Do I need a UK sticker to drive in Europe?

If you are driving abroad, you may need to display a UK sticker on your car to show where the vehicle is registered.

The rules around this depend on your destination and your registration plate. If you have a UK identifier with the Union flag on your number plate, you generally don't need a separate UK sticker when driving in Europe.

However, you must display a UK sticker when driving your car in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, regardless of what's on your number plate. You don't need a UK sticker when driving in the Republic of Ireland.

This driving in Europe guide highlights when and where it should be displayed if it is required.

Do I need a UK sticker for driving outside the UK?

If your number plate displays the UK identifier with the Union flag, you generally do not need a separate UK sticker when driving in Europe.

However, if your vehicle has no UK identifier, then you will need to have a UK sticker on the rear of your vehicle.

GB stickers have been replaced by UK stickers. If you have a GB sticker on your vehicle, it should be covered or removed before driving outside the UK.

If you're planning to take your own vehicle to Europe, always check the latest driving requirements on GOV.UK before travelling.

Which countries require a UK sticker?

You must display a UK sticker when driving in Spain, Cyprus, or Malta, regardless of whether your number plate already shows a UK identifier and Union Jack flag.

For other European countries, you generally do not need a separate UK sticker if your number plate already displays ‘UK’ alongside the Union Jack flag.

If it does not, you will need a UK sticker on the rear of the vehicle.

UK sticker always required

• Spain
• Cyprus
• Malta

UK sticker not required if already on number plate

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Always check the GOV.UK website before travelling.

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Where should I place the UK sticker?

The UK sticker should be clearly displayed on the rear of a vehicle.

However, it should not cover the number plate.

The UK sticker should be in black letters on a white oval background.

If you have a GB sticker anywhere on the vehicle, make sure you cover or remove it before driving outside the UK.

Countries that accept a number plate with UK identifier

Most European countries accept a number plate displaying the UK identifier with the Union flag, meaning you do not need a separate UK sticker.

However, Spain, Cyprus and Malta require a UK sticker on the rear of the vehicle regardless of what's displayed on the number plate.

For drivers travelling to the Republic of Ireland, you do not need a special identifier on the number plate or a UK sticker.

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