All topics

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

Every topic on Rules by Country. Pick a topic to compare the rules in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the United States, Canada and Mexico, each with its official source.

Driving

Rules for cars, motorcycles, mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters on public roads.

Car insurance and green cards

Compulsory motor insurance for foreign-registered cars and whether a green card or other proof is needed.

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Car speed limits

General maximum speeds for passenger cars in built-up areas, on other roads and on motorways.

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Distinguishing sign on cars

Whether a car must show a country sign on the rear and when the country code on the number plate replaces it.

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Drink-driving limits

The legal alcohol limit for drivers, lower limits for new and professional drivers, roadside testing and penalties.

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Driving after drugs

How each country treats driving after drug use: limits or zero tolerance, medicines and police screening.

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E-bikes and speed pedelecs

Rules for electrically assisted bicycles and faster speed pedelecs: class, age, helmet, licence, plates and cycle paths.

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E-scooters

E-scooter rules compared: where you may ride, minimum age, helmets, insurance and speed limits.

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Foreign driving licences

Whether a driving licence from another country is recognised for visitors and new residents, and how long it may be used.

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Minimum age for a car driving licence

Minimum ages for driving a car on a category B licence, and any official scheme for supervised driving before that age.

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Mopeds

Rules for light mopeds (class L1e, up to 45 km/h): minimum age, licence, helmet, insurance and plate.

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Motorcycles: helmets and licences

Motorcycle rules compared: helmets for riders and passengers, licence ages for A1, A2 and A, and daytime headlights.

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Road tolls and vignettes

National motorway tolls, vignettes and named road charges for passenger cars, and how visitors pay them.

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Seat belts and child seats

Whether seat belts are compulsory, when a child restraint is required and where children may sit in a car.

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Towing trailers and caravans

Speed limits, licence categories and equipment rules for driving a car with a trailer or caravan.

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Using a mobile phone while driving

Rules on holding or using a mobile phone while driving a car, including hands-free use and the penalty.

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Winter tyres and snow chains

Whether winter tyres or snow chains are required, when, where studded tyres are allowed and the penalties.

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Travel

Entry, documents, passenger rights and what you may bring with you.

Air passenger rights

Compensation, care and complaint routes when a flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked, in the EU countries and the UK.

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Customs allowances for tobacco and alcohol

Quantities of cigarettes, spirits, wine and beer travellers may bring home from other EU states and from outside the EU.

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Health cover for temporary visitors

Whether the EHIC or GHIC is accepted for unplanned care during a short stay, what it covers and what it does not.

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Identity documents

Whether people must carry or show ID, and which documents are accepted for entry by EU and UK visitors.

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Meat and dairy imports

Rules on bringing meat, dairy and other animal products into the country as a traveller.

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Minors travelling: documents

Which documents a child needs to cross a border, and whether parental consent is needed.

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Rail passenger rights

What rail passengers can claim when a train is delayed or cancelled, and who enforces it.

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Short stays (90/180-day rule)

How long visitors from the UK and the EU may stay on a short visit, and what they need to enter.

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Tax-free shopping for visitors

Whether visitors from outside the EU can get VAT back on goods they take home, who qualifies and who handles the refund.

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Travelling with personal medicines

Rules for visitors bringing their own medicines into a country, including the special certificates for narcotic and psychotropic medicines.

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Travelling with pets

What a dog, cat or ferret needs to enter the country: identification, rabies vaccination, health documents, numbers and restrictions.

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Living

Work, pensions, citizenship and rules for your home.

Deposit return schemes and plastic bags

Whether drinks containers carry a deposit and what the rules are for plastic carrier bags.

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Dual nationality

Whether naturalisation requires giving up another nationality, and whether acquiring a foreign nationality causes loss of the home nationality.

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Home education

Whether children may be educated at home, what approval or notice is needed and for which ages schooling is compulsory.

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Maximum working time

Statutory limits on weekly and daily working time, rest periods and, where stated, the normal full-time week.

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Naturalisation by residence

Residence period, language level, integration test and renunciation rules for becoming a citizen by ordinary naturalisation.

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Paid holiday

Minimum paid annual leave for employees and how public holidays relate to it.

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Registering residence for longer stays

Whether and when you must register a new home with the authorities, and which document you may receive.

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Smoke alarms in homes

Whether smoke alarms are legally required in dwellings and who must fit and look after them.

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State pension age

The statutory age at which the state old-age pension can be claimed, and how it changes by year of birth.

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Statutory minimum wage

Whether a national statutory minimum wage exists, what it is today and who it covers.

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Restrictions

Age limits and restrictions on cannabis, fireworks, knives, tobacco and drones.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.