The latest news, though nothing too dramatic, is yet another thing for us drivers from the United Kingdom to think about, which is when taking our cars on any future trips to any of the 27 EU nations, we now must slap on GB stickers—including when we’re visiting Ireland.
Sticking by the rules
The statement comes as ministers intensify their preparations before the planned 31st of October departure date.
After Brexit, if you’re a driver from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, and you visit Ireland, you’d better make sure you’ve remembered to buy and affix a GB sticker to your motor if you want to gain entry.
The advice applies to all UK-registered cars, including those from Northern Ireland. No longer will it be adequate for your number plate to show the GB letters against a blue background. When we and the EU go our separate ways, the demand from Ireland that we display our stickers becomes compulsory as a condition under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
Regarding an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is a permit that allows you to drive in countries where a UK licence isn’t enough, if you own a UK licence, you won’t need one to drive in Ireland. Even if the UK leaves without a deal, unless your visit to Ireland lasts for over 12 months, only then will you need an IDP.
It’s worth noting too, that if you get disqualified from driving while you’re in Ireland, you might also find yourself banned once you’re back home.
Bordering on ridiculous
Williams said:
‘While it might seem ridiculous that this will no longer be enough to let authorities know a vehicle is registered in the UK, the latest advice from the government is clear.
‘Anyone travelling to an EU country, including the Republic of Ireland, must display a separate white oval GB sticker on the rear of their vehicle.’
The RAC recommends that motorists prepare for further changes to the rules on overseas motoring, saying everything depends on what situations arise after Brexit and the deal we make (if any).
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that neglecting to display a GB sticker wouldn’t invalidate our motor insurance but still advised that we follow all the insurance conditions.
Prepare the way
You can apply for an IDP at the Post Office by taking along your full, valid, UK driving licence photocard, a passport standard photograph showing your recent, true likeness, and £5.50 for the application fee (payable with cash or by debit or credit card).
If you only hold an older paper licence, you must take with you your valid passport as proof of identification.
You could once apply to motoring organisations such as the RAC for IDPs but this stopped on the 1st of February this year. This means, if we have a no-deal Brexit, it’ll be more difficult to get a permit than it had before February.
If you need an IDP for Ireland, you’ll want the 1949 convention IDP, which is valid for 12 months and also covers you in Cyprus, Malta, and Spain. For anywhere else in the EU, you’ll need a 1968 IDP—valid for either three years or for as long your driving licence is valid (whichever is shortest).
Driving licence requirements vary across the world, so if you plan to rent a vehicle and you book in advance while in the UK, either ask the car rental company to confirm the driving licence requirements of the country you’re visiting or get an IDP as a precaution.
Remember, it’s our responsibility as drivers to check with the specific country’s driving authority about a country’s particular rules on driving.
Re-the IDP, I have got one every year for the last 20 odd years for driving abroad, although it is an inconvenience that you can no longer get one via the RAC or AA , ( you still had to print off the form, fill in and apply by post, by the way) it is now much easier to get one from a local issuing Post Office, my nearest being 3 miles away with easy parking, whereas before February 2019 you had to visit a city center Post Office (such as Sheffield, in my area) this was over 10 miles away and parking was a nightmare, really time consuming when I needed one at short notice. Can’t see how this process can be blamed on Brexit though. Just the fact that we may need one for some EU countries now .
No way am I sticking a GB sticker on the back of my car, only to have people point at the car/me and laugh hysterically.
Btw, the part of the island of Ireland that you are referring to is ALWAYS called The Republic…, not ‘sometimes’. Alternatively you could call it Eire
100% Spot on
Display your GB sticker with pride – no one is going to laugh at you, in fact quite the opposite because in the UK we respect democracy. In the republic your Government holds referendumsor changes the name of EU treaties until they get the right answer. In real democracies, you are only asked the question once. It is suprising that after becoming independent the republic surrendered that independence to the EU. In the UK we are taking back our independence and our friends around the world are surprised that the birthplace of modern democracy is running scared of running its own affairs.
Real democracy? Don’t make me laugh!
He means if we have a vote, the country abides by the decision of that vote and not winge that people didn’t know what they voted for, things have changed, or only old people voted.
It’ll only be a democracy when the Westminster balloons get on with doing what they were told and not trying to keep asking the same question until they get the answer they want.
If they had asked a legal question it would be legal but as the EU Exit referendum wasn’t legal, it was advisory, then it would be democratic BUT when the people responsible don’t know what they’re doing, David Cameron, then there is no democracy or government.
