Driving Overseas - Travel Tips and Advice

• Don't drive jet-lagged. It can get days to get your body clock aligned with your destination's time zone - not push your luck and drive when you are still struggling to stay awake. In fact don't drive tired period. You are already dealing with an unfamiliar car in a strange town, don't make it any more difficult.
• Driving on the "wrong" side of the road is not too bad in towns and cities where there are road marking and traffic to keep you on the correct side. However it's a lot more difficult if the car is not designed for the "wrong" side.
• Don't hire a car right-hand drive car in the UK and then drive it on the continent - cars are designed to have the driver in the middle of the road for a reason!
• Be particularly careful if hiring a motorbike or scooter to drive on the "wrong" side of the road. There is no indication on the bike which side you should be on and its a lot more dangerous on bike to be on the wrong side.

If I haven't put you off entirely - and you still intend to drive, then do some research. Many countries will require you to hold an International Driving Permit - which will look similar to this one. They are issued by your home motoring association (AAA for Americans, AA for UK, your state organisation for Australians).

Overseas permits don't replace your local license, which you should carry as well, and will cost you about $10 and a photo.

Make sure you get your permit endorsed for all the the types of vehicle you are licensed for: typically this will be "B" for cars and "A" for motorbikes.  

Make sure you understand what your travel insurance will and will not cover you for. For example many foreigners will hire a motorbike to get around in Thailand. However, Thai law states that you need a full motorbike license to hire ANY motorbike in the Kingdom. If you hire the bike and then have an accident (very common by the way) - you will not only find that you are responbile for a few thousands dollars worth of damage to the bike, but you may also find that your travel insurance will decline to cover your medical bills. That's because most travel insurance doesn't cover you when you are breaking the local laws. 

Often in Australia and New Zealand - you will see very low rental car rates advertised, the fine print will tell you there is a $2000 deductible for any damage, and you will be offered a policy to reduce this down to something more reasonable. No problem you think, my travel insurance covers rental car damage. Well many of them only cover you, if you take any policies from the rental agency that you are offered, so no you will be paying the $2000 for the damage for the time you forgot to keep left.