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Traveling from UK to Italy by car

Hello,
Late May / Early June I would like to drive my car from UK to Italy, hence crossing France, Germany and Austria.

Anyone can tell me whether the FR,GE,AT authorities will allow me to go through? Will I need to carry any document, perhaps? I have a critical family business to handle in Italy. thanks, giovanni

Posted by
34010 posts

For readers who have not read my answer on your first version of this question, what I said a little earlier today was:

Read this thread about the impossibility of moving through France. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/france-closed-to-tourists
Since the French border authorities will turn you away before you board the ferry or Eurotunnel it is unlikely that you will reach France, much less drive through it.
See also Kim’s recounting of her inability to reach family from Paris to Italy in another thread.
Her sad story is in https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/my-dream-trip-has-changed

If you look in the Forums for each of the various countries that you intend to transit, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, you will see descriptions of what restrictions there are for both locals and people from far away, what the prospects are for them changing, and you might also contact the embassy or consulate nearest you for each of those countries and ask them what they would recommend, especially as you characterise your trip as an emergency.

Are you in England now or one of the constituent nations?

Are you aware of the driving restrictions in the UK during the lockdown, even during the relaxed lockdown?

Posted by
8339 posts

I was thinking that those entering the U.K. now are subject to 14 days quarantining.
I've made that drive in the best of times, and it's farther than most people realize.
Can you get into an airport closer to Italy?

Posted by
11948 posts

If you have a reason that Italian authorities recognize as qualifying for entry, flying in would be the simplest, by far.

Driving through multiple jurisdictions in the current situation is only a bit more likely than Satan getting an ice maker.

Posted by
7168 posts

In my humble opinion, asking that question here will not get you a reliable answer. You need to check with/speak to the authorities in each of those countries regarding your specific situation and get a real answer. No matter what people on this forum may say, even if they are locals in those specific countries, it's the authorities in those countries that will control whether or not you are able to drive through their respective countries at this time.

Posted by
1050 posts

Anyone can tell me whether the FR,GE,AT authorities will allow me to
go through? Will I need to carry any document, perhaps? I have a
critical family business to handle in Italy. thanks, giovanni

I expect you will have a problem trying to convince the authorities, that critical business can be done after a leisurely trip through Europe. If you have urgent business then you fly directly to Italy and if a citizen or a resident, you will be allowed continue.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks to all for the responses, all make sense. I posted here because I was hoping to find someone who had tried already the same...
Ahh, I would like to travel by car so that I reduce the risk of getting the coronavirus. Anyhow, thanks to all. I will figure out and then perhaps I will write here the outcome.

Stay Safe!

Posted by
32365 posts

This is a difficult question to answer, but I doubt that you'll be allowed to do that in late May / early June. Travel by air would be a far easier solution and if you use precautions such as wearing a mask, physical distancing (where possible) and frequent hand washing, that will minimize the possibility of contracting the virus.

If you were to drive, keep in mind that you'll need to buy the Highway Tax Vignette for driving through Austria (hefty fines if you're caught without it).

Posted by
11948 posts

I would like to travel by car so that I reduce the risk of getting the coronavirus.

With at least 2 long days of driving there will be a minimum of one overnight stay. ( Depending where in Italy you are headed you could have 2 nights in a hotel) You would have to stop to refuel 2-4 times; eat; the overnight stay(s)--- you will have to encounter a number of people along the way, so whether it would be safer than flying is a proposition that needs consideration.