All referenda are advisory. They have no standing apart from that in the British Constitution.
So true! Well said.
I think you mean buffoons
Well said, as a more mature Scot I deprecate the Scottish Nose Picker mentality that all that is Scottish is great, all that is English is bad and by the way, we aren’t very good at governing ourselves. Can’t have Westminster doing it, so we will surrender all to Brussels. Sounds like a plan.
What nonsense!
Humbug?
Display your GB sticker with aplumb – no one is going to laugh at you, in fact quite the opposite because in the UK we respect democracy. In the republic your Government holds referendumsor changes the name of EU treaties until they get the right answer. In real democracies, you are only asked the question once. It is suprising that after becoming independent the republic surrendered that independence to the EU. In the UK we are taking back our independence and our friends around the world are surprised that the birthplace of modern democracy is running scared of running its own affairs.
I think I’ll just use the Saltire and “SCO” plate with the possible exception of France where an “Ecosse” oval would go down better.
The GB marking has never been a magnet for favourable treatment abroad but if anyone wishes to display it that is their choice and I have no wish to tell someone what they should do.
How TOTALLY WRONG you are, Alistair. There are still parts of Europe where they remember we saved them in WW2. In the Netherlands, for example, you cannot buy a drink on Liberation Day, and in other parts of Europe, the British driver is respected for being a safe and courteous motorist. So, don’t be so quick to run down our image abroad. Even our daring to defy the EU Bureaucracy, with Brexit, is bringing us respect from normal European citizens. Our Parliament may be despised, but that’s true of all politicians.
Well said Rick, running down our Country seems a favourite pastime for some.
I know. Some people actually voted to devastate the economy and make us a laughing stock. Good job we aren’t small minded little Englanders like them
Well said Rick and John.
If Alasdair wants to get fined for refusing to display the GB plate if that becomes a legal requirement then that is his problem. Until Scotland is independent of UK the EU can presumably demand a GB plate if we ever leave the EU. Of course he can display the Saltire and Ecosse plates as well.
Am I the only person sick of all the sniping at EU, GB, Scotland and Eire? Can anyone tell me when the decision about displaying a GB plate again was made? And who made it?
Unfortunately, the people like you who saved Europe are now all, like you, over ninety and few in number. Now we just have their whining baby boomer kids who think they are entitled to a free life and a fete when they wave their blue passport
Stick to the thread Phil. No need to be insulting.
Seems to me that you are the one whining and whinging. Get back in your nursery.
Try telling them that here in Crete, one of the most important and strategic areas for shipping in the campaign, not to mention as a crucial staging point for the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern African operations. Due to catastrophic idiocy from the British, Crete fell to the Germans, but this was ironed out of the British version of history due to the sinking of the Bismarck at that time.
The British totally screwed up – and command of the island was given to a NZ Major-General, Freyberg, who was far more successful – until the Brits screwed him up by deliberately failing to give him the necessary intel – they’d just cracked the Enigma code, but instead of divulging the information as being 100% accurate, they hinted at various, less reliable sources for the intel and Freyberg therefore made plans hedging his bets on what he was informed of being potentially unreliable intelligence reports. The Brits screwed Crete again – and I repeat, one of the most strategically important areas in the entire campaign.
British arrogance is well known and hugely disliked in every part of Europe that I’ve visited. Applying for residency in Holland, doors were being banged in my face until I explained that I was Scottish – smooth sailing from there – and similarly, applying for residency in Greece became a LOT easier once they realised I am Scottish. Your blinkered “we won the war” fantasy that you tell yourselves really does NOT win you the friends nor influence the people that you imagine, it’s a hangover from the extinct British Empire, which you can’t seem to get over that you have lost.
If you are going to tell people about history, please at least be factually correct. Your fairytale fuzziness is the sort of nonsense that brought Brexshit about in the first place – blithely unaware that you are now the laughing stock of the world, and that you have made Scottish Independence absolutely inevitable, and a reunited Ireland will quickly follow in order to prevent further bloodshed – which WILL happen after you close the border. So all that will be left of “Great Britain” will be England (“the brits”) and Wales – who will surely follow her Celtic sister nations into independence.
