Riding in Europe
Guidelines for riding in Europe
What documents do I need to drive in Europe?
- a full valid UK driving licence.
- your national insurance number.
- your passport as proof of identity.
- proof of vehicle insurance.
- proof of vehicle ownership (V5C certificate)
- up to date MOT certificate and vehicle tax.
- travel insurance documents.
The Federation of European Motorcyclist’ Association has put together a country by country guide. This is subject to change. You can find the information on their web page. Riding your motorcycle abroad
Download a copy of the list below
Austria
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Children passengers have to be over twelve years old and must be able to reach the footrests and handles.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is required to have a first-aid kit with you.
- Riding on motorways and several expressways requires an Autobahn vignette. At all motorway border crossings and most petrol stations in Austria there is a point of sale.
Belgium
Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h (Flanders 70), urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0.5 g/l.
- Children over the age of eight may travel on the back of the motorcycle.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- You must wear a safety vest when your bike breaks down on a motorway or on a road where stopping and parking are prohibited.
- Motorcyclists (including passengers) must wear gloves, long-sleeved jacket and long trousers (or a one-piece suit with long sleeves), and boots that protect the ankles.
Bulgaria
Maximum speeds for motorcycles: motorway: 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50km/h (for cars: 130/140, 90, 50)
- Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l.
- It is required to have a first-aid kit with you.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- The minimum age for a child to be on the back is 12 years (unless they are in a special child seat).
Croatia
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Cyprus
Maximum speeds: motorway: 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (sometimes 65 or 30 km/h, depending on the density of the population).
- Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight day and night.
- Children passengers have to be over twelve years old.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
Czech Republic
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressways: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l.
- Children passengers have to be over twelve years old.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is required to have a first-aid kit with you.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Denmark
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed.
Estonia
Maximum speeds: motorway: 90 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l.
- It is forbidden to carry a child younger than twelve as a passenger.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Finland
Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h (100 in the winter), non-urban roads: 80 or 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (30 or 40 km/h in some city centers).
- Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed.
- Riding on bus lanes is not allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed, maximum 80 km/h (trailer with suspension) or maximum 60 km/h (trailer without suspension).
- Motorcycles have free parking areas in many cities, marked with signs. Generally motorcycle parking is not free.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l (BAC) or 0,22 mg/l alcohol in breath.
- Children as passenger must be secured in a suitable seat, footrests and a approved helmet.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight or daytime running lights on in the daytime.
France
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h (110 in rainy conditions), expressways: 110 km/h (100 in rainy conditions), non-urban roads 80 or 90 (see below) km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- From 1 July 2018, speed limits on secondary or non-urban roads have gone down from 90 to 80km/h. This 80 speed limit concerns only bidirectional roads without a central separator.
- Filtering through a traffic jam is generally not allowed. It is under trial in five cities (Paris, Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon), with a maximum speed of 50 km/h.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Children passengers under 5 years must use an approved seat with handles and footrests. Children over 5 years must reach the footrests. Well fitting helmet is mandatory.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
- Riders and passengers are required to wear CE certified gloves.
- French motorways are operated by private companies, with most featuring tolls that can be paid in cash or with a Mastercard or Visa card.
- It is forbidden to have a speed camera warning system in your navigation system.
- Vehicles driving in Paris from Monday to Friday between 08.00h and 20.00h need to have a ‘Crit’ Air’ sticker, which shows the vehicle emissions and if the vehicle is allowed to enter Paris. For vehicles not registered in France, you can order the Crit’Air sticker here. Please note the LEZ of Paris will be extended to the surrounding suburbs in July 2019 and therefore, use of Euro 1 motorcycles will be banned in the whole area and not only Paris.
- Be aware that the French cities of Lyon, Grenoble and Lille currently have emergency emissions schemes, an emergency low emission zone for Strasbourg and Toulouse was implemented. This means that restrictions can be placed on vehicles if pollution is expected to reach a particular level. If visiting these cities, it may be beneficial to order a Crit’Air sticker.
- As a foreigner, you have to wear reflective stickers on your helmet, just like the French.
Germany
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h (recommended), non-urban roads: 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed, but the maximum speed (also on the highway!) is 60 km/h.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Children under the age of seven must use a special seat.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is recommended to have a safety jacket with you.
- It is recommended to have a first aid kit with you.
