Taking a hire van across the Channel (or North Sea) to Europe is surprisingly popular — a lot of people come to vanrental.co.uk looking for our European van hire page.

However, there are a few things you need to do to keep it legal and safe — and while most reputable hire companies will ensure you are properly prepared, it is always good to know what’s required for yourself.

In addition, if you are not familiar with driving on the wrong side of the road — especially in a van — then you need to take extra care.

Here’s a simple 5-point checklist to run through when arranging European van hire:

1. To use a hire van abroad, you need a VE103B Vehicle On Hire certificate, which proves that you have the hire company’s permission to take it out of the UK. You must have one of these and it must be an original — not a copy. More info here.

You will also need to know the van’s dimensions (height and length) when booking your ferry — make sure you ask the hire company.

2. You may also need extra insurance — check with the van hire company that their insurance provides cover in the countries you plan to visit. Most rental companies provide European breakdown cover as they don’t want their vans stranded abroad, but check — you may need to pay for it yourself. If the van doesn’t have a modern EU-style licence plate with the blue GB section, you will need a GB sticker (click  here for details).

3. Be aware of country-specific requirements. These include the need to carry a basic breathalyser in France and two reflective warning triangles in Spain. Many European countries require you to carry reflective yellow vests (hi viz) for use if you are forced to exit the vehicle after a breakdown or accident.

For a full, up-to-date guide, check the AA’s guide to compulsory equipment when driving in Europe.

4. Make sure you have maps or a sat nav that cover the areas you will be driving through. Remember that speed detectors and speed camera POIs on sat navs are illegal in some European countries. Leave your speed camera detector at home and switch off your sat nav POIs.

Don’t overestimate how far you can get in one day — driving distances tend to be longer than in the UK. Google Maps and The AA provide good European route planners.

5. Finally, take care when your are driving abroad. Make sure mirrors are adjusted carefully as this will help compensate for the different visibility you get when driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. Remember at all times you should be driving on the right: although it’s not difficult, it’s all too easy to get this wrong in a moment of carelessness.

The secret is concentration and what I call ‘driving deliberately’ – your driver’s autopilot might be ok in the UK, but it won’t work in Europe. Never just hop into the van and scoot away whilst carrying on a conversation or thinking about something else. Stop for a second, visualise your path onto the road/across the junction, and drive deliberately into the right position on the road.

After all of that, try to enjoy the experience — driving in Europe is generally more fun than driving in the UK and you can often see some amazing scenery on much less congested roads!