Supercilious ignorance and dismissiveness of facts lost the battle of Crete – it was the brave denziens of the island, armed with kitchen implements and farm tools who fought bravely beside the New Zealand heroes and defeated the Germans in the end – despite the bad intel from the brits, their astounding courage and bravery resulted in this critical staging point being recovered – without which, the war would have ended entirely differently. Brits abroad are well known for their ignorance, being full of themselves, and talking c**p. I’m very happy that I can distance myself and say that I’m Scottish, it makes travelling VERY much more pleasant that way. “Brits” are about as popular to the locals in Crete as the invading Germans are, BTW, but the friendly Cretans won’t tell you that to your face.
Brexit has made the UK an absolute laughing stock – where you get the notion of respect from is incredible to me – living on Crete in order to escape the Brexs**t nonsense – where locals discuss the politics with me while you stay at home dreaming up fairy tales. Running your country up might be a different way of putting it, but be very careful – pride comes before a fall, and you’ve set yourselves up for a big one.
An English relative of mine was a member of the Greek partisans in Crete. He lead an operation which led to a German General being abducted, put on a Royal Navy submarine and brought England. His name was Paddy Leigh Fermor. His name is remembered on Crete and Greece to this day.
I think you will find the Saltire and “SCO” plate will not be legal you don’t have independence yet but if you feel that strongly best of luck to you.
The SCO sticker will not be legal and after 2022 if any sticker is required it will be EU for all the Federal States of Europe. Country identification will be abolished for all EU states.
So the decision to hold a referendum in which you were allowed to say that you wanted to leave the EU was mde by the EU? We’ve always been running our own affairs, and have always had a veto on EU policies we didn’t agree with – which is why we’re not in the Eurozone. We also had the option to cap the number of people coming to the UK from EU countries , but both Labour and Conservative governments chose not to implement it.
Aplomb.
Only asked the question once? Really? What about the other time when Ted Heath asked the same question and we voted in?
I’m sure we can reciprocate, traffic control Officers issuing £200 on the spot fines at Liverpool and Holyhead for Irish cars without the stickers, to say nothing of Dover, Hull, Southampton and Portsmouth ( £400 for HGV’s ), nice little earner ….
You must remember it is only the Brits that abide by the EU laws, the others say yeah ok then ignore them, Fishing nets wrong size Fishing in the wrong place, 56 mph on lorries, live stock transportation, hours of working, list goes on. We actually penalise ourselves.
Well said–common sense on here at last
So, you think that the UK is a joke do you? something to laugh at? Well, I am going to put one on my car just to stick a finger up at the EU.. and you, just to let people know that I am British and PROUD of it.
Hi Gwyn. I don’t think that the UK is a joke having lived here for over 70 years and have driven in the EU many, many times and enjoyed it. However, I do believe that people in the EU, where I have many friends, consider that what we are doing to ourselves is unbelievable. We are definitely lowering our horizons and becoming insular once more. Happy driving!
I would suggest that we are becoming less insular and more internationlaist and global. 85% of the world is outside of the EU. Leaving the EU actually broadens our horizons, plus we will be better off democratically – no longer ruled by the corrupt, sel-serving, unelected & unaccountable Politburo in Brussels – and economically. We can have a industrial policy tailored to the needs of British business rather than the EU. Plus we can throw off the EU’s unnecessary taxes and red tape. What the Americans said when they fought us for independence – no taxation without representation, that is what we have currently got in the EU. We will become an independent, self-governing nation again and masters of our destiny…
Interesting to see that, from the voting, this appears to be a REMOANER’S forum.
No, just a forum for normal people…
GTL yet again you make such a silly comment without thinking. There was a vote to join and for 40 years those who wanted to leave have done nothing but moan. They make up ridiculous stories – eg straight cucumbers, which in fact was a Victorian idea. So, if ok for those to moan, then what right have you to complain if those who didn’t want to leave do the same.
Yet another person who believes everything the sun says. The unelected politburo are in effect just like our civil service. Laws are enacted by both the council of ministers (elected by each country) and the European Parliament, for which we vote. Also it is possible for each country to decide not to implement each law, which the UK has done on several occasions. We are represented so your comment about the British settlers in the 1760’s Americas is factually incorrect
We will still need to trade with the EU and will have to abide by many current rules & regulations
… whilst having no control over them; so much for taking back control.
and about 80% of the world (outside the EU) is more than 3000 miles away., with all the costs involved in transporting goods
Well said Gwyn
With your attitude the sooner you get your independence the better, and good riddance.
Yes to Ireland or Republic of Ireland … No to Éire, unless tá Gaeilge á labhairt agat.
Similar articles wouldn’t refer to driving in España or Deutschland.
