Things You Need to Prepare for While Driving in Europe

When going to Europe for a trip, a great plan is to rent a car. Renting a car gives you the freedom to do so much more than you could with public transportation.

There are a few things to look out for and plan before doing so, and I will explain the steps to take in order to legally and safely drive on your trip to Europe.

International driving laws

It is quite important that before driving in a new European country that you check the traffic laws. Some countries have no speed limit, some have a very low speed limit. Sometimes there are certain laws regarding when you legally must pull over, or what to do in case of a police stop. Additionally some countries have different laws regarding how much alcohol can be in your system while driving. It is very important to always learn and obey laws when driving in a new country.

Direction of traffic

An incredibly important thing to keep in mind is which way the cars drive in a certain country (check here). In the U.K. and Ireland, cars drive opposite to Germany or the United States. You do not want to be caught driving in the opposite direction as this is incredibly dangerous and illegal.

Obtain an international driving permit

The most important preparation for driving in Europe is obtaining an international driving permit. This is as important as having your regular driving license in your home country. The first step is to fill out an AATA IDP application. You will then mail it to the address listed on the form with 2 passport sized photos, copies of the front and back of your driver’s license, and a $20 IDP fee as well as S&H fees. Simply follow these steps and you will be legally on your way to driving in Europe.

Safety

There are different legal safety requirements in different countries in Europe. This includes how large or old children must be to sit outside of a child’s seat. If you are driving and traveling with children, it is important to confirm these laws in order to either bring this with you, or rent this extra equipment along with your rental car (source). Another aspect of safety is that some countries require you to have reflective vests or emergency triangles. Make sure to ask your rental car service what is required and what you will need to have in case of emergency and for good safety measures.

Gas/Petrol Stations

Make sure to fill up often and before you reach ½ tank in many nordic countries or if driving in the countryside. Often there will not be a gas station for many miles, and it is extremely important to avoid getting caught with no gas in the middle of nowhere.