Long journeys by car are great fun — as long as you have everything you need. A missing document at the border, a hungry child stuck in traffic, a dead phone 200 km from your destination — all of these situations are easy to avoid with a little planning. Below you will find a complete packing list for a car trip: from documents and emergency equipment to food, gadgets and everything you need when travelling with children.
Documents — the non-negotiables
Sort your paperwork before you load the boot. These are the only things you genuinely cannot buy along the way.
Driving your own car — what you must have with you
- Driving licence — valid, category B
- Vehicle registration document
- Proof of third-party liability insurance (OC) — printed or in your insurer's app
- Identity document — national ID card or passport
Missing any of these during a police check means a fine. Driving without valid liability insurance means financial liability for any damage you cause, entirely out of your own pocket.
Renting a car — extra documents you will need
If you are driving a hire car, the document list is slightly different:
- Driving licence — original, not a photocopy
- Rental agreement — printed or digitally on your phone
- Written cross-border permit — required if you are crossing a border
- Green card — for travel outside the EU
- Assistance phone number — listed in your rental agreement
For everything you need to know about taking a rental car abroad, read our full guide on renting a car abroad.
What food to bring on a long car journey?
Hunger on the road is a direct route to bad moods and poor decision-making behind the wheel. It is worth packing some provisions — especially if you are travelling with children or avoiding motorways.
Snacks for the road — what survives the heat
Summer means high temperatures inside the car. Even with air conditioning running, the area near the rear windscreen can reach 40°C. Choose snacks that can handle that:
- Good choices: nuts and almonds, dried fruit, breadsticks and crackers, cereal bars, apples and carrots, sandwiches on bread (up to 3–4 hours without refrigeration)
- Avoid: chocolate (melts), dairy without cooling, mayonnaise-based salads, easily bruised fruit such as bananas in hot weather
If you have a cool box or insulated bag, you can bring more. It is worth investing in one — especially for longer trips with children.
Drinks and hydration — how much to bring
Dehydration behind the wheel reduces your concentration as much as a small amount of alcohol. The rule of thumb: at least 0.5 litres of water per person per hour of driving on hot days.
- Bring more water than you think you will need
- Keep drinks cool in a flask or insulated bag
- Avoid large quantities of coffee and energy drinks — they are diuretic and cause a crash after a short energy boost
- Herbal tea or water with lemon works better on long journeys than sugary drinks
Food for children in the car — practical tips
Children have smaller stomachs and get hungry more quickly — plan small snacks every 1.5–2 hours rather than one big meal:
- Cut vegetables (carrots, cucumber, pepper) in a container
- Small sandwiches or wraps with a favourite filling
- Yoghurt in a pouch (no spoon needed, less mess)
- A favourite biscuit or sweet treat as a reward after a long stretch without complaining
Practical tip: pack children's food in a separate bag that is accessible from the back seat or easy to grab during a quick stop. Do not bury it in the boot.
Car accessories and equipment for a long journey
Essential emergency equipment
Some equipment is legally required; some is simply worth having regardless of the law:
- First aid kit — required in Poland; check the expiry dates on medicines and dressings
- Warning triangle — compulsory in Poland and most European countries
- Reflective vest — compulsory in many EU countries (France, Italy, Germany); recommended in Poland
- Car fire extinguisher — not legally required in Poland, but strongly recommended
- Spare wheel or tyre repair kit — check what your car carries before you leave
If you are driving abroad, equipment requirements differ by country. For example, France requires a reflective vest for every passenger, not just the driver.
Electronics and charging — must-haves for the road
- Car charger with USB-C / USB-A — ideally with two ports
- Power bank — especially important if you are using your phone as a sat-nav
- Phone mount — using a phone held in your hand while driving is illegal
- Cable or Bluetooth connection to the stereo — for music and podcasts
- Headphones for passengers — a lifesaver on long trips with children
Navigation — why you should have offline maps
Google Maps and Waze work brilliantly — but only when you have signal. In mountain areas, forests and small villages, signal can vanish at the worst possible moment.