If people laugh at you hysterically, I don’t think it’s the sticker that they would be laughing at 😂
Sometimes they are called Northern Ireland and Southern ireland
No, they are called Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Southern Ireland does not exist as a country! Two separate countries.
And that’s wrong too
I hate to tell you, but they may notice that you’re from GB by your registration plate………….
Hay come on get over yourself. Just get on and do it. It lets everyone know that you just don’t drive around in your little city car. You do some proper driving.
Stupid Scot, you don’t know your geography do you. Your part of GB whether you like it or not. Thank goodness your not part of England., Wales or Northern Ireland .
Before calling people stupid get your grammar right. It’s you’re NOT your
Stupid Ann Sata. “Your part of GB”. Should be “You are part” or “You’re part”.
you are technically correct but you obviously do not listen to Tv nor read Newspapers.
It would be MUCH better if the RoI was ALWAYS referred to as EIRE.
Why do you think people would laugh at you ?
In Wales, I have a CYM on my number plate and a European flag.
Is this not sufficient for future travel?
I don’t know how you can put a CYM on your number plate with a EU flag as well, there is room for only one. Put the CYM on by all means but ditch the EU flag, Be Welsh and be proud that you are Welsh NOT European. We are in Europe but not part of it.
To be legally correct, your EU number plate should display the blue EU Flag on the left (yes, that blue is part of the flag) with the yellow circle of EU Stars at the top of the EU Flag, and the member state code — in the case of Wales, that’s UK — printed in yellow at the bottom of the EU Flag.
All this talk about having to display an old style country identity oval after Brexit sounds like balderdash to me. The UN Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949) and Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968) agreed that a distinguishing sign of the country of registration had to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle. It was also stipulated that the sign could either be placed separately from the registration plate or could be incorporated into the vehicle’s number plate and if the international registration letter was incorporated into the licence plate, it also had to appear on the front number plate.
This sounds like yet another of the media’s Brexit scare stories. Total nonsense invented to sell newspapers and give journalists something to twitter on about. Absolute balderdash.
Of course, I meant to say GB, not UK. And, as the EU doesn’t recognise England, Scotland, nor Wales as separate countries, you invalidate your insurance if your number plate shows anything other than GB, unless you have one of those old style oval GB plates. So, CYM on the number plate + the oval GB sticker is probably ok.
Oh yes, and the GB sticker must be full size, not those mini stickers you sometimes see.
We seem to be getting bemired in specifics. Without wishing to add to it, an insurance contract would have to include that in the exclusion list. That is the whole point of a legal document.
For those wishing further clarification, insurance companies are already reissuing green cards to provide cover for those wishing to travel within the EU after Brexit. I went through this extensively recently.
Insurance IS NOT invalidated.
Not for the authorities. They are a bunch of jobsworths anyway. Remember speed cameras can’t read any sort of plate GB or or otherwise unless it conforms perfectly to regulations…………..bless!!!
Not when only about half a dozen people speak Welsh
About half a dozen? Really? Crikey. Well you must be right. I doubt you would make a statement like that without doing lots of research.
Ffwl
Off topic about GB plates, but in answer to Clive I am one of his half a dozen who speak Welsh, having been evacuated to Lampeter during WW2 as a child. I find it useful when going in to a pub in North Wales where everyone starts speaking Welsh when an English person walks in, but are amazed when I listen for a few minutes then speak Welsh to let them know I understand them. Having been stationed in Germany in the 1950’s I can do the same when on holiday in Germany, or in a bar in Tenerife when Germans talk about the English in derogatory terms. So am I one of half a dozen Englishmen who can speak Welsh and German?
Presumably when all countries in UK are Independent, the GB plate will be replaced with CYM, ECOSSE, and ENG.
To the Welsh people who cared for children in WW2 I say Cymru am Byth. To Clive I say “Konnichi wa Clive San.”
I doubt any Europeans will view those who demonstrate a wish to remain/have remained with derision. I expect the European plates of British country letters will be accepted warmly and will be accepted as a sign of solidarity.
Ask this magic box of know all, it says the Scottish one isn’t so hazard a guess without looking it up I’d so no but you see Algerians in Spain without country plates
NO
Ok, this is fine, but any vehicle that comes to the UK better make sure they display their country of origin.
At present, EU drivers in the UK would not be required to do so after Brexit.
It’s displayed on the number plate as standard in all EU countries ( flag and letters )
Er, Why? So they don’t have “one over us”. Pleeeeeaaaaase.
So living in Northern Ireland are we going to have to display GB when we drive in the South?
