So, you’re planning a European motorbike tour?

Whether it’s a short jaunt across the Channel or a multi-country adventure, there are a few things to tick off before firing up your bike and rolling off the ferry or Eurotunnel.

Bureaucracy and border checks are the least exciting part of any motorbike tour, but getting caught out by the wrong paperwork or a forgotten sticker is a guaranteed way to dampen spirits. Here’s a no-nonsense guide to getting it right.

Passport: Make sure it’s valid. Sounds obvious, but post-Brexit, your passport needs to have been issued less than ten years before your outbound trip and have at least three months left on it from your return date. Mess this up, and you might not even make it out of Dover.

Licence: Your UK licence is fine for most of Europe. If you’re still clinging to a paper licence, or yours is from Gibraltar, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Otherwise, you’re good to go.

Bike documents: Pack your V5C (logbook) and your MoT certificate (if needed). If you’re on a finance deal, you might need a V103 form to prove you can take the bike abroad. Riding someone else’s bike? Get written permission.

Insurance: You don’t need a Green Card anymore, but you do need to carry your insurance certificate. Print it out if you only have a digital copy. Oh, and double-check it covers European travel, especially if you're venturing beyond the obvious destinations.

UK sticker: Nobody seems entirely sure why the GB country code sticker was quietly dropped, but now you’ll need a ‘UK’ one unless your number plate already has ‘UK’ with the Union flag on it. In Spain, Cyprus, and Malta, you must have a UK sticker regardless of what’s on your plate.

Breakdown cover: Not compulsory, but unless you fancy being stranded in the Alps with a fried clutch, it’s highly recommended. Make sure it covers your type of riding and trip duration. For example, most policies exclude off-road travel and won’t cover you if you crash at the Nürburgring.

While DIY roadside repairs can be rewarding, investing in a good breakdown policy before your trip is a smart move. Prices vary wildly, so do your research. If your bike is less than 20 years old and your trip under 31 days, you’re eligible for breakdown cover from the ETA, which includes motorcycle hire for up to 14 days at £60 per day, and includes repatriation. And the best part? Five days’ cover costs less than £20.

Today's bikes might be more reliable than ever, but long-distance, high-speed riding can take its toll. Before you set off on your trip, give your bike some love. At a minimum, fresh plugs, oil and filters, but preferably a full service. If your bike is a little older and you plan to ride into France's larger cities, be aware of the 'crit air' stickers.

A tubeless tyre repair kit is cheap, small, lightweight and extremely easy to use, but beyond that, just make sure your tyres and brakes are in good shape before you set off.

Emissions stickers: Cars and motorbikes travelling in 11 low emission French cities, including Paris, Lyon and Grenobles, are required to display anti-pollution stickers which indicate the age and environmental classification of the vehicle. The system has been in place for years, but has become stricter. The correct sticker must be displayed by every road vehicle, including all cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, buses and coaches - a law that also applies to foreign-registered vehicles. They only cost a few pounds and will save you the risk of being hit with an on-the-spot fine of £150.

You can apply for a sticker through the French Air Quality Certification Service online (https://certificat-air.gouv.fr/). Beware of third party websites that charge exorbitant fee for something that should cost only a few euros.

Motorways: In France, if you break down on a motorway, use the emergency phones to call the recovery service run by the French police  - no other service can attend to breakdowns on these roads. UK breakdown providers typically cover the charge (around 150 Euros for fuel top-ups). Also, remember that France applies lower speed limits drivers and riders with less than two years on their licence.

EHIC/GHIC: It doesn't replace the need for a standalone travel insurance policy, but your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is still valid until it expires. After that, you need a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).

90-day limit: Thanks to Brexit, you can only stay in the Schengen Zone for 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. If you’re a frequent traveller, start counting those stamps in your passport.

Know your limits: Touring holidays can quickly expose you to situations a world away from your day-to-day riding. For example, you might be a dab hand at city riding but lack experience on rural B roads or mountain passes. On the subject of limits, some countries have very low alcohol limits - lower than the UK. For example, in France, it's 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, while in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it's 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Unless you’re in a hurry, avoid toll roads. They might be as smooth as a billiard table, but on the downside they’re expensive and miss the best bits. The real magic happens on the twisties. The Alps, Pyrenees, and Dolomites are breathtaking, but slow-going. When in the mountains, watch the weather: It can be 25°C in the valleys and snowing at 2,500 metres - even in summer months. Pack and plan accordingly; That 250-mile day you planned? Cut it in half unless you want to be knackered by sunset.

Local lingo: A little effort goes a long way. At the very least, learn ‘hello’, ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’' and 'sorry'. The Google Translate app is great, but nothing beats speaking to people directly.

Don’t take too much stuff: It’s easy to take too much luggage, but the extra stuff adds faff – not to mention the additional weight being detrimental to your bike’s handling.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

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