This isn’t a complete guide on all the stuff you need to be aware of, it simply focuses on a few things that have been raised as questions or have changed recently. Let’s start with what you need to have to be let into Europe and go from there.........
Passport - 10 Year Validity
OK, most of you know this but it would be a real pain to get wrong. Our EU cousins insist that passports are less than 10 years old at the time of entry in to the Schengen area of the EU, this is measured from the date of issue . Ignore the expiry date, establish the issue date and then count forward 10 years. After 10 years it’s no longer considered valid for entry into Europe and you won’t be let in.
There is also a requirement that the passport has an ‘expiry date’ of at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. The good news here is that the expiry date is the expiry date and does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue).
Record of Entry and Exit 1 - Stamps in Your Passport
Get your passport stamped in and out of the EU. Going into France on a bike and coming back the stamping of passports is automatic – but just be aware you need that exit stamp otherwise when you try to go back to France next time you’ll risk getting into a discussion as to when you actually left last time. More of a risk is if you go somewhere else on holiday, the Canaries or Madeira say, and the return stamp gets missed. The French Customs could well pick up on it when you next ride across to France if you haven’t got that return stamp.
Record of Entry and Exit 2 - New Entry/Exit System (EES)
After a several delays the EU introduced their new Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025. This replaces the need to stamp your passport although that will remain necessary at certain crossing points until April 2026.
The new system will register your biometric details, fingerprints and photo/facial recognition. You don’t need to do anything before you arrive at the border and there is no cost for EES registration but you do need to be alive to the fact that formalities at your first crossing after October may take longer than usual and at busy times, particularly in the first year, there may be delays at crossing points.
There is more information available on passports, EES and more here: https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
Not here yet but when it is finally introduced, probably towards the end of 2026, this is something you will have to organise before travelling. ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to the EU. It applies to all of us who are UK citizens and is linked to your passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Whenever you get a new passport, you will also need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation. With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you will be able to enter the territory of ‘Schengen Area’ European countries as often as you want for short-term stays for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
You can find more information on the dedicated EU site here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias
Vehicle Insurance
Despite Green Cards not being required some Insurance Companies are asking that you tell them when you are going abroad. My Insurers don’t seem to be able to give me a reason, but they are quite insistent. You might just want to check with your insurance company whether they also require you to do this. It’s not a problem if they do require it. They don’t charge, it only takes a simple e-mail and I’d rather tell them than risk having a post drama discussion as to why it is they might not want to honour my policy.
Documents To Carry With You
We all know it is necessary to carry certain documents. We need to be able to show a current Driving Licence, a valid Passport, your vehicle Logbook (the original V5C) and your Vehicle Insurance Certificate to the police if required.
There’s also a European accident report form (available from your insurance company and many insurance company websites) which is supposed to be carried and, in the event of a collision, both parties are supposed to complete it. (Yes, I have indeed been asked by a Gendarme to show him that I have a blank copy.)
Pre-Paid Fuel Charges at Fuel Stations
This is now common at fuel stations in Europe. The fuel station pump has a card reader, you put your payment card into the reader and it will authorise, say, up to €200. You fill up, say €30, and go on your way. Unfortunately some, not all, card providers may debit the €200 and then take up to 48 hours, sometimes more, to adjust the balance to the true debit of €30. If you are going a long way and fill-up, say, 3 times in a day your account may, albeit temporarily, be debited €600 for the €90 worth of fuel you’ve actually purchased. Here’s some suggestions:
- Use a pre-paid card loaded with Euros from a card provider that corrects the balance immediately. There are a few to choose from so shop around.
- If you use a credit card and have a decent limit this is less of an issue albeit you have to then pay the card issuers foreign exchange fee and your account is debited at the bank exchange rate. (Usually less attractive than a pre-paid card rate). However some banks are now issuing credit and debit cards with preferential terms on exchange rates – might be worth exploring with your bank.
- You can pre-pay in cash but that often involves two trips to the kiosk, one to pay and one to get your change (unless you know exactly how much fuel you will need).
- You can fill up at many ‘local’ fuel stations where they have staff in the payment kiosk and pay for the amount of fuel you’ve purchased in the more traditional way after filling up.
Breakdown Cover
A friend had a mishap a couple of years back on the way home through Belgium. This damaged his dash and knocked out the electrics. The Insurance company were very professional and organised prompt recovery of the bike.
His breakdown cover, from the RAC, was provided as an add-on to the policy. In the case of a major breakdown, it provided for repatriation of the rider.
In this case the RAC refused to help him. Their reason was that the vehicle had been incapacitated by an accident, not a breakdown, so he wasn’t covered. We couldn’t believe it. They offered him no support at all. Poor chap found himself with a choice of being stranded in Belgium or, worse, having to come home as my pillion!
On a positive note, there are ‘rescue’ policies that do cover all eventualities and will get you and/or your bike home whatever the cause of the problem. You may wish to look at your cover and, if appropriate, ask some ‘what-if’ questions of the provider to make sure your cover will provide what you expect of it.
Medical Cover
We all know we need to make sure we’ve got a valid GHIC card. Well worth having but it may not resolve everything – especially if you need something expensive.
So, we all get travel insurance with medical cover (don’t we?). Please make sure your policy will cover your needs whilst engaged in whatever activities you are intending to undertake.
Here’s the worrying story. A few years ago my bike insurers (of all people) sold me a travel/medical policy that would cover me whilst riding a motorbike abroad. All fine until I received and read the policy and discovered that it only provided cover whilst riding bikes below 125cc! Not something you would want to discover after an ‘event’. Make sure the cover you have meets your needs and ask some ‘what-if’ questions of the provider if you are in any doubt.
Put ICE Info on your Phone (In Case of Emergency)
Phones differ but these principles should work for most. Switch your smartphone on without going through security (i.e. do not show it your face, give it a thumb print, tap in the code or anything else that you might do to enable the phone to recognise you). The phone will come up with a front screen upon which will be the word EMERGENCY. Click EMERGENCY and the screen will change and give the options of making an emergency call or allowing you to click on *Medical ID* (or similar). If you’ve been clever, you will have already loaded onto your phone such information as your blood group, medical conditions, allergies, prescription drugs, emergency contacts and so on. System Settings will tell you where to do this.
This is the way, heaven forbid, if you ever end up injured in an incoherent heap a paramedic or anyone else can refer to your phone and establish quickly if you have any particular medical needs, prescribed medications, allergies etc etc and what they may and may not do to help you. It’s a very very good idea.
Crit’Air Sticker
This is a French thing and may or may not be going away depending on whether they decide to abandon the concept of low emission zones, something which is apparently under debate in the French Parliament. Even if it is abandoned nationally, some local Municipalities may still decide to retain and enforce it.
The LEZ requirement prohibits vehicles of certain emission levels and requires a disc displaying the pollution standard of the vehicle for entry to the town.. Most newish bikes seem to meet the higher requirements. The disc has a once only cost of less than £4 and is ordered via email. It’s not vital even now unless you are planning on going into a large town like Paris or Rouen (there’s a list of towns on the Crit’Air website link below). Low risk? Almost certainly but it’s a one time purchase and for £4 I bought a disc.
More information here: Crit’Air site
Anything Else
If this doesn’t cover something you think is important let us know and we’ll publish an answer. If you have information or advice which might be helpful, do please send them in. We will publish everything useful and try to resolve anything unanswered.