Ohhhhhhhhhh Yes.
If you’ve got a modern number plate, you already do.
Ted, there is no legal requirement to display your country on UK number plates. There is an option to include one if you wish, but it is not a legal requirement.
Apparently not, not according to the UK Gov information anyway
Yes and don’t forget you will only be aloud to be in Ireland for 90 days in any 180 days which makes me wonder how the Spanish go on working in Gibraltar that isn’t in the EU or part of UK but still had a vote on it.
They go ‘home’ at night – simples 🙂
May be so but they under the rules that are being applied to us they would only be allowed to work there for 190 days per year, every time you put a foot over the border counts as an entry.
No, not in the South, but yes in The Republic. Eire is not the South of Ireland, as has been pointed out several times already on here.
I’m guessing unadventurous drivers will never cross a border and adventurous drivers aren’t going to stop at EU borders and already hold an IDP. Of course they should have the oval sticker, but are authorities in places like Morocco and Russia that anal with petty regulations? I’m sure they’ll either know or will quickly learn how much the EU loves regulating motorists.
So as a resident of N.Ireland I will have to display a GB sticker on my car? Even though NI is part of the UK it is not geographically part of GB, therefore that wouldn’t be accurate for N.I residents. Must have taken a real brain box to think this one up 🙄
France is geographically part of Germany, Belgium, Spain Switzerland and may more, but they are not part of any of them. what a ridiculous question
Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain. Surely everyone knows that by now! UK, yes.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is BOTH the UK and GB
It’s not ridiculous. France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, etc. are geographically parts of Europe. Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain. I have long said the plate should be UK to be accurate, not GB. What twisted logic!
Actually both GB and UK are interchangeable and equate to the same thing as the correct and full title is “The United Kingdom of Great Britain”
Wrong! The correct title is “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. The same as our Olympics team etc
and northern Ireland
… and Northern Ireland”.
If you are going to drive in the republic —Yes
My God. So what? We did that for years.. Drive everyone into a frenzy over a flipping sticker for their car. Get real.
Anne, thank you for your response. Agree with you completely. Summed it up beautifully.
I have always placed a GB sticker on my car when I crossed the channel, I thought it was already a necessity
Me too. I don;t have EU plates on any of my vehicles – the Star Spangled Sphincter has never graced any of my wheels.
My understanding in respect of the old convention referred to and my memory relates to the 1950’s, was that a) the GB plate had to be on a flat surface, (ie not on a curved bit of metal) and b) that at night it had to be lit.
Don’t think I’ve got a flat surface on the rear of my car
DavidB. I worked in Germany before EU, you are right about it being on a surface where it could be easily seen, but it did not have to be lit. Mine was made of reflective material so it showed up in headlights, but it did not have a light on it except when fitted near the light of the rear number plate.
Just remember that a lot of modern cars have plastic rear trims/ boots so the magnetic stickers don’t work – as I discovered not having the little blue GB on my rear number plates. To avoid having damage to the paintwork or a mess on the rear windscreen (which I use) a thin film of vaseline or oil before you attach the GB sticker allows for easy removal at a later date. Alternatively attach inside the rear window (not obscuring vision) with some strips of parcel tape.
I’d paint a Gb symbol across the roof of my car so long as we leave, deal or no Deal!!
I’m sure that could be arranged. Talk to your local vandal……………………..LOL :-0
Maybe when the riots start, it could even become commonplace! 😀
Well said
Sounds like the good old days to me. It’s no big deal but I bet some nobs will still squeal
I have never seen an Irish reg car showing a sticker Only identifies by IRL on number plate this applies also to many other EU reg vehicles as well.
Not sure your advice on IDP’s is complete. Most countries including the UK require you to obtain a local license when exceeding 6 months, for example as a resident. Whilst we were in the EU, it was legal to exchange an EU license for a UK one without retesting. After we leave either the rest of the world will start to be treated as EU states are and driving license exchanges will be permitted or EU will be treated as the rest of the World and retesting will be required.
It just goes to show how petty the europeans are and to be in the same ‘CLUB’ tars us Brits with the same brush, who really wants to continue our relationship with them. Roll on October 31st.
The important thing is that you don’t agree with tarring with the same brush.
How is this petty Clive? Isn’t this just the EU enforcing the same rules on us as they do all countries with which they have no formal travel arrangement?
It must made to work in reverse also, all foreign cars should be made to have stickers on their cars when entering the UK.
