In this guide
Packing essentials for who is travelling with you
Your packing list will look different depending on if you’re planning a solo road trip or travelling with family, friends or your partner. You might even want to bring your dog or cat along instead of leaving them behind. You’ll want to pack the essentials to save time stopping on the road looking for things you need.
Solo traveller must-haves
If you’re embracing a solo traveller road trip with the freedom to move at your own pace, some useful things to bring include:
- One bag you can comfortably carry yourself
- Power bank and portable charger
- Paper map as backup if digital devices fail
- Personal safety alarm
- Travel pillow and blanket for breaks
- Emergency kit with first aid, torch and jump cables
- Playlist and podcast
- Snacks and drinks
Couple, family and friends’ essentials
If you’re doing a couples road trip or embarking on a family or friends one, some useful things to pack include:
- Car games or audiobooks for long stretches
- Reusable water bottles for everyone
- Travel pillows for comfort
- Car charger with multiple ports
- Foldable chairs and blanket for picnic stops
- Extra snacks and drinks
- First aid kit
Packing for pets
If you’re bringing your pet or pets, some things you’ll need to take include:
- Pet carrier and bedding
- Pet passport or health certificate for Europe
- Microchip and up to date vaccinations
- Water bowl and pet food
- Poo bags and cat litter
- Favourite toys
- Dog and cat lead for breaks
Documents to take on your road trip
Don’t forget you’ll need to bring specific documents to help you deal with any problems that might arise. Whether it’s a breakdown or a border check point, you’ll need to be able to show the required documents. Keeping paper copies in the glove box is a good option. It’s also a good idea to take photos of all your documents and save them somewhere safe on your phone in case you misplace them.
Bring these on every trip, even short journeys:
- Driving licence
- V5C logbook or rental agreement
- Car insurance certificate
- Breakdown cover details
- Travel insurance documents
- Global health insurance card (Ghic) if you’re visiting EU countries
- Passports for all travellers
- Visa or entry documents if needed
Bring a prepaid travel card on your road trip
Car insurance: all you need to know
Car insurance isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s your safety net if something goes wrong. When taking a road trip abroad, there are a few extra things to look at. Here’s what you need to know, whether you’re driving your own car, sharing or renting.
Driving your own car
- Check your policy covers road trips and driving abroad if you’re crossing borders
- Some UK insurance policies only cover Europe for a set number of days so call your insurer and check
- Make sure your insurance includes breakdown cover (often an add-on but worth it if you break down in another country)
- Keep your insurance certificate and breakdown details in the car and on your phone
Borrowing or sharing a car
- You need to be a named driver on the car owner’s policy
- Temporary insurance is usually easy to arrange for a few days or weeks. You could ask the car owner to be added to their policy or search online for another insurance provider
- Check if you’re covered for the countries you’re driving through
Renting a car
- Rental companies include basic insurance, but there’s often a big excess (the amount you pay if there’s damage)
- You can buy extra cover from the rental company or get standalone excess insurance before you travel
- Check what’s covered, look for tyre, windscreen and theft cover as well as accidents
- Always check the car for damage before you drive away and take photos as evidence
Don’t forget about travel insurance
Once you have your car insurance confirmed, you’ll need to remember to get travel insurance. This is essential for any road trip and can help cover with unexpected things like medical costs, stolen baggage and cancellations.
Post Office Travel Insurance allows you to choose cover for single trips or multiple trips in a year for yourself and other passengers, across Europe and around the world. Give yourself peace of mind before you drive off.
Tips for managing travel money
Budgeting ahead can make your journey smoother. Set a daily spending limit and keep track of fuel, food, and accommodation costs. Don’t forget to factor in unexpected costs like tolls or parking fees. Once you know the countries you’re driving through and visiting, you’ll need to work out how much foreign currency you’ll need.
You could use the Post Office Travel Money City Barometer or the Post Office Family Holiday Report to give you an idea of how much travel money you might need on a daily basis and across the whole trip.
Should I bring cash or card?
Bringing both a mix of cash currency and cards is a good idea. Bringing some cash will help you pay for things like tolls, parking, public toilets, markets and small cafés who might only take cash. It will also save you paying additional transaction fees withdrawing from ATMs abroad. Plus paying tips is easier with cash.
Bringing a prepaid travel card is a safe way to pay abroad and is almost accepted anywhere.
The Post Office Travel Money Card is a convenient, prepaid and reloadable travel card that means you don’t have to worry about carrying a large amount of cash abroad. It can be loaded with euros and 21 other supported currencies. It offers fixed exchange rates whenever you top up via the travel app. Plus, the card can be blocked or frozen if it gets stolen for extra security.
