On the 15th of January, 2022 – During the 5th Wave of Covid
I decided to share my experience of driving from Hungary to the UK. Hopefully, this will be useful for anyone planning a similar trip.
We spent many hours planning our road trip, reading through Covid restrictions for every country we were about to travel through. Our car had to be fully prepared, our dog needed all documents, and we had to comply with every rule.
Note: we had 2 doses of Pfizer (second dose in 09.2021). We drove a left-hand drive car registered in Hungary. My wife had “EU Settled Status” in the UK, and I had “EU Pre-settled Status.” At that time, you needed a valid reason to travel to the UK (tourism was not accepted), unless you were a resident.
Car Preparation
Your car must have winter tyres when driving through Austria and Germany, and it is recommended to carry snow chains in the boot. You should also have a warning triangle, reflective jackets for all passengers, and a first aid kit.
Interestingly, a breathalyser is no longer required in France. Because of the UK, I recommend printing the green card for your insurance (can be requested from your insurer). We also serviced the car one day before departure (oil change, etc.).
Travelling with a Dog
Our dog is a well-experienced traveller, having visited more than 20 countries. She has a European Pet Passport. When travelling to the UK with a dog, make sure the rabies vaccination is up to date. If it has expired, you must wait 21 days after vaccination before entering the UK.
Additionally, your dog must be microchipped. When visiting the vet, make sure of the following:
- Tapeworm treatment is documented correctly (right page and line, signed, dated, and stamped with the vet’s address)
- The treatment must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before entering the UK
- Rabies vaccination entry includes stamp, signature, and protective foil
French authorities are very strict about errors in the pet passport. Even small mistakes can lead to fines or quarantine. For detailed requirements, read this official guide.
Before the Road Trip
- Extended our SafetyWing insurance and printed the English confirmation letter
- Printed EU vaccination certificates
- Printed EU Settlement documents
- Booked Eurotunnel (return flexible ticket: 420 EUR with dog)
- Completed the Locator Form (within 48 hours before arrival)
- Ordered antigen test kit (£23.90 via AlphaExpressTesting) and used the code for the form
- Printed French sworn statement forms (not checked)
- Uploaded documents to Eurotunnel account
Driving Through Europe
Austria: Border control was active. Officers asked about our destination; after hearing “England,” we were allowed through. A motorway vignette is required.
Germany: Light border control. We were not stopped. We stayed overnight near Cologne. Transit stays up to 24 hours were allowed at that time.
Belgium: No border control near Aachen. We avoided the Netherlands to reduce complexity.
France: Police visually checked vehicles after the border, but we were not stopped. Toll roads apply.
In Calais, we entered the Pet Control area. They found a minor issue in our dog’s passport (wrong entry line), but we only received a warning. We arrived 3 hours early and managed to take an earlier Eurotunnel train.
Good to know: you can arrive 2–3 hours early and, if space is available, take an earlier train. Even if you are late (up to 2 hours), you can still board another train.
At the French/UK border, only passports were checked. All other documents were already submitted online.
UK: No quarantine was required. Nobody checked vaccination proof at arrival or at the hotel. The antigen tests arrived at reception. Day of arrival counts as Day 0, and testing had to be completed within 2 days.
I made a mistake with the test: I used it before registering it online and taking a picture of the unused kit. As a result, it became invalid. I had to book an NHS PCR test, which was free and available nearby. The result came back negative the next day.
My recommendation: always read the instructions carefully before using any test kit.
Summary
After reading many websites, I initially felt that travelling during the pandemic would be stressful and risky. Even though we travelled extensively in 2020 and 2021, there was still uncertainty.
However, the reality was much better. The journey was smooth, with no major issues. If you have all the required documents, the trip is manageable.
Update in 2026: Covid travel restrictions have been removed across Europe and the UK. Locator forms, vaccination requirements, and testing obligations are no longer required for normal travel. Always check official government sources for the latest entry rules.