Post-Brexit, will our existing EU licence plates need to be changed, or the EU letters covered? I pick up my new car next week. Must I specify non EU plates?
I don’t have any labelling on my numberplate, I just attach a sticker when going to France
It’ll just be ignored Eric, makes no difference if it’s there or not after Brexit. Just ensure you have a sticker, green card and IDP if you’re going to take your car abroad
We haven’t left the EU . In addition a GB sticker should be the least of our worries , as most insurance will be invalid the moment we leave
Some people won’t be able to afford to go as for the rise in food prices and additional costs .
Brexit has invited racism , not only in our own country , but across Europe , especially France , properties attacked and ex Pats being spoken to in the countries native language . Other services have been restricted . EU countries assuming ex Pats abroad also voted to leave . Which makes no sense , as they will feel the wrath . Most Ex pat’s voted remain , although there votes were not counted . Under investigation .
Ex Pats will suffer with a leave , no deal . Losing rights and becoming targets for Patriot extremists . As already demonstrated in certain parts of Brittany .
Ex-pats being spoken to in the native tongue of the country they have chosen to live in……how dare they speak their own language. I shall be writing to Queen Victoria immediately demanding an end to the flagrant use of their own language in their own country!!
Have a look at what’s coming in the Lisbon treaty next year if we don’t get out and then tell me we made the wrong decision!
Not the fake Lisbon treaty, you’ve been had I’m afraid. Lisbon treaty was 2009 and has no provisions in 2020.
All expats I know, voted to leave, although what this has to do with the affixing of an oval GB sticker is quite beyond me!
That certainly wasn’t my experience of Brittany in July. The locals couldn’t have been nicer, or made more effort to communicate in English when I was struggling with schoolboy French I hadn’t used for 42 years. If you make the effort to speak French, they appreciate it and reciprocate.
If ex-pats can’t be bothered to learn at least the basics of the language in the country they have chosen as home, then they can’t complain if local people don’t speak English etc. I have always found people helpful if I try to learn how to greet them, how to order a drink, how to say please and thank you etc. It does not take much effort to learn simple phrases and goes a long way to making friends.
A GB plate shows the occupants of the vehicle might not have language skills, and perhaps some people in other countries might sneer, but amazing how a few simple easily learned phrases can change attitudes.
Amazing how some people are happy to practice English when you try using their language. A phrase book helps, plus there are apps for phone and Ipads which translate many languages, so where is the “problem”?
Seeing as we drive on the correct side of the road and most of the rest of the world doesn’t it’s surely a sensible safety requirement to continue the long established practice of displaying a country of origin sticker so following drivers can make allowance for the less than perfect view the driver has when driving on the unaccustomed side of the road.
It cuts both ways of course. It’s no big deal. An adhesive badge out of the way on the rear window lasts for years.
i live in Derry in the north of Ireland , and i travel over the border many times, and i will NOT be putting a Dam GB sticker on my car
No… You live in Londonderry in Northern Ireland, whether you like it or not! The north of Ireland is not a country. You can jump up and down and shout all you want but the facts are the facts.
Northern Ireland is NOT part of the island of Great Britain, and neither are almost 800 Scottish islands part of the island of Great Britain. It’s utterly preposterous, inaccurate and actually a downright LIE for anyone living on, say, the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, the Inner and Outer Hebridean Islands, the Channel Islands etc etc to say that they are from the Island of Great Britain. Get it?
Hello Mairi
Nobody claims Great Britain is an island. It is a country. The Isle of Wight is part of Great Britain, or UK but is definitely an island. No need for the anger, we are supposed to be discussing GB plates. I certainly respect your right to display the Saltire and Ecosse plates, but until Scotland and the lovely Islands of Scotland are Independent of the UK, then the GB plate will have to be shown as well. Not our rules by the way.
This already applies. It’s been like this for at least the last 20 years
If you didn’t have a as then new type reg plate with EU GB you were suppose to have this GB plate stuck to the rear of your car
So our UK no plates will be illegal bearing the EU flag. Police will be raking it in fining people.
As long as Brexiters are made to pay to have everyone’s plates changed, I don’t mind.
Steve
Cover it with masking tape or spray matt black paint over it. Or cut it off. Problem solved.