Read more: Choosing how to pay on holiday
Health and safety on the road
Health and safety should be a top priority on your road trip so it can be an experience to remember rather than one you’ll want to forget. You’ll want to make sure you’ve thought of everything you need for anyone with medical conditions and have the right safety measures in place to navigate any unexpected surprises on the road.
Managing your own or passengers’ health needs
If you take regular medicine, bring extra encase your road trip needs to be extended. Keep it in the original boxes with labels so you don’t get your medication mixed up when taking it. It will also avoid any confusion at borders.
Make sure you bring enough painkillers and car sick medication for any headaches or sudden sickness. Don’t forget to add antiseptic wipes, plasters and bandages to your first aid kit. Plus remember to keep your travel insurance documents in a safe place, plus your Ghic if you’re visiting EU countries.
Safety items and gadgets to take with you
- Reflective jackets and warning triangle for breakdowns
- Dashcam which is useful for evidence if an incident occurs
- Spare bulbs, fuses and tyre
- Fire extinguisher
- Ice scraper and de-icer (for winter and mountain road trips)
- Headlamp beam deflectors (if driving in Europe)
What to do in an emergency
- Familiarise yourself with emergency numbers (112 for Europe, and 999 or 112 for the UK)
- If you break down, put on reflective jackets before leaving the car
- Set up the warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the car
- Call for help, don’t try to fix major issues yourself on a busy road
- For medical help, call the emergency number or go to the nearest hospital
What to buy before you go
To have a smooth road trip without having to make too many pitstops, it’s best to buy certain things before you head off. This means you have more time to enjoy the sights on the journey and destinations you’ve mapped out. Remember hungry travellers can turn into grumpy travellers while bored kids can turn into whining kids.
Simple food and snack ideas for the drive
Pack plenty of food to keep everyone happy between stops and saves you spending money on your road trip:
- Sandwiches, bagels and wraps (easy to eat on the go)
- Fruit (apples, bananas, grapes are less messy and easier to eat in the car)
- Healthy snacks like nuts, cereal bars, rice cakes, crackers and popcorn
- Dark chocolate and sugar free jellies
- Pasta salads
- Bottles of water or juice
- Reusable cutlery and napkins
- Cool bag for things that need to stay cold
Things to keep the kids entertained
Road trips with children might seem a little more chaotic but they don’t have to be with the right essentials packed. It’s easier to have kids on the road when you have lots of things to keep them busy and entertained. Some ideas kids should give the green light to include:
- Audiobooks or children’s music playlists
- Tablet or phone loaded with films and games. Give them headphones too
- Colouring books and sticker books
- Travel games and I spy games
- Favourite toys or cuddly friends
- Tasty snacks, treats and drinks in between activity time
Make sure there’s enough cover for gadgets you’re taking on your travel insurance policy.
Read more: How to plan a road trip
Key takeaways
- Check your car insurance and breakdown cover are current and that you have suitable cover whether using your own, a rented or borrowed car. Don’t forget travel insurance
- Bring both cash and cards; a Travel Money card offers safe, easy access and fixed rates
- Pack safety items including reflective jackets, warning triangle, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, dashcam, spare bulbs, fuses and tyre, charging cables and banks along with your breakdown policy details
- Wear light, comfy unrestrictive clothing and sensible shoes
- Take things to keep children entertained, such as audiobooks, colouring books, and travel games
- Bring snacks, store medicine in original boxes, and pack your Ghic for European trips
Order a Travel money card for your road trip
Common questions
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Wear comfy layers and footwear, avoid tight clothing, bring pillows and blankets, pack water and snacks and don’t forget to pack a first aid kit and reflective jackets. It’s also handy to have wet wipes, tissues, hand sanitiser and sick bags close by encase of any spillages or travel sickness.
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Yes, if you’re driving in Europe you’ll also need to bring your Ghic (Global Health Insurance Card), V5C logbook, rental agreement and any visas or pet documents you need along with your standard documents like your passport, driving licence, car insurance and breakdown cover details you’ll normally take on a UK road trip.
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Put on your reflective jacket before you get out of the car, set up the warning triangle least 45 metres behind the car and call your breakdown cover provider to give details of your location. Stay safe by parking your car in a secure spot away from main road traffic and wait in a safe, visible spot by your car.
Other travel products
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Travel money
Order over 60 foreign currencies online or in selected branches. Pick up in any branch or get it delivered to your home
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Travel money card
Buy your prepaid Mastercard® that stores up to 22 currencies for better flexibility
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Travel insurance
Find the right cover for your road trip whether it’s a short or long break away
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