Planning a Road Trip in a Foreign Country

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As travel restrictions ease in most countries, people are traveling again. During these trips, self-drive options are getting higher preference than public transport, not only because it gives people more freedom but more sense of safety as well. However, planning a road trip in a foreign country requires intricate planning different from normal ones.

This article captures the key nuances of such a road trip plan to make your holiday a memorable one. We will highlight the issues around the international drivers license or international driving permit as it also known.

I also strongly suggest checking any post-pandemic travel requisites that are in place before planning your international trip.

What Do You Need to Drive Legally Abroad?

A passport and visa are pre-requisites for traveling abroad. However, you will need official permission to drive in a foreign country.

Two international conventions help govern driving in foreign countries:

The 1968 Vienna Convention cover
The 1949 Geneva Convention

These two cumulatively cover almost ninety-eight percent of the world’s countries. These countries can issue IDPs to their residents, which they can use to drive abroad.

If you travel to the US

The U.S. Federal Government does not require you to have an international driving permit to drive in the U.S. But some individual states do (such as Alaska and Connecticut, for example). California, where we reside, certainly does not (but only if you stay in the state less than 90 days). To find out if the state you are visiting require an IDP contact that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

That said, if you ask any travel expert they would advise you to still get an international driving permit from your country before coming to the U.S., regardless of the state you are travelling to, especially if your original driver’s license is not in English. IDPs are issued in the English language so it will facilitate communication with the authorities here in the U.S. in case things go sideways.

If you travel from the U.S.

If you travel from the U.S. and have a valid American driver’s license you will still be required to have an international driving permit in many countries (see details below). Currently 1 organization issues IDPs in the U.S.: American Automobile Association (AAA). You need to get your IDP before you leave the country. Technically, if you are already abroad you can apply to AAA from a foreign country but it may take several months to get you permit.

Be wary of any other organization claiming to issue IDPs. They could be scammers.

If you travel to Canada and Mexico

Canada and Mexico accept the U.S. driver’s license so you don’t need an international driving permit if you are doing a road trip in these two countries .

If you travel to Europe

If you travel to Europe, the following countries require an international driving permit: Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Spain.

If you travel to Australia

Overseas drivers in Australia who visit the country for a short trip do not need additional permissions to drive if they have a valid driver’s license. It applies to:

Citizens of all countries except New Zealand. Kiwis have a grace period of up to three months.
People with driver’s license in English. If otherwise, the visitor has to get an IDP or English translated form of the driver’s license

If you travel to Asia

An international driving permit is required in such countries as Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Laos.

As for China, it never signed onto the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Travel. Americans cannot rent a car in China without first getting a Chinese driver’s license.

If you travel to South America

If you travel to South America from the U.S. the international driving permit will be valid in all countries except for Brazil and Uruguay. For those two you will need Inter-American Driving Permit.

If you travel to South Africa

If you a driver’s license is issued in English it will be valid in South Africa. If you have a driver’s license in any other language you will need to obtain an international driving permit.

Why Do You Need Certification?

There are a few benefits that IDPs help provide. These include:

Translation of the driver’s license into English and ten other languages
Confirming that the driver has a legal license in their native country
Certifying the type of vehicles the driver can drive
Allowing the driver to rent vehicles in a foreign country
Serving as an identification tool across more than 150 countries

An applicant has to be 18 years old to apply for IDP.

How to Rent a Car in a Foreign Country?

Renting a car in any country can be a critical task. It is ideal to find out the road conditions in advance for shortlisting the right vehicle for your journey.

A few other factors you also need to keep in mind:

The number of people traveling
The amount you are willing to spend on car rentals
Your trip itinerary
Verifying the credentials of your car rental company

When you travel to a new destination, the chances are that you will be unfamiliar with the road and weather conditions. It can even happen that the language people speak in the visiting country is different from the one you speak. Under such circumstances, opting for a vehicle you are unfamiliar with will only aggravate your woes. Such adjustments can include:

Adjusting the seat as per your height and comfortable driving position
Adapting to the mirror position of the new vehicle
Understanding the control of the new vehicle

How to Obtain an Auto Insurance?

While planning to drive on foreign soil with your vehicle, it is essential to ensure the presence of auto insurance. Most auto insurances provide similar coverage abroad like their home turf. However, you can check your insurance policy to confirm their coverage before heading out.

It is worth mentioning that there are a few travel insurance policies that help cover your international car rental. However, these provide limited coverage, beyond which you need to shell out money to cover any damages. You can coordinate with your embassy to check the specific requisites related to coverage information.

How to Be Safe on Foreign Roads?

So, you have found out about the required permissions to drive in a foreign country and car rentals. The next step is to ensure your safety while on foreign soil. It is worth mentioning that many countries do not have similar roadways as the US.

This aspect makes it critical for you to be aware of the roads you will cover during your trip. It is ideal to have a GPS-enabled car to help you if your map does not support you properly.

Always be mindful of the weather while driving. In any new location it can be unpredictable so be prepared.

Another critical aspect that you should know is the local traffic rules. Important aspects are:

Local Speed Limits
Left-hand or right-hand drive
Basic traffic rules if they are different from your native country

Where to Find Additional Information?

You can get information regarding road safety on government websites. There are tons of data on various procedures and things that you can subscribe to for ensuring safety while abroad. Another resourceful link can be the various tourist board sites that provide numerous safety information relating to travel.

A good starting point can be visiting such websites and looking for information regarding road signs while planning a road trip with a self-drive vehicle. You can get emergency information that is often different from one country to another from such portals. The absence of planned roadways in some countries and different distances between gas stations needs you to identify them in advance and plan accordingly.

An overseas road trip can create a lot of memories for a lifetime. So, do your research beforehand to avoid any unforeseen challenges. Bon Voyage!

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