nordea Gold card travel insurance is valid when at least 75% of the total travel and accommodation costs have been paid with the card’s credit feature. Insured are cardholders aged from 16 to 78 years, as well as accompanying family members in accordance with the Nordea insurance conditions. The insurance is valid for trips abroad lasting up to three months.
OP Gold card travel insurance is valid for trips abroad, when 50% of the trip costs, i.e. transportation and accommodation , have been paid with the OP Gold card’s credit feature. The insurance covers the spouse or common-law partner living in the same household as the cardholder. Also their children under the age of 25 who are traveling with them on the trip, in accordance with the insurance conditions and insurance product information document.
– Internet and navigation
Downloading offline maps to your phone or car navigator in advance can make sense. It is, particularly, easy if you know which countries you are going to visit. However, Finnish SIM cards often include a good amount (often 20-30 GT/month or even more) free data in EU/EEA countries. If your SIM card is from outside Europe or you travel to outside of Europe with a Finnish SIM card, the price of data can become unreasonably high even with a small amount of usage.
Furthermore, it is worth noticing that navigation is possible with pre-loaded maps with relatively little data usage. You just have to turn on the data roaming, enter an address and start navigation. After it you can turn off your internet. I have my own experience with this from a trip to the USA, where using the internet with a Finnish SIM card is very expensive. However, the navigation remains as long as there is no need to make changes to the route. You just can not see current traffic information. SIM card operators also sell so-called travel internet but it often contains only 1 GT of data for a fee of around 20 euros. However, this might make sense, for example, on a trip to the USA, if you don’t want to get a local SIM card and your data usage is quite minimal.
– Document copies
It is worth taking copies of travel documents, reserved tickets, insurances, reservations, etc., in case those are lost or stolen. Paper copies work but you can also store documents electronically, for instance in Google Drive or in a specific e-mail folder. It make possible to access them from the different devices also and printing is probably possible abroad if necessary.
– Travel notification
The last but not least, it is recommended that Finnish travelers to foreign countries, and especially to risky areas, sign a travel registration in The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. You should also follow the up-to-date travel notifications for the countries you plan to visit during the trip.
“Huh, that was quite a list but as we all know, well planned is half driven!
And what is most important…
…Enjoy your trip on the European roads!”