​4 tips for renting a car abroad | Life Lanes

But renting a car in another area besides comes with its own set of potential challenges. here are four significant things to consider .

1. Make sure you’re allowed to drive

If you ’ ra traveling to an english-speaking country, there ’ s a dependable find you ’ ll be able to get by with precisely your U.S. driver ’ sulfur license. however, many countries will require you to get an International Driving Permit ( IDP ). It ’ s a good estimate to at least explore the option, specially since you may need to present one along with your U.S. license at the rental counter—depending upon where you ’ re renting your vehicle—or if, eden prevent, law enforcement officials stop you while driving overseas .
An IDP is basically a assemble of paper that translates your driver ’ south license information into 10 different languages. It ’ randomness recognized by over 150 countries, but you ’ ll motivation to get yours before you take off for gamble from either the American Automobile Association or the National Auto Club. These are the only two organizations authorized to issue IDPs in the U.S., and your IDP must be issued in your home nation .
Don ’ t let any of this put you off. Getting an IDP is very simple. All you need is a completed IDP application, a valid driver ’ south license issued by your submit ’ second department of centrifugal vehicles, two passport-sized photos of yourself, and payment for the IDP, which normally runs in the $ 20 – $ 25 stove .
besides, you have to be at least 18 years of age to get an IDP. This is a good admonisher to check the minimum and maximum drive age with the rental car ship’s company in the country of your finish. Yes, you read that proper … a maximum. Some countries, such as Ireland, won ’ t lease a vehicle to anyone over the age of 70 .

2. Make sure you’re covered

Most U.S. car insurers won ’ triiodothyronine brood you while you ’ ra driving abroad, with the potential exceptions of Canada and Mexico. indeed unless you have a recognition tease that offers rental cable car insurance, you ’ ll probably need to purchase your insurance from the rental company itself.

Your beginning footstep is to check with your insurance company and your citation poster company to see what—if any—coverage you already have. And, while we ’ re on the subject of credit cards, book your rental car well in gain with a credit card to help you lock in the best lease pace possible .
Getting back to indemnity, as a general rule, the U.S. State Department recommends that you get approximately the same international policy coverage that you have here. Be mindful, however, that some countries require extra coverages ( Italy, for example, requires larceny coverage ). And because the laws do deviate from country to nation, be clear about where you plan to travel. While your indemnity may cover you in the first nation you visit, it might not cover you when you cross borders .

3. Make sure you’re comfortable

In many countries, manual of arms transmissions are the norm and you ’ ll pay a bounty for an automatic. But driving oversea is frequently more nerve-racking than driving at home. The roads may be more ailing paved, specialize, winding, or barely plain dangerous. And if you ’ re going to a area like England or Australia, you ’ ll want to be prepared to drive on the leave side of the road. Consider the circumstances, your level of consolation, and remember that an abroad tripper is not the time to learn to drive a stick !
It is, however, a effective time to make certain you have a reliable map. If you own a GPS, you can normally download external maps for a tip from your GPS provider ’ sulfur web site. That said, it ’ s a good idea to compare the monetary value of adding a GPS to your cable car lease versus going the download route. lease car companies traditionally charge by the day or by the week for a GPS rental, sol depending on how long you ’ ll have the car, you may be better off renting the GPS at, say, $ 12 a day than paying around $ 100 for an international map download .

4. Make sure you know the rules

Stop signs, focal ratio limits, staying alert for pedestrians and livestock … these are all things we ’ re used to doing when drive and which tend to be pretty consistent across continents. early rules of the road are more specific, however, and some are flat out oral.

Always research drive culture for the area you ’ re planning to visit to make certain you stay safe and are abiding by the local customs. From passing early vehicles—or letting them pass you—to seat belt laws and alcohol limits, even rules about honking your french horn, you ’ ll feel better knowing you ’ re doing your best to drive like a local anesthetic .
One other thing : make sure you do everything you can to keep yourself from looking like a tourist. Always put your baggage in the proboscis and put the GPS and any tourism books or pamphlets you may have in the baseball glove box. Lock your doors when you aren ’ triiodothyronine in the cable car and exercise the like care you ’ d take when it comes to protecting yourself from thieves at home .
It ’ mho rare to have the exemption of the open road ahead of you, much less in a alien area. Take time to plan and understand the details of your rental in progress so you can relax and enjoy the experience when you reach your destination .