Driving in a Foreign Country

When it comes to travelling, unless you are going to take an organized tour at your destination, you need to figure out transportation.  You can take busses, cabs and subways at your destination but these can add up quickly.  You can walk, but depending on where all you are going, and what you want to see, walking may not be feasible.  For this reason, you may want to consider renting a vehicle.

English: (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But, renting a vehicle is not as easy as just going to the rental agency.  There are some considerations that you need to check into before you leave home.

International Driver’s License

The first question is, can you drive on your current license or do you need to get an international one?  If you need an international one, check with your local licensing agency to find out what you need to do.  One of my coworkers went to New Zealand a few years ago and she had to get one but I do not remember what all was involved but I know it was not difficult.  A friend is planning a trip to Ireland and she is able to drive on her regular license.

Comfort

By comfort, I don’t mean the amenities within the car, although that may be a consideration.  But more so, will you be comfortable driving somewhere you are not familiar with and potentially on the other side of the road?   If you are already a driver who does not like to drive outside of their comfort zone, driving in another country may not be a good option.

Insurance

Don’t forget to make sure that you have adequate insurance.  What is enough is up to you.  You likely can get insurance with your rental.  But look at what your credit card may offer if you have a card that has benefits and perks on it.  Usually if you pay a few, it has some sort of rewards program.

Whenever you are travelling, you need to be able to get around.  If you want to drive, check out the official government website to find out the requirements.  But there is nothing wrong with walking and using public transport.  You never know who you will meet or where you may end up!