A quarter of British motorists flout foreign driving laws when they’re on holiday according to a recent survey – but even a forgotten GB sticker can lead to an on-the-spot fine.

The survey by Economy Car Hire found that holidaymakers frequently risk fines and even arrest for offences such as drink driving or forgetting to carry the right kit in their car.

Headlamp beam converters and warning triangles are required or recommended in most European countries, then there’s the fluorescent jacket, spare driving glasses and the paperwork... but for some people even the simplest things are forgotten.

Brian Rees, spokesman for P&O Ferries, which carries some 10 million passengers a year, says he’s seen it all – a couple arguing on the Dover quayside over who forgot to attach the caravan before they left home, or the man who diligently micro-chipped and vaccinated his dog, then left it in the garden at home.

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He says passports are also often left behind – because many people think they can travel anywhere in the EU without one.

In our video guide to driving on the continent above, AA Patrol of the Year Andy Taylor, runs through the equipment you need to take abroad, but there’s paperwork to remember too.

If you’re driving in Europe you should take your driving licence and paper counterpart, an international driving permit where it’s necessary, plus the vehicle registration document and insurance certificate if you're taking your own car.

If you're hiring a car, it might not necessarily come with the kit you need - so it's worth checking with the car rental company before you book.

Not carrying the required equipment can mean a fine of hundreds of pounds, and you can no longer hope a foreign number plate will mean you escape penalty.

The European Commission has drawn up a directive to allow foreign police forces to request the details of British drivers from the DVLA. The details of the new legislation are not clear at this stage but it could become law in the autumn, meaning British drivers will be pursued for driving offences on the continent.

It’s also worth familiarising yourself with the motoring laws before driving in an unfamiliar country – for example, in France a 50km/hour limit applies in many villages, even though it may not be signposted, while in Malta it is illegal to overtake a stationary school bus while children are disembarking.

While you can't learn the law verse and chapter, knowing the basics can help - and with the European Commission cracking down on driving offences abroad, staying the right side of the law means keeping your record clean. A speeding offence in Spain isn't only an unwanted souvenir - it could also raise your insurance premium, making your Costa holiday a memorable one for all the wrong reasons.

Need to know

For a full guide to driving abroad, the AA has a comprehensive section on its website about driving in Europe plus there’s advice on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website’s Driving Abroad section.

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