Learn how to drive overseas

Everyone has heard a story about a traveler who narrowly avoided spending some time in the slammer after a minor traffic infraction abroad. In order to make sure people won’t be telling stories about your fate for years to come, make sure to take a few steps to prepare before driving abroad.

Before you go:

• Obtain an International Driving Permit. Over 150 countries recognize this permit, and they are listed on the AAA IDP application page.The U.S. State Department offers tips on driving overseas, from how to obtain an International Driving Permit (available only through the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance) to advice on when to contact an embassy abroad.
• Learn the rules of the road. Whatever you do, make sure you know enough of the local law (and lingo) to keep from spending your trip in the pokey. If driving in North America, check out these basic tip sheets for Canada and Mexico. If traveling elsewhere, be sure to research local regulations and how they apply to foreigners.
• Brush up on international road signs for wherever you are going. Amateur Traveler podcast founder Chris Christensen recounts in one of his podcasts (linked below) a time he was traveling on a European motorway and saw a road sign that seemed to resemble a sawhorse. Only later did he learn that this sign actually represented the beginning of a motorway.
• Reserve a smaller car than you drive at home (especially if you live in the United States). Many towns are not equipped for large vehicles, vans, or SUVs. Especially in Europe, narrow roads and tight spaces are the norm- make sure you are driving something that you will be able to maneuver in tight spaces.
• Budget wisely. Though gas in the United States is pushing $4.00 a gallon, it can be several dollars higher in Europe. Also remember that some city centers, such as London, charge a fee for entry in order to reduce congestion. Make sure to budget for toll roads and parking as well.
• Learn the lay of the land. Have plenty of maps ready and a designated navigator (other than the driver). The driver will likely have more than enough to deal with while maneuvering an unfamiliar vehicle through mazes of streets with scooters and animals darting back and forth and other drivers’ various degrees of compliance with the rules of the road.
• Know the metric system- at least the basic kilometer conversions. Remember that 100 kilometers per hour is equivalent to 60 miles per hour.
• Familiarize yourself with manual transmissions. Automatic transmissions are hard to come by in many parts of the world. During high tourist season, they will be especially hard to find at the last minute. As one of my high school classmates said for her senior quote, “Always know how to drive a stick shift.”

After you learn the rules, try this search engine for international car rentals.

For some firsthand stories about driving abroad, listen to Chris Christensen’s Amateur Traveler Podcast #28: Driving Internationally. This 31 minute podcast is an interesting listen, though the first couple minutes are not just about driving.