The decision the House of Commons makes regarding Brexit is going to complicate drivers’ lives. International relationships are changing and with those changes come new rules that will apply to UK drivers looking to travel or work in EU-affiliated nations.
What, specifically, will those roadway changes look like? UK residents may need to update some of their paperwork before taking to the road in order to comply with the new legislation a Brexit deal – or the lack thereof – institutes.
Will you need an international driving permit after Brexit?
If or when the UK leaves the EU, the nation’s drivers have previously travelled to without cause or care will not be so readily accessible. In fact, UK drivers may be required to procure international driving permits to access states that they once were able to visit freely.
You can readily obtain an international driving permit from your local post office. These permits are easy to carry next to your driver’s license and will serve you well when you’re trying to cross the border into Ireland or another EU state. These permits cost £5.50, but you’ll need to carry both the 1949 and 1968 versions.
This means you’ll need to spend a minimum of £11 to cross into some of the EU’s affiliated states. Road trips across the continent won’t be as easy as they once were, but with an international driving permit, you’ll be able to travel freely.
Will you need a Green Card?
A no-deal Brexit will also require drivers travelling into the EU to carry Green Cards. EU-affiliated states don’t require residential drivers to carry Green Cards, as the legislation in place protects applicable drivers in the case of an accident, regardless of where in the EU they get into said accident.
Without EU affiliations though, UK drivers will need a Green Card to remain insured outside of the UK. The good news is that most insurers who’re providing drivers with more than applicable minimum liability coverage will have Green Card coverage available. You’ll need to carry proof of insurance should you need car maintenance outside of the UK post-Brexit.
What happens if you get into an accident outside of the UK?
That said, a Green Card may still not enable UK drivers to make claims, should they get into an accident in the EU post-Brexit. Claims for accidents taking place outside of the UK won’t be able to pass through the UK Claims Representative or the UK Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
Instead, drivers in accidents will have to file a claim against the other party involved in the accident. Alternatively, they can file against the other party’s car insurance provider – but only the provider branch in operation in the country where the accident took place.
Seem strange? It’s certainly not straightforward. You’ll be facing a number of strange driving laws and legislative changes, though, in the case of a no-deal Brexit. That said, claims legislation will differ based on the country and on the UK’s ability to negotiate deals with each of the EU’s representatives.
Will you need a GB sticker?
In the case of a no-deal Brexit, UK drivers driving UK-registered vehicles will need to place a GB sticker in their rear window to represent their affiliation with the UK. That said, any drivers that have blue EU registration plates with the GB initials already engraved will not need to do so – unless, of course, no deal can be reached.
These stickers let law enforcement officials across all of the EU-affiliated states know where a driver comes from and under what legalities they’re normally operating. If the UK leaves the EU though, those legislations and their relationship with EU legislation will change, making the process of understanding driving legalities all the more difficult.
A GB sticker will be the first step in helping law enforcement representatives and other drivers interact more safely on the road.
What will career drivers need to do?
There is good news for international career drivers. Lorry drivers will still be able to use UK Driver CPC, or Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, qualifications to operate lorries in the UK and the EU. That said, drivers will still need to complete Driver CPC periodic training to retain their certifications.
Drivers who primarily work in the EU, however, may benefit from exchanging their UK Driver CPC for an EU CPC. This change will aid employees of EU-based companies and it will need to be conducted before Brexit officially takes place.
In short, the easy, long car rides of the past will be more difficult to replicate in a post-Brexit UK. Regardless of the outcome of the UK’s political moment, knowing what you’ll need to do in a no-deal situation can help you be prepared for the days to come.