Taking your electric car aboard: everything you need to know

But if you’re driving an electric car abroad, you might have a few questions. Here we answer those we’re asked most often, including things like what paperwork you need and where you can charge up your electric vehicle abroad.

What do I need to drive abroad?

There are a few essentials you need to drive abroad legally. First up, the obvious – your driving licence (not provisional). Check it’s still in date, as they need to be renewed every 10 years.

Next, you need to ensure your car insurance covers you for driving abroad. Most policies include some level of European cover, although you may need to extend this to fully comprehensive as some insurers may ask to be told when you’re going abroad and only provide third-party cover when you do (lease customers are required to have fully comprehensive cover). It is also worth noting that as part of your insurance plans you may be required to take your motor insurance certificate.

As well as personal travel insurance, breakdown cover is another essential you should have. If this isn’t included as part of your motor insurance or contract hire agreement, make sure you arrange it before you set off. 24-hour roadside assistance, emergency accommodation, alternative travel arrangement and recovery of your vehicle back to the UK are all preferable things for inclusion in a policy.

Taking your lease car abroad

When you lease an electric car, the vehicle funder becomes the registered keeper of the vehicle.

To drive it abroad, you will need to obtain the appropriate foreign travel documentation.

This includes a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (also called a VE103) and a letter of authorisation from your lease company. This is something we can help you with, or you can apply for it directly through the RAC. It’s best to organise this in as much time as possible. A couple of weeks should be fine, but there are options if you need a quick turnaround.

However, it is worth noting that if you are hiring or borrowing the vehicle to take abroad e.g., a company-owned vehicle then you’ll need a letter of authorisation from the registered keeper of the vehicle as well as the original vehicle registration document or a vehicle on hire certificate as we mentioned previously.

Legal requirements and key considerations

There are some other things to consider to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible. Check any relevant legal requirements such as speed limits, local laws and laws regarding child restraints. You’ll need a first aid kit in your car if you enter certain countries in Europe, with other legal requirements including a fire extinguisher, reflective jacket, warning triangle, headlamp beam reflectors and spare bulbs.

In terms of your car itself, it’s a good idea to check things like your spare wheel (if you have one), and that your tyre pressures are correct for the weight you’re carrying. Fix a GB/UK sticker on the back of your car if the number plate doesn’t have a UK identifier, and pack your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It’s also wise to inform friends or family members of your planned itinerary. Give them a copy of where you’ll be and when letting them know about any changes as necessary.

How much should I charge my electric car?

If you’re wondering how much to charge an electric car, it’s often advisable to charge up to around 80% of full capacity to prolong optimum battery life.

You may wish to go beyond this when you’re abroad, however, as you may prefer to have more range in reserve. This may particularly be the case if you’re covering large distances either to get to your destination or if you’re visiting several different places.

Is there electric car charging stations abroad?

Driving abroad can be a real pleasure. Long, open roads through varying landscapes can give you a whole new perspective on the countries you visit.

But You’ll need to make sure there are suitable electric car charging stations along those roads if you drive an EV. It’s also vital to make sure that you’re able to pay to use them. The faster your car can recharge the better in terms of wait times, while you may want to use an electric car charging stations route planner to map out your trip. As with longer UK journeys and staycations, it pays to plan ahead and do your homework to find the best places to charge along your route.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car abroad?

Like in the UK, there are different operators which provide charge points in foreign countries. Prices vary accordingly, but also like here, it’s usually best to have an account with an operator to get the lowest prices. It’s not always possible to find chargers where you can use contactless debit and credit cards, with most points accessed using a network RFID card, key fob or app.

Happily, there are services out there which you can use to create an account that works with several different networks, keeping down the number of apps or cards you need.

Driving a Tesla abroad

If you have a Tesla, you’ll be pleased to know there’s currently over 600 Tesla charger locations across Europe with over 6000 chargers which span over 27 countries. There are more than 2,000 Tesla Supercharger stations around the world, while you can use the Go Anywhere route planner to plot your journey. You can also top up your battery with other networks when you drive a Tesla.