Driving Abroad

Have you ever wanted to take a road trip through a foreign country but just didn't know where to begin? There are lots of questions to be answered about driving abroad, such as whether or not you can use your local driver's license, how to rent a car in a foreign country, how to understand foreign road signs and oh-so-many more. In fact, driving in a foreign country is not too tricky and most tourists can easily rent a car with no trouble.

Drivers License

In most countries around the world, you can simply drive with your own local driver's license from your home country. Occasionally, your license might need to be translated (this is mostly true of non-English licenses in English-language countries), but usually your home license will do. However, if you a traveling somewhere a bit more exotic, off-the-beaten-track or to a non-Western country, you should consider getting and International Driving Permit. In the United States, these are issued through triple A and can be obtained at any local Triple A office. These permits are honored in 150 countries around the world and offer information in numerous languages.

To get an an International Driving Permit (IDP), you must be at least 18 years old and you'll need 2 passport-sized photos (which can be taken at the "triple A" office), as well as your regular driver's license, the completed application and the $15 application fee, payable by check, money order or major credit card. One thing to keep in mind is that the IDP can only be issued within 6-months of your trip.

Renting a car

Major rental car companies like Budget, Thrifty and Europcar operate all over the world, so renting a car internationally is not usually difficult, depending on your destination. In some Asian countries, renting a car is not necessarily advisable, as the streets are usually crowded with cars and the traffic patterns are incredibly unpredictable. However, in most parts of the world, renting a car is quite easy and reservations can be made online. It is important to remember that, in most parts of the world, a typical rental car comes with a standard 5-speed transmission rather than an automatic transmission, so if you can't drive a stick, be sure to request an automatic transmission when you book.

Insurance

If you're covered with liability insurance at home, be sure to check with your insurance company to see if that coverage extends to rental cars abroad. Likewise, if you have purchased travel insurance, it may (or may not) cover your rental car. If not, it is advisable to purchase local liability and damage insurance with the rental car company that you are using. Not doing so could result in a major financial difficulty if you run into an unfortunate accident, which is all-to-easy to do driving in foreign surroundings.

Rules of the road

Local driving laws and norms differ widely from country to country. The most notable example of this is in U.K., Ireland, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, Japan and many other countries, where driving is done on the left with a right-hand steering wheel, which can take a lot of getting used to for those accustomed to driving on the right (and vice versa). Other norms are not so obvious, such as whether or not it is legal to turn right (or left) at a red light, how to approach pedestrians, what the driving speeds are and which lane is the fast lane. The best way to get a handle on local driving laws before you go is to look at the foreign country's embassy website, or to inquire about driving laws with the rental car company.

Finding your way

Part of the fun in going on a road trip abroad is getting lost and I can assure you, at some point, you probably will. To avoid too many mishaps, you should stick to main roadways, motorways and highways as much as possible and learn the road numbering systems before you start driving. You might also want to check online for some examples of road signage in that country so that you aren't instantly confused by the signs the moment you get behind the wheel, and spend a little time studying a map of the area. In certain countries, basic knowledge of the local language would be helpful for finding your way, as well, but not necessarily compulsory.