What flag do I need to drive in Europe

---

As travel is now back on the horizon and we are planning those all awaited trips away, here at Quick Plates, we put together a handy travel checklist with all your questions answered to ensure you’re not caught out. Under new rules, motorists driving outside the country must now display a UK sticker or a UK licence plate instead of the traditional GB logo. We answer your questions for your number plate in more detail below.

What does my number plate need to show for travel?

If your number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union flag (also known as the Union Jack), you do not need a UK sticker.

However, you will need to display a UK sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has any of the following:

A GB identifier with the Union flag

A Euro symbol

A national flag of England, Scotland, or Wales

Numbers and letters only – no flag or identifier

If you’re in Spain, Cyprus, or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate. You do not need a UK sticker or number plate to drive in Ireland.

Are GB licence plates with the Union flag accepted?

The GB logo is now defunct for overseas travel, whether as a separate sticker or on a number plate. If it’s on your number plate, you don’t need to cover it up but should display the new UK logo alongside. The same is true for licence plates containing the EU flag or the national flags of England, Scotland, or Wales.

Are there any essential exceptions to this rule?

Yes. If you’re travelling to the Republic of Ireland, you needn’t worry about the rules.

And if you are travelling to Spain, Cyprus, or Malta, you’ll need a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate.

Will I be fined if I don’t have the sticker while overseas?

Yes, you could be fined. However, the traffic rules will vary from country to country.

Can I still have a national flag on my number plate?

Yes, you are free to display other flags on number plates – although having a UK logo and Union flag already on your licence plate would be most convenient for travelling overseas, you would not need to purchase a separate sticker or magnet with the UK logo.

The Department for Transport rules state that you can display one of the following flags with identifying letters on the left-hand side of the number plate:

Union flag (Union Jack)

Cross of St George

Cross of St Andrew (the Saltire)

Red Dragon of Wales

The letters, or national identifiers, you can have are:

UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom or the UK

GREAT BRITAIN, Great Britain or GB

CYMRU, Cymru, CYM or Cym

ENGLAND, England, ENG, Eng

SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco

WALES or Wales

The flag must be above the identifier. You cannot have the flag or letters on the number-plate margin, nor can it be more than 5cm wide.

Do you need a new plate created?

Here at Quick Plates, we offer a service online to build your replacement number plate.

Use our number plate builder step-by-step to create your new replacement number plates. We offer a wide range of replacement number plate sizes, badges, fonts, and borders. All supplied number plates are fully legal as a registered DVLA number plate supplier. If you have any problems configuring your new number plates, don't hesitate to Contact Us.