- It is compulsory for glasses or contact lens wearers to carry spare glasses.
Greece
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressways: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l for motorcyclists, 0,5 g/l for car drivers.
- It is required to have a first aid kit with you.
- Towing a trailer is allowed for visitors.
Hungary
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressways: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Iceland
Maximum speeds: asphalt roads: 90 km/h, gravel roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is not allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0.5g/l.
- Children that are six years or younger need back support; children must be able to reach the footrests and wear a approved helmet.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Ireland
Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0.5g/l.
- It’s illegal to carry or use radar detection equipment. If you have a navigation system that shows fixed speed cameras, you must deactivate this function.
Italy
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h (in case of rain, snow or any other precipitation 110 km/h), non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed for foreigners.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Children older than five years may ride on the back of the motorcycle.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Latvia
Maximum speeds: non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Liechtenstein
Maximum speeds: non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (there are no motorways)
- Alcohol limit: 0,8 g/l.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- Children have to be able to reach the footrests, children under seven have to be in a suitable seat.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
Luxembourg
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Children twelve years and older may ride on the back of the bike.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Malta
Maximum speeds: motorway: 80 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,8 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is not allowed.
Netherlands
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, express ways 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
Norway
Maximum speeds: motorway: 100 km/h (some 110 km/h), non-urban roads: 80 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- When towing a trailer, the speed limit is 80 km/h for a trailer with brakes or a brakeless trailer with a max. total weight up to 299 kg. If a brakeless trailer weighs 300 kg or more, the limit is 60 km/h.
- Bikes are allowed in bus lanes (sidecars and trikes are not).
- Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Poland
Maximum speeds: motorway: 140 km/h, non-urban roads: 100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l.
- With a child under seven years as a passenger the speed limit is 40 km/h.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
Portugal
Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, expressway: 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a motor trailer is allowed at a maximum speed of 80/100 km/h.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Children older than seven years may ride on the back of the bike.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Romania
Maximum speeds: motorways: 130 km/h, non-urban roads: 90/100 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Slovenia
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressway: 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Children twelve years and older may ride on the back of the bike.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
Slovakia
Maximum speeds: motorway: 130 km/h, expressway 110 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,0 g/l.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
- It is compulsory to have a first aid kit with you.
- Trikes and bikes with side cars must carry a warning triangle.
- Motorcyclists (or their passengers) are not allowed to drink, eat or smoke while riding.
- Children passengers must be at least twelve 12 years old.
Spain
Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, express ways 100 km/h, non-urban roads: 90 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- It is compulsory to have a safety jacket with you.
- Towing a trailer is allowed, but only during the day. The maximum speed is 10% lower than the normal maximum speed applicable to the towing vehicle (on the highway this is 108 km/h (120 km/h -10%)).
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l.
- Children passengers must be at least twelve 12 years old, seven when riding with their parents. They have to wear a approved helmet.
Sweden
Maximum speeds: motorway: 120 km/h, non-urban roads: 70 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0,2 g/l.
- Towing a trailer is allowed, maximum 80 km/h.
- Children under seven years do not have to wear a approved helmet, but they have to wear head protection, like a bicycle helmet.
- Motorcyclists are allowed to use some bus lanes in Stockholm.
- Areas signed ‘Motorcycles’ are generally free to park motorcycles and mopeds with two wheels.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
- Trikes and bikes with side cars must carry a warning triangle
Turkey
Maximum speeds for motorcycles: motorway: 80 km/h, expressways: 80 km/h non-urban roads: 70 km/h, urban roads: 50 km/h (for cars: 120 km/h, 110 km/h, 90 km/h, 50 km/h)
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Alcohol limit: 0,5 g/l (0,5 g/l when towing a trailer).
- Children passengers have to be over twelve years old and must be able to reach the footrests.
- It is compulsory to have your headlight on in the daytime.
United Kingdom
Maximum speeds: motorway and dual carriageways: 112 km/h, non-urban roads: 96 km/h, urban roads: 48 km/h
- Alcohol limit: 0,8 g/l (0,5 g/l in Scotland).
- Filtering through a traffic jam is allowed.
- Towing a trailer is allowed.
- Children may ride on the back of the bike but must be able to reach the footrests.
- Daytime running lights/headlights are not compulsory except when light conditions are poor.