Driving Outside the United States – Do You Need an International Driver’s License?
So, you want total independence. You’ve had enough with the packaged bus tours. Even with high petrol prices (that’s gas in US speak), you want to get behind the wheel and get to those out of the way spots you keep reading about in the back of travel books. But then you think about the problems: narrow medieval roads, maniac drivers, insurance, different types of cars not seen in the USA, and the crazy British Empire driving on the left side of the road. Can you say roundabout at 110 kph?
Don’t be afraid. You can do it. It may be a team effort in the UK with one person assigned the job of reminding the driver to “keep to the left.” And then there are the signs in Croatia or Italy in a different language. The nice thing about signs in Europe is that they have simple symbols that you can pick up quickly. Trust me. You can.
First, do you need an international driver’s license? The short answer: NO. An international driver’s license is simply a translation of the information contained on your U.S. driver’s license. Get one if it makes you feel more comfortable. But I’ve driven in Europe and Mexico for nearly 30 years and have never used anything but my valid state driver’s license. You really need to be able to tell the cop-that one cop in Europe who doesn’t read a little English-your name and address and indicate where on the license it indicates your license is valid. I’ve rented autos from international and local companies and have never had a problem. A couple of times, the person helping me has had to find someone more proficient in English, but that’s their problem, not mine.
The U.S Dept. of State recommends that you get an international driving permit. But I wonder if they have a vested interest. The government agency authorizes only 2 private auto associations in the U.S. to issue these for $20.
Before departure, you can obtain one at a local office of one of the two automobile associations authorized by the U.S. Department of State: the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance.
� AAA (American Automobile Association) , 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32745-5063. The application is available on-line.
� American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA), 1151 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404, tel: 800-622-7070; fax: 650-294-7105
To apply for an international driving permit, you must be at least age 18, and you will need to present two passport-size photographs and your valid U.S. license.
Insurance is more problematic. Several countries require certain limits or special theft insurance, as in Italy, that is mandatory. Check with your insurance company or the car rental company before leaving the U.S. Your own car insurance should be good but there may be limits. Check. Your credit car may well cover basic insurance when renting a car. Check. When in doubt and if you’re the nervous type, buy every form of insurance the rental company wants to sell you. I have a friend who doubles the price of his European rental car by purchasing every bit of insurance he can.
One thing to mention with the internet playing more and more a role in people’s travel planning, even French rental companies will have English versions of their websites to make life easy for the English-speaking world – -which is just about everyone these days. However, clinging to the glory days of the British Empire, you’ll find most European websites that have a Union Jack (Brit flag) as the international symbol for English. I guess it is the mother tongue.
Here are some simple things to remember when renting a car. Go over all the knobs and dials and controls BEFORE leaving the lot. You don’t want to be cruising through rain soaked, narrow roads on the wrong side and you can’t figure out where the wiper control is located. I once couldn’t find reverse in a car I rented in Ireland. These cars are sometimes simpler than ours but they are different. Get a good map. The rental outfit won’t have a good road map. They will have a map of the city. So, get directions and have them clearly mark on the escape map how to get where you’re going.
That brings me to a very simple question you must ask yourself. Do you really need that car? Explore every other alternative before renting a car. Driving in a foreign country can enhance your vacation if done properly but it can also add a great deal of stress. Make sure you’re ready for it. And never rent a car while you’re in a major city. There is no reason to drive your self when every city has fine public transportation opportunities. Even in smaller towns, park that sucker as soon as you can and walk away. Driving in Tuscany makes sense and is really the only way to adequately enjoy that area unless you hire a car and driver. Considering all the wine tasting you can do in Tuscany, that’s worth considering.
Try to rent a car at one of the London airports rather than in the city. Getting out of London, one of the busiest cities in the world could cause a nervous breakdown. If you must rent a car in the city, consider doing it on Sunday. No workday traffic to deal with. Find a straight line getaway to a major road, and remember to “stay to the left.”
Remember that the cars already in the roundabout have the right of way. It’s your job to merge safely and find the proper exit while being surrounded by hundreds of crazed Brits late for a dental appointment and talking on a cellphone while eating greasy fish and chips. That’s right. Take the bus. Leave the driving to someone else.