I have always displayed a GB sticker as I am BRITISH not a European sooner we are out the better
I’ve also always put the white oval GB sticker (magnetic) on my car each time I’ve travelled abroad. I thought it was mandatory, after all I see no end of foreign cars displaying their own equivalents in the UK as well as the multiple stars on a blue background
I have driven in France regularly over the past 50 years and never yet affixed a GB sticker on my car without incident. Regarding the Republic, I remember a Client of mine from county Mayo having his GB registered car torched in more turbulent times whilst visiting family at home – no GB plate required for ID.
Yes, I live in N Ireland and have never needed one. In fact when we travel to the EU every year from an Irish port with our car and caravan we use the IRL STICKERS the ferry company gave us. Never been stopped by the Gardai or French Police.
More trouble now we also have to have green cards for car and caravan.
Ok so i am British and Swiss, a UK resident and tax payer, with a UK drivers license of course. Sometimes i drive a Swiss family car outside Switzerland. Do i realy need and IDP?
I would think yes as its a driver permit not a vehicle permit. So the car you drive would be irrelevant – if you hired a car whilst on holiday overseas you theoretically need to show one. Obviously if you were driving it in the UK then no, although I suspect technically, as a UK resident you shouldn’t be driving a Swiss registered car in UK – if it works the same as Spain anyway. Which it might not be of course because, for all everyone bangs on about EU controlling everything, each country definitely has its own rules!
I’d imagine that you would be safer to have an IDP – or a Swiss drivers licence, which I’d suggest would confer many more benefits to you, as you’d be able to travel freely in Europe on just your driver’s licence without the visa fees etc that will be levied on UK passport holders without an EU driver’s licence.
Haha no different to what we had to do when I was a kid and paint the headlights yellow to go to France. Just remember it works the other way round so all those foreign registered cars in the UK for years driving on their home countries plates avoiding parking and speeding fines, watch out when we finally leave 🤗🤗
It’s already a requirement to re-register the car in the UK if it is a permanent relocation. If you don’t, your insurance will not be valid. People on temporary visits are fine. Fines are not as easily avoided due to co-operation already in place. Brexit is likely to end that co-operation, so foreign cars will more easily avoid fines in the way you describe.
When I travelled to Holland I didn’t want a permanent GB sticker so I stuck it to a piece of aluminium and bent it to fit and be held in place as the boot shut so it could be used/removed in future as required.
A GB sticker is WRONG!!! GB is England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland not part of GB bu UK!!!!
Actually it’s “The United Kingdom of Great Britain”, therefore GB and UK mean the same thing!
Whur, twice you’ve posted this, and twice you’ve been wrong. Great Britain (GB) is composed of England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom (UK) is composed of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is referred to as ‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. As such, the GB sticker isn’t relevant, as it doesn’t include Northern Ireland. If the EU don’t even acknowledge that England (ENG), Scotland (SCO) or Wales (CYN) exist as independent countries, then what do they think of Northern Ireland? If we all have to be lumped under one title, then it should be UK, not GB.
mostly right as we are known as GB and Northern Ireland
Shock, horror. British driver must display GB stickers on their cars. Just like we used to before the EU existed. Is the law reciprocal?
I’m nearly sure all foreign cars in the UK have their country stickers, but if they don’t, they certainly should have after October 31st.
Having a GB sticker is nothing new I still have a stock from pre EU days. I was sure they would come in useful one day. I would never have a EU badge on my car which just happens to be German.
Strange that those folks fighting for independence like Eire or some of the Scots want to be part of a new Roman Empire. They want independence so as to be able to give it away
Let’s presume this will be reciprocal and we will clearly see where non UK cars are from and that they actually have tax mot and insurance
I have a motorbility car and am due to sailover to Dublin in May will I still have to get a gb sticker as I don’t realy want to stick it on the motorbility car
The answer would be yes, why would you expect different rules for a mobility car I have a brand new car the law is what it is, so a sticker will go on and they are not like the old ones which glued on, they are magnetic these days
Couldn’t give a monkey’s. Proud if anything. I take it they will have to put their country letters on their vehicles if they come here.
Given how much meaningless rubbish with which some motorists adorn their cars, not to mention their so called ‘cherished’ reg. plates which are mostly meaningless to anyone but their owners, why would a humble GB sticker be cause of inconvenience or offence? Anyhow, as far as I have been aware the statutory national sticker has always been obligatory and the tiddy variations incorporated into number plates have been concessionary only. Indeed, in France, new cars used to be delivered with a works fitted ‘F’ plate, usually metal and a permanent fixture.
As for the international licence, my first driving trip to France was in 1965 well before our ‘Common Market’ days, but I cannot recall having to obtain one then and certainly never since. So, why do idiot bureaucrats have to yet again fix something that ain’t broken? Self aggrandising empire builders!
