Driving abroad doesn't have to be scary. Follow our top tips to ensure you have your experience goes smoothly.
Driving abroad doesn't have to be scary. Follow our top tips to ensure you have your experience goes smoothly.
Whether you’re taking your own car with you, or hiring a car abroad, it’s a good idea to start planning for your trip several weeks in advance.
There’s some important information you need to be aware of, and you may need to speak with your insurance provider or apply for a driving permit before you set off.
So don’t get caught out, and make sure you’re clued up and ready to go with this handy guide.
In 2015, the DVLA abolished the paper part of the UK driving licence. This has changed the process for UK drivers hiring a car abroad.
You are now required to obtain a special passcode from the DVLA website before you collect your hire car.
The code is valid for 21 days and you’ll need the following three things in order to get your code:
The code allows your car hire provider to access all of the details that would have been found on your paper counterpart via an online system.
Your Great Britain (GB) or Nothern Ireland (NI) driving licence can be used in all EU or European Economic Area (EEA) countries, and Switzerland.
There may be additional rules that apply to other European countries; both the AA and the RAC have some valuable information on this.
There may be additional rules that apply to countries outside Europe. In some countries, such as Mexico, Hong Kong and the USA, you’ll be required to bring an International Driving Permit (IDP).
An IDP may be a legal requirement in the country you’re visiting, or it may be a compulsory requirement with the car hire company you’re using – remember to check before you get there.
You can get an IDP for just £5.50 from selected Post Office branches. In order to apply, you’ll need to be:
You can apply for your IDP up to three months before you’re due to travel, and the IDP is valid for one year. You’ll need to submit a passport-sized photo and fill out an application form in order to obtain your IDP, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
When taking your own car
Before you go, speak with your insurance company to check the extent of your cover when driving abroad. It’s a good idea to extend your cover to include theft and damage to your car, if you’re not already covered for those.
If your cover seems limited, it might be a good idea to consider getting separate breakdown cover.
When hiring a car abroad
Your car insurance is likely to be included in your car hire deal. Check that your agreement includes adequate cover (fire, theft, damage and Personal Liability), and also that you aren’t getting ripped off!
Some car hire companies can be guilty of offering insurance cover with high excesses. This means you could potentially end up getting charged a large amount for even a small scratch. It’s a good idea to check the car thoroughly before setting off, take a record of any scratches or marks and ask a representative from the car hire company to sign it.
For more in-depth information about insurance when hiring a car abroad, check out this handy guide from the Money Advice Service.
Remember that if you break the law when driving abroad (such as being caught speeding by a camera), the authorities can obtain your details from the DVLA and send you a fine.
A recent study has found that thousands of Britons are breaking the law when driving abroad. The most common misdemeanours were:
You may find that some countries have different motoring laws to those you’re used to at home. Don’t get caught out and read up on the specific laws in the country you’re visiting before you get there.
