Car Driving Abroad
Be it Route 66, a road trip across the Australian outback or a grand tour of Europe, driving breaks can make for some of the most memorable holidays. But how do you prepare for driving long distances in an unfamiliar country? Motoring journalists Mark Dishman, Luke Wood and Paul Walton offer their advice.
Tip one - Do your research
If you're planning to travel long-distance on your driving holiday, work out your route in advance and make sure you have the relevant maps. If you want to take your Satnav with you, make sure it works wherever it is you're travelling, as some only have certain pre-loaded maps. Also, be sure you check the driving laws of your destination so you don't get caught out. Glasses-wearing drivers in the Czech Republic, for example, are obliged to carry a spare pair of specs with them at all times.
Mark Dishman
Not so long ago I took part in a challenge to see how many countries you could drive to in 24 hours as part of a team of three. We managed to visit 14 countries in total and discovered some very weird laws along the way. For example, it's illegal to use your horn in Vienna, and you're not allowed to wash your car on a public highway in Germany. It's also against the law to run out of fuel on an autobahn and if you ever find yourself driving in Poland, make sure you have rear mud flaps fitted to avoid being pulled by the police!
Luke Wood
Tip two - get the right insurance
The first question you need to ask yourself before driving abroad is 'will my car be legal?'. For example, your insurance policy may be valid in most EC countries, but if you're travelling further afield it's worth checking. It should say on the back of the certificate the countries it's recognised in. If you're travelling closer to home and you've bought a cheap insurance policy through an online comparison site, be careful - sometimes the reason they're cheap is because there's no cover outside the UK.
Paul Walton
Tip three - get the right licence
Your UK driving licence may be valid in Europe, but if your driving holiday takes you further afield, to America for example, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be a lawful requirement or a recommendation. IDPs have to be acquired three months before travel and can be applied for at the Post Office.
Paul Walton
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