UK tourists have been told to ‘switch it off’ before visiting Europe this summer. Tourists driving in cars abroad have been warned to switch off the sat-nav setting before driving abroad to avoid a £1,300 fine over the summer holidays.
Motor Match advised: “UK drivers abroad need to ensure they are fully prepared with the required equipment when driving in Europe. Items such as a warning triangle, a high-visibility jacket, and a first aid kit are essentials.
“Also on the list is a magnetic UK sticker. Brits need to display a UK sticker clearly on their vehicle if the number plate features a GB identifier with the Union Flag, a Euro symbol, a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales, or numbers and letters only.”
They added: “Every driver should double-check their paperwork before heading overseas. A valid driving licence, car insurance details, and vehicle registration documents are needed at all times. Missing any of these could significantly disrupt your plans and result in fines of up to €750 (£640). It’s better to be over-prepared than to face any delays.”
They continued: “While using sat-navs, drivers must be aware of restrictions. In countries like France and Cyprus, sat-navs are prohibited and can lead to fines as high as €1,500 (£1,275) as they make drivers aware of speed cameras.
“It may be worth looking into whether you can turn the speed camera detection feature off.” Banned GPS systems can include sat navs and other navigation devices that show you where fixed speed cameras are. ‘Jammers’ which block the signal from a speed camera to stop you being caught are illegal, both here and abroad.
If you’re caught with one of the banned devices, you could be penalised. Penalties can include fines of up to €1,500 and confiscation of the device, the AA warns.