For us British drivers, we think that everybody else drives on the wrong side of the road. In fact, 25% of the world’s cars are driven on the left, so a quarter of the world’s population are with us. The French however think that we do everything the wrong way round. There’s no pleasing some people!

Unfortunately, driving on the wrong side of the road is the least of our problems. They have different rules too! So here’s a few guidelines to getting around safely and not ruffling the feathers of local drivers, wherever you are.

Do your research before you go

- Make sure you know something about the local driving laws. This doesn’t mean pouring over the local Highway Code, but look at some of the basics like speed limits and signs. Luckily enough, most of these are self-evident. Red and things with crosses through generally means you’re not allowed.

- Provisional licences are only issued to learner drivers. Consequently, they’re not valid elsewhere.

- Check with your insurance company (car insurance this time, not travel) that you’re covered to drive where you’re going. That includes breakdown recovery and medical expenses if you have an accident. This doesn’t apply of course to hire cars, you pay an insurance premium for that in the price of the rental.

- Check whether you have a Green Card, it provides basic cover.

- Check whether you need an International Driving Permit

- Service your car before you leave. The last thing you want to be doing is trying to get new spark plugs when you don’t know what the French is for spark plugs (bougies)

Don’t forget

- A spare set of keys – fancy dropping your keys down a drain in Spain?

- A fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tool kit, spare bulbs and a warning triangle. In fact in Spain you’ll need two of them.

- All your documents, license, insurance certificate and a Green Card if you have one. You’ll also need your breakdown policy, travel insurance and contact numbers.

On the road

- Drive sensibly and expect the unexpected.

- Just like anywhere, take regular breaks, put your seat belt on and make sure your passengers do. You’re responsible for them.

- Don’t drink and drive. In almost all European countries the limit is lower than in the UK’s 0.8 mg per 100 ml of blood. In most countries it’s 0.5 mg but in Norway, Poland and Sweden it’s 0.2 mg and in Estonia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia the Czech Republic and Hungary it’s nothing.

- Don’t overload your vehicle and make sure you can see out the back

- If you have an accident, contact your insurer straight away and take photographs. In France you’ll have a Constat à l’amiable to fill out or at least the other person will. It’s an accident report that will help any dealings with insurance companies run smoothly.

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Driving your car in a foreign country – a guide to the basics | World First Travel Insurance Blog

Many years ago when I was a teenager, I set off with a mate from school on a train (well, a few trains) across Europe with a final destination of Istanbul. We both went away with backpacks, tickets and passports, our wits and not much else. We had the transit visas for Yugoslavia and Bulgaria that we needed in those days when the Berlin Wall was still very much in still standing, but that was about all the planning we did. We had a couple of scrapes, particularly losing each other in Belgrade when the coaches were shunted off to a different platform.

A bit of planning is never a bad thing because just thinking a bit in advance may save you a lot of pain when a problem occurs.Your check list will obviously depend on your destination. A driving trip through the Amazonian Rain Forest will obviously present more potential perils than a weekend getaway to Paris, but in a way the principle’s the same.

If you are travelling independently without the protection of a tour operator

There is a lot of information on the Foreign Office travel advice web site, particularly for “sensitive” countries. A travel guide will also be a good investment to help you get that little bit more from your trip as well as being a better read than the platitudes in the literature from the local tourist office

If you’re travelling within the European Union

Get a free European Health Insurance Card for free or reduced emergency care. It replaces the old E111 form. It won’t replace your travel insurance though.

Make sure your travel insurance covers everything you are likely to want to do

Are you going to play in a chess tournament? run a marathon? or jump off Niagara Falls in a barrel?* Even swimming in the Med has its dangers, you don’t want to meet to many jellyfish.

Make photocopies of your passport and other important documents

Keep them in a separate place just in case you mislay the originals or get them stolen. Even better, you could keep electronic copies on an online secure data storage site.

Talking of passports

If you haven’t already got one, you’ll have to go for an interview so the Passport Office can check you actually are who you say you are. Allow six weeks to get one.

For many countries outside the EU

Your passport must be valid for six months after you travel so check its expiry date.

Make sure you fill in the emergency contact details

It will make it much easier to contact someone should the need arise.

Tell people where you’re going and if possible

Give them an emergency contact number.

Take enough money with you

It’s always best to keep a mix of cash and travellers’ cheques. For many countries it’s an idea to have some US dollars, even these days.

If you’re planning to take significant amounts out of your own bank account

when you’re on the other side of the world, tell your bank before you go. There’s been a number of cases recently of well-intentioned but perhaps over-zealous banks blocking bank accounts because perfectly legitimate transactions were thought of as fraudulent.

If you’re planning to drive abroad

Make sure your licence is valid for that country and find out about the driving laws for where you’re going. It’s not just about driving on the other side of the road.

Drugs

Don’t go there. Watch Midnight Express to remind you why.

* Thinking about it, your travel insurer and the local constabulary might take a dim view of you jumping off Niagara Falls in a barrel. Best not do it.

Related posts:

1. World First Travel Insurance Check List
2. Travelling with a medical condition? Be prepared for delays.
3. Things to do when travelling abroad when pregnant

Have a check list – the sensible guide to travelling | World First Travel Insurance Blog