- Download an offline map of your destination region in Google Maps before you leave (Explore → Download area)
- Alternatively: Maps.me or OsmAnd — both work completely offline and are free
- On international trips — download the map of each country before you cross the border (data roaming can be expensive outside the EU)
What to pack for a car trip with children?
Travelling with children requires its own checklist — without the right preparation, even a short trip can become a challenge.
Child seat and safety — regulations and practice
A child seat is compulsory for children up to 150 cm tall or 36 kg — regardless of age. Fines for not having one can reach 500 zł, but safety matters far more than the fine.
Before you set off, check:
- Whether the seat is the right size and weight group for your child
- Whether it is correctly fitted (ISOFIX or seatbelt mounting)
- Whether your child sits comfortably — a seat that is too tight leads to complaints within the first 30 minutes
If you are renting from MobiCars, you can add a child seat as an optional extra when you book — no need to bring your own.
How to keep children entertained on a long journey?
"Are we nearly there yet?" usually comes up within the first 20 minutes. Tried and tested solutions for long trips:
- Audiobooks and podcasts for children — downloaded offline, no signal needed
- Car games — "I spy", counting cars of a specific colour, road bingo
- Tablet with films downloaded offline — Netflix and YouTube Premium both allow downloads
- A small activity book — colouring, mazes, stickers
- Regular breaks every 1.5–2 hours — children need to move; plan a stop with a playground or a patch of grass
What to avoid: games on a phone with intense graphics — they increase the risk of motion sickness. Children should be looking out of the window, not at a screen.
What to pack for a baby or toddler?
For babies (0–12 months):
- Nappies — pack at least twice as many as your expected journey time requires
- Wet wipes — lots of them
- Change of clothes — at least 2 full outfits within easy reach, not in the boot
- Dummy / favourite comfort toy
- Blanket or lightweight sleeping bag
For toddlers (1–6 years):
- Favourite toy or soft animal
- Snacks in small portions
- Spare clothes (accidents always happen on trips)
- Sick bags in case of travel sickness
- Small travel potty — a lifesaver at stops where there are no toilets
What to pack for a car holiday abroad?
Crossing a border adds an extra layer of preparation — both in terms of documents and equipment.
Compulsory equipment in European countries
Every country has its own rules. The most important differences:
Country - Reflective vest - Warning triangle - First aid kit - Fire extinguisher
Poland - recommended - compulsory - compulsory - recommended
Germany - compulsory - compulsory - compulsory - recommended
France - one per passenger - compulsory - recommended - recommended
Italy - compulsory - compulsory - recommended - recommended
Croatia - compulsory - compulsory - compulsory - recommended
Czech Republic - compulsory - compulsory - compulsory - recommended
Road vignettes — where to buy before you cross the border
Many European countries require a road vignette. Buy it before entering — checks are automated (ANPR cameras) and fines for no vignette are steep:
- Czech Republic — electronic vignette, buy at zczechvignette.cz
- Slovakia — electronic vignette, buy at eznamka.sk
- Austria — sticker or digital vignette, buy at asfinag.at
- Slovenia — sticker, buy at the border or online at evinjeta.si
- Switzerland — annual sticker (40 CHF), buy at the border or at fuel stations
Checklist — ready to go? Check before you leave
Documents
- Driving licence
- Vehicle registration document / rental agreement
- Proof of OC insurance / cross-border permit
- Identity document (national ID or passport)
- Green card (travel outside the EU)
Emergency equipment
- First aid kit (check expiry dates)
- Warning triangle
- Reflective vest
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare wheel or puncture repair kit
Electronics
- Car charger
- Phone mount
- Power bank
- Cables / headphones
- Offline maps downloaded
Food and drink
- Water (min. 0.5 l per person per hour of driving)
- Snacks that won't melt or spoil in the heat
- Children's food in a separate, accessible bag
For children
- Child seat (or booked with the rental company)
- Offline entertainment (audiobooks, films downloaded)
- Sick bags
- Favourite toy / comfort object
- Spare change of clothes
FAQ — what to pack for a car trip