What a ridiculous long thread of comment about a trivial thing like a GB sticker! I’m as angry as anyone about brexit, but thus must surely be one of the least of our problems after 31 October. Of course I’m embarrassed when in EU27 to be associated with the UK, but I don’t feel any sense of blame or shame. None of this is in my name. And everyone knows we are British anyway, by the format of our car registration and the steering wheel being on the wrong side – a black & white GB sticker doesn’t make any difference! I’m proud to be European, and that won’t change after brexit. And I’m proud to have the EU flag on my number plate. I have a magnetic, removable GB “sticker” for compliance with future regulations, but will retain the permanent blue & white EU sticker ringed with gold stars on the back of both my cars. Much more important to UK motorists than GB stickers are future changes to EHIC and car insurance when driving in EU27.
Once again we are being fed bu*****t by the all knowing, it has always been a requirement for us to have the GB sticker on a white background on our vehicle when travelling in Europe, it has just generally been ignored as we have GB on our number plates, the French will tell you if they cant find anything else to extract money from you that you should have a GB sticker,
The requirement for a GB/Eng/Cym/Ecosse/UK plate is already necessary unless GB or other is on the reg plate indicating EU. Post brexit the rule may change slightly, however, it is unlikely to be a problem in the Republic of Ireland whatever happens to brexit. Visitors to Ireland will not be persecuted by this. It’s quite worrying the amount of paranoia in these comments anticipating imagined slights.
Always had a GB sticker on Motorhome even though had Eng on number plates.
Never been a problem
You’ve ALWAYS had to display your vehicle’s nationality mark on your car. It’s just that recently it became incorporated into the number plate. That blue bar,on the left of your number plate, is actually the EU flag, and should (to be legal) have the yellow circle of EU stars, with your country letters printed underneath.
We that own classic cars have been affixing GB stickers for decades and that is some 3 plus million many of whom travel to Europe to dozens and dozens of classic car events, museums, classic rallies etc.
What a piece of non news. It’s sensible to have a GB sticker of some sort on the car when driving in other countries, and most people do. A magnetic one costs 99p including postage from eBay. Mine lives in the glove box for use in France and other EU countries.
Do the same rules apply to foreign vehicles coming into the UK?
I thought we were meant to be breaking away from the EU, not copying more of their laws…??
Years ago I had to pay for a green card will this come back. I drive down to Spain with my caravan late December for ten weeks
so much vitriol from the leavers .no wonder we are in the mess we are in
At the moment they are saying it will be necessary if there is a no deal exit – it’s part of the Withdrawal Agreement to not require green cards but obviously this hasn’t been ratified. So with no deal then yes green cards for everybody driving onto the mainland. Fortunately these days most companies shouldn’t be charging you much (or anything) to provide you with one. Do be aware you will probably need a green card for your caravan as well. Trailers are regarded as vehicles in their own right in Spain.
You will need 2 IDPs as well one fot France and the other for Spain Just our luck they refer to 2 different teaties, you can still get green cards, I got one months ago when there a chance we might come out while I was away, it was free.
What a out motorcycles that dont have a top box or panniers where are you going to put the sticker,on the back of your jacket or crash helmet?
Nice one norm, I’ve got panniers to stick to but never bothered with it. Not been done yet. I did once get pulled in France when working for de rooy transport, England in world cup still an I put a 6ft x 8ft flag on a rope tied to the chassis of a new daf, looked well good blowing around behind me. Police didn’t think so. 150 euro fine. Least you can tell were I came from .
I’ll happily stick one on my motorcycle number plate
Just like the possibility of having to pay £10 and fill in a form every 2 years to travel to the EU, this sticker requirement will be another terrible hardship for the poor, fragile Remoaners to endure.
Having to get a GB sticker is a nuisance, queuing at a Post Office for one or more IDP from an ill-informed cashier may be more of a bore. By the way, ensure that your GB sticker is paint friendly!
You only need a idp license after the 31 October if we leave without a deal and then in Spain they will give us till April next year to get one I found this information on our government website recently
It’ll be a pain to have get a GB sticker and an IDP when we haven’t had to for years, but why should anyone laugh at us! For goodness sake, we need more pride in the country we live in, UK nationals disengaging and thinking it’s always someone else’s responsibility to ‘look after’ them is what makes us reflect badly.
Be proud of where you live, value what’s good about it, work together and speak out to change what isn’t.