Driving Abroad: How To Prepare Yourself
Thinking of driving abroad? Here are some vital preparation tips for first time drivers planning on tackling the roads overseas.
Decide whether to hire a car or take your own
Your first decision should be to decide whether you’re hiring a car or taking your own. If you’re travelling to Europe, you can easily take your car on a ferry or on the Eurostar – there are even companies such as Car Shipping Made Simple that can help you to transport your car further afield. There are certain costs that you’ll have to consider by doing this, but it could still work out cheaper than hiring a vehicle, plus you get to enjoy the comfort of your own car.
When travelling long distance, some people may find hiring a car more convenient as shipping can take a long time. You should shop around for hire car services to find the best deal and consider getting automatic to make life easier (having the gearstick on the opposite side can take some getting used to).
Look into license and permit laws
In certain countries you may have to apply for an international driving license. Others such as China may even demand that you take a test before going on their roads (unless you’re serious about driving here, it’s probably best to just rely on public transport).
Meanwhile, in certain European countries, you may need to apply for a vignette in order to use their highways. These are cheap and can be bought electronically or from a local petrol station.
Make sure you bring your license with you and proof of car insurance. This documentation could be vital if you get pulled over or if you need to hire a car.
Learn the rules of the road
Every country has its own rules of the road. Many countries drive on the opposite side and there may be different national speed limits and different laws on drink driving. There are also oddball laws to look out for – for example, in France you must carry a breathalyser in your vehicle at all times and in Hungary you must have your headlights on at all times. You can even get fined in Thailand for driving without a shirt on.
Plan each route ahead
When driving anywhere unknown, it’s useful to always plan your journey ahead. Many countries have toll roads and if you’re travelling on a budget you may want to plan your routes so that you avoid these roads. Similarly you may want to find routes that don’t involve travelling through cities in order to avoid getting caught in congestion (or simply avoid having to deal with the stress of city driving). You can buy international roadmaps from companies such as Omnimap. In certain countries with harsh weather conditions, you may want to check online for road closures that could affect your journey.
