Soon the summer holiday will be upon us – and for some, that means a long drive; namely the drive to the summer holiday destination. As with so many other things, it is important to be well-prepared before you as a family embark on the long drive – therefore, we at Mammashop.dk have tried to gather some general tips and tricks as well as good advice for the self-drive holiday with children.
Check the car before departure
It is always a good idea to check that everything is in order with the car – but leading up to such a long drive with the whole family, as the self-drive holiday entails, it is of course an extra good idea.
The most important things to check on the car before departure are according to FDM:
- Gas
- Tire pressure (remember, for example, more tire pressure in the rear tires if you have a lot of luggage)
- Tread on the tires (preferably follow FDM's guidelines no matter what the law says)
- Oil
- Have the brakes checked at a workshop
Documents and extra equipment in the car
Of course, there are always some documents you need to have with you when you drive in the car – but if the road trip goes outside Denmark, there are some extra documents you need to be aware of – and thus remember to bring. For example, you should remember the green card (insurance) as well as possibly the red card.
Additionally, you should remember that in some countries there is a requirement to have safety vests in the car for all passengers – so to be on the safe side, you should have them in the car almost regardless – because if the car should break down, and the little ones need to get out, it is very nice that they are easy to spot for other road users.
Some of the things that could be advantageous to have in the car on the self-drive holiday are:
- Currency / credit card
- Health insurance card (and vaccination card for children) + blue EU health insurance card
- Passport (and possibly visa)
- Registration certificate for the car.
- Warning triangle and possibly fire extinguisher
- Safety vests for everyone (drivers + passengers) – and possibly earmuffs for the little ones
- First aid kit
- GPS and/or map
- Water and snacks (if you should break down in a hot place, it’s good to have!)
- Blankets or similar (if you should break down in a cold place)
- Games, toys & entertainment for the children (a so-called “Dad, when will we be there” survival kit).
- Sun shades for the side windows in the car.
- Storage boxes for the children's toys etc.
- Seat protectors
Car seats on road trips in Europe – what are the rules, age limits, etc.?
We Danes generally have a fairly healthy relationship with how and for how long we use car seats and booster seats for the children – simply because we care so much about safety.
The same goes for many European countries – and in some countries, the requirements are even stricter.
Most European countries require car seats for all children under 3 years old.
Additionally, there are countries – e.g., Ireland and Germany – that require a booster seat for older children.
At the same time, there are actually also rules in almost all countries that prohibit children under 12 years from sitting in the front seat without such a booster seat.
In other words, there are very different rules regarding this – but fundamentally, it is a good rule of thumb that a car seat should be used for children under 3 years and a booster seat for children under 12 years.
Planning the actual road trip – allow plenty of time
When everything is packed and ready – and you are about to leave – the long drive may seem overwhelming. However, you can avoid this by taking some time to plan a little – for example, you can plan overnight stays and similar, and if you have a little one who needs changing, it is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with which rest areas have the facilities required for changing the baby.
Additionally, it can also provide peace of mind – and make the drive a bit more pleasant – if you have ensured that you give yourself plenty of time before departure – both for the actual driving but also for breaks. The road trip should ideally be so pleasant that you feel the vacation starts as soon as you leave home.
Road tax, vignette, speed fines, etc. – how does it work?
There are very different rules regarding speeding violations in the various EU countries – and you can thus receive very high fines for violations, where in, for example, France, you can get fines of up to 10,000 DKK for exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h.
So in addition to the extra convenience and not least the safety of the family, there are also financial benefits to having planned extra time, so you do not have to rush. Fines can often be very high – and you would definitely rather spend that money on your vacation.
Furthermore, it can be a jungle with the many vignettes, road taxes, etc. – and in some countries you even need to ensure that you have purchased the vignette before you enter the country to avoid fines.
FDM has created a detailed guide regarding fine rates in the various EU countries.
Other relevant legislation for the car trip
Since you may have to cross the border and drive in countries other than Denmark, it is always worth checking the local legislation – but there are some things that are generally good guidelines regarding how to behave on European roads.
- Lights: As in Denmark, most countries require that you have your lights on the car at all times – so stick to that.
- Mobile phone: Almost all countries prohibit (as in Denmark) talking on a handheld mobile phone – so keep your hands off of it.
- Safety kit: As mentioned above, almost all countries require that there is a reflective safety triangle in the car as well as safety vests with reflectors for all passengers in the car. Additionally, it is also recommended to have ear protection for the little ones – in case, for example, the car breaks down, and you need to stay close to busy roads.
- Environmental requirements: In many larger cities, there are environmental requirements for cars – so the car must meet minimum standards to be allowed to drive in the city.
10 quick tips for a good, comfortable self-drive vacation with children
- Check tire pressure, tire tread, windshield washer & coolant, engine oil, and fuel before departure.
- Safety vests and warning triangle MUST be in the car.
- Make sure to know the rules regarding child seats and booster seats in the countries you will be driving in.
- Leave in good time – and ensure to schedule plenty of breaks. Both for your and your family's safety, as this way you ensure that you do not become drowsy or similar – but also to avoid speed fines and to start the vacation right from departure.
- Have all important documents in the car – passport, insurance papers, health insurance certificates, etc.
- Remember to have water, snacks, and blankets in the car – just in case the car breaks down.
- Be aware of road tolls, vignettes, etc. before departure.
- Be prepared with your "Dad/Mom, when will we be there" survival kit in the form of toys, sunshades, seat protectors and similar items for the children, so they also have a pleasant journey.
- Always have GPS and/or maps in the car.
- And for the fathers – remember that the drive is also part of the vacation, so you can pamper the lovely mothers right from when you leave home (and even before).
Have a great holiday to you and your family from Mammashop.dk.
