Driving Around the World: A Guide on How to Drive in a Foreign Country

Blog

Jan 27

There's no more rewarding activity than travel. It can be amazing to see parts of the world far off and very different than your own. It's why many Millenials have prioritized travel above all else in their lives, including homeownership.

If you're looking to make your own trip to somewhere far and away, you should ensure that you are properly prepared. While driving around the world can be fun, it also prevents a number of risks, challenges, and obstacles.

There are different customs you might not know in a foreign country when it comes to driving. Read on, and we'll walk you through the steps you should take to ensure you have a safe drive while traveling abroad.

Look Into The Legalities

You may already be starry-eyed, thinking about the wind in your hair as you drive down the sunny coast of France. However, it's important that you do a little bit of research before you get behind the wheel of an automobile in another country.

Many countries have many different rules as it pertains to foreign drivers. Depending on where you're planning to visit, there may be different requirements. If you get pulled over and fail to meet these requirements, you might find yourself in big trouble and far from home.

Some countries only require a person to have their domestic license, while others require an IDP, or international driver's permit. Other countries may ban foreign drivers from the road altogether.

It's important to look into the requirements in the countries you're looking to visit ahead of time. This way you can ensure you are in compliance.

Think About Insurance

Before you lease a car in a foreign country, you'll need to ensure that you are properly covered in the event of an accident. Most countries around the world require a driver to have some form of insurance before they can take charge of a vehicle.

That likely isn't news to you, but it can take some work to determine if your domestic auto insurance will still cover you overseas. If not, you might have to put some effort into finding a good temporary insurance policy that will cover your trip abroad.

The embassy for the country you're visiting may have a list of reliable auto insurance companies that can be a good starting point.

Be Aware of Cultural Differences

How people drive in the country you're visiting may be different than what you're used to. This could be in a broad obvious way, like by driving on the opposite side of the road. It might be in ways that you didn't consider, like in visiting countries where women aren't usually behind the wheel.

You'll need to be aware of and properly navigate these cultural differences in your time traveling. It's important to do some research and know what you're getting into before you get behind the wheel.