How to Drive Abroad (Safely!)

Renting a car and exploring the countryside or nearby cities is the best way to sneak an impromptu road trip into an already exhilarating vacation. However, when renting a car in a foreign country, it is important to heed to the rules and restrictions of the international roads. Before signing those insurance documents and collecting the car keys, consider the following tips to stay safe and legal behind the worldly wheel.

Read up on the rules. Before jetting off to a foreign land with plans to rent a vehicle, do some research on the rules of the road. Do you need an international driver’s license at your destination? Will there be vehicles available with automatic transmission, or only manual transmission? On which side of the road do they drive? Arming yourself with such information can help you decide whether you should rent a car or leave the driving to the experts.

Read the terms and conditions. While some travelers are quick to scan the necessities, sign the documents and hit the road, you will be doing yourself a disservice by not familiarizing yourself with the rental company’s regulations. Ask the attendant whether the gas needs to be refilled, how to operate basic vehicle functions and what to do in the case of an accident.

Insure yourself. Speaking of accidents, fork over the extra dough for the renters’ insurance. Just as the tip above mentions, make sure to carefully read the coverage terms so if the worst-case scenario happens, you will know what to expect in terms of reimbursement or potential out-of-pocket payments.