RAC can cover you against vehicle breakdown in Europe, with options available to suit your travelling requirements.

RAC European Breakdown Cover Basic and Comprehensive cover provides you with a wide range of benefits.

To supplement European Breakdown Cover, RAC also offer travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, amongst many other benefits.

Listed below are two areas for you to look through before you travel

• Items you are required to carry
• Recommended and useful products

If you're driving in Latvia your checklist requirements are:

• A valid UK driving licence - both the photo and paper parts
• A GB sticker on the back of your car
• Your motor insurance certificate
• Your V5 registration document if you're driving your own car or motorcycle - without it, you won't be able to take your vehicle out of the country
• Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights when you're driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way)
• A fire extinguisher
• A first aid kit
• A warning triangle inside the car in case you break down
• Winter tyres, from December to February. It's illegal to use them from May to September

You must also:

• Be 18 or over
• Wear your seatbelt at all times (you must have front seatbelts, rear seatbelts must be worn where available)

It's a good idea to have:

• A crash helmet to wear if you're riding a motorcycle
• Spare bulbs

Other things you should know:

• Petrol, diesel and LPG are readily available
• Children smaller than 1.5m must use an appropriate seat restraint or an adult lap belt
• Speed limits vary so they're are signposted
• The drink driving limit for most drivers is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (less than the UK limit of 80mg per 100ml). If you've been driving fewer than two years it's 20mg per 100ml of blood
• You must use dipped headlights at all times, when driving through Latvia
• You're not allowed to overtake a tram that has stopped to let passengers on or off
• Drivers must give way to pedestrians, even at normal junctions

Useful guides and maps

Michelin Motoring Atlas: Europe

What RAC can do for you

RAC offers great-value, flexible European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Sources: Foreign & Commonwealth Office, www.nationaldrivesafe.co.uk

Disclaimer: RAC are not responsible for the content of external websites. The information provided is correct as of August 2009 to the best of our knowledge and should be referred to for information purposes only - it should not be relied upon as formal advice. Please always check the current requirements of the country you are visiting before you leave.