It matters where you put your phone when driving in this country: you could end up paying if you don’t know these rules

Even as an experienced driver, it’s worth preparing in advance for a European road trip, as driving regulations for passenger vehicles can differ significantly – and sometimes even surprisingly – between countries. In Portugal, for example, using a dashcam is prohibited, and in many countries, no device that obstructs your view may be mounted on the windshield below the line of the sun visor. So if you usually place your phone on the windshield, it’s best to find a new spot for it before you travel.

If you wear glasses, you could easily get fined when stopped by the police in France, Spain, or Switzerland. That’s because these countries require you to carry a spare pair of glasses at all times, and you may be asked to present it at any moment.

If you’re travelling with a child, be sure to check the regulations regarding booster seats, as in most European countries, only children taller than 1.35 metres can sit in a regular seat – and in some countries, the minimum height requirement may be even higher.

While at home we’re used to driving 130 km/h on highways, this speed could lead to serious penalties in several European countries. Malta, for example, is very strict about speed limits: the maximum allowed speed on highways is just 80 km/h. You’ll also want to ease off the gas in Norway, Cyprus and the Netherlands, where the limit is 100 km/h. In Latvia and Sweden it’s 110 km/h, while Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland and Portugal allow up to 120 km/h.

Some countries are more lenient: in Poland and Bulgaria, the maximum speed is 140 km/h, and in Germany, some highway sections have no speed limits at all – though 130 km/h remains the recommended speed. Interestingly, in some countries, speed limits vary depending on weather conditions: in France, for instance, you can normally drive at 130 km/h, but this drops to 100 km/h when it rains, and to just 50 km/h in poor visibility, such as thick fog. In Estonia, it’s simple: you can drive 110 km/h in summer, but only 90 km/h in winter.

It’s wise to follow the speed limits, as speed cameras look different in every European country – in Italy, for instance, they might even resemble a mailbox – so relying on your eyes or GPS might not help. Fixed speed cameras are especially common in Belgium and Malta, but Italy, Croatia, and Austria also have extensive systems, and you’ll find radar, laser, and in-car mobile detection devices in use.

It’s not just speed limits you need to watch out for – you could also run into trouble if you’re unaware of toll payment rules in European countries. In Hungary, the system is fully electronic and invisible, but toll payment is still mandatory. In countries with similar systems – like Romania or Slovakia – it’s still easy to accidentally end up on a toll road. In Hungary, you have 60 minutes from entering a toll road to purchase a vignette, as the validity starts one hour before the time of purchase. But not all countries operate this way. In Slovakia, for example, you must register your vehicle and purchase the vignette before entering the road.

Some countries use both traditional stickers and new digital systems – like Austria, where forgetting to pay can result in a €120 surcharge the moment you enter a toll road.

There are, of course, simpler cases: in Germany, highways are completely free for private vehicles, and in most other countries, toll systems are barrier-based, making them almost impossible to miss. This system is used in Italy, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Croatia, and Poland.

Even if you’ve bought the toll vignette in time and obeyed the speed limits, Austria may still fine you if you fail to maintain the 30-metre following distance – this is measured by special cameras in the country. Be especially careful to follow the limits in sections marked IG-L, where the restriction serves environmental purposes, and the fines for speeding may be much higher depending on air or noise pollution levels.

In Italy, about one-third of the highways measure the average speed of passing vehicles. In practice, this means that the system calculates your average speed based on the distance and time between two checkpoints. If the result indicates you’ve been speeding, you’ll receive a fine. In France, drivers who fail to keep right may also be stopped and removed from the highway.

In Romania, the road traffic law has recently been expanded to include the concept of aggressive driving – which includes dangerous tailgating, unnecessary braking, forcing others off the road, flashing headlights, honking, weaving between lanes, or revving the engine loudly – all of which can lead to significant fines.

It’s important to respect traffic rules, as fines can arrive even years later – either to your home mailbox or, in the case of a company vehicle, to the fleet manager, who will automatically pass the fine on to the lessee. Since there is no unified EU regulation regarding penalties, each country determines its own fine amounts and procedures. However, EU member states do provide mutual legal assistance for actions that are considered punishable under both the issuing and receiving country’s national law.

This information-sharing applies to eight specific offences: speeding, failure to wear a seatbelt or helmet, running a red light, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, using unauthorized lanes, illegal use of mobile phones or other communication devices while driving. This list clearly highlights which traffic violations are most heavily targeted by EU authorities.