Most of us like nothing more than jumping in the car for an extended road trip across a foreign country. It can be exhilarating. It can be freeing.
And it can be a huge pain in the ass.
Driving on the other side of the road is not for the faint of heart (at first).
I have spent a lot of time driving in places like Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia and while it’s fun and adventurous, there are some things I wish I’d thought about in advance of jumping in the car and going.
If you’re planning a trip to a country where they drive on the opposite side of the road to your accustomed side, do a bit of research before you go. What are the road rules? Do you need an international drivers license or will your home one do? What can you do to make your first time less stressful?
Let’s talk about it after the jump!
what to know before you go:
First and foremost, does your home license extend to the country you are driving in? If you are from a non-English-speaking country, its best to find out well before you go. You may need an English translation of your license before you can hire a car. The best thing to do is contact a car rental company in the country you’ll be visiting. If you need a translation, you will need to arrange it before you leave home.
Does your drivers insurance from home cover you in a rental car in another country? Check your insurance well in advance of leaving – don’t leave it until the day before. You may find that your insurance doesn’t even cover a rental car. Did you purchase travel insurance? It is possible – although not a given – that your trip insurance will cover your driving. Always ask!
Not all countries offer automatic cars – stick shift is preferable in a lot of places, and it is often cheaper. If you aren’t positive that you can handle a stick shift, ask for an automatic. It may be a little bit more expensive, but if it’s your peace of mind, it’s worth it.
If you aren’t picking the car up when you fly in, know where you need to go to get it. For example, I recently rented a car in Australia. When I headed for the airport, I learned that actually this company was well off-site, and I ended up having to backtrack quite a bit to get there. It wasn’t easy. Same goes for returning the car; know how to get where you need to go.
when you get there:
Remember that checklist of things I recommended? Have your car rental confirmation and your insurance information handy when you get there to pick up your car. Just in case.
Take a few minutes to get acquainted with your car. The turn signal and windshield wiper controls could be on the opposite side from what you are used to. And honestly, it sucks (although there are worse things) to put the wipers on full blast when all you want to do is turn right.
Pick up a map. Many car rental companies have them for free – even if it’s only a small one of the area. Tourism bureaus will have them (at a cost). Having a road map, or an ordnance map if you are going more off the beaten track, will help immensely. You might rely on road signs while driving at home, but there’s no guarantee that the roads signs are 1) as readily available in remote areas and 2) in English!
Ask at the car rental place if they can recommend a few restaurants on your planned route. This is especially helpful if you have kids (or elderly people). Knowing in advance where you can stop for a decent lunch is a huge benefit. I’ve stopped at some really weird places because we didn’t know what else was out there. If you’re in a larger city/town, you can always ask the tourism bureau before you head out into the wilds.
That being said, also ask if they know of any interesting sites. If you’re planning to drive from one city to another, chances are that your map highlights prominent sites. I also know from experience that there are a lot of other places that aren’t listed. If we hadn’t asked, we wouldn’t have known about them!
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driving on the other side of the road
Pay attention. This may seem like a given, but how often do you drive at home with your phone in one hand, kids screaming in the back, music going, etc? Especially if you are driving on the other side of the road, you need to pay attention to where you are going (think roundabouts) and what the road signs say.
*I took the above photo while stopped*
Use your signal. Again, you are unfamiliar with the roads, and – in a touristy area so are many other people. Be a defensive and well-aware driver when driving on the other side of the road (and, really, at all times).
**Don’t worry about going a little bit under the speed limit. If you are in an unfamiliar area with a lot of locals, yes, they are going to drive faster – they know the roads! But if you’re looking for a certain turnoff or are just worried about the rain on the roads, don’t be afraid to be a bit more cautious.
Before you have a drink, ask about the drinking and driving laws (or google them.) Many countries have very strict laws. If you get pulled over for a minor infraction on a tiny, one lane road, you may find yourself in a worse situation if you’ve been drinking. In some countries, this stretches to even a glass of wine at dinner, be warned. *I am NOT advocating drinking and driving in any way, shape or form.*
Have you ever driven on the other side of the road? What do you think? Did I hit the big points? Leave your comments below!
Excellent, excellent guide! My Dad would also add ‘test the brakes out of hire vehicles before you leave the parking lot’ which always rings through my memory!
thanks! And yes, that’s also great advice! I might edit this a bit to talk about the car itself 😉
I’ve never had the guts to road trip in another country (to be honest, I have no confidence in my driving skills whatsoever) but this article has given me a new perspective since all of the tips are super helpful.
Thank you! It does take a little while to get used to — maybe an hour or so, but it really is so similar to driving on your normal side of the road (pedals are the same) that it’s more about training your brain to look the other way first! If you’ve spent time walking around, you’ll already be training yourself to do that. Take it slow and you’ll be great 🙂