Driving Abroad and the Rules That Surprise Americans

I still remember the first time I slid behind the wheel of a rental car overseas.

My hands were sweating.

The steering wheel was on the wrong side, and the gearshift was in my left hand.

I felt like a teenager all over again.

I’d driven for decades back home without a single worry.

And then, in about ten seconds, I felt like I’d forgotten how.

Here’s the thing, though.

Driving abroad is one of my favorite ways to see a country, and I’m obsessed with it.

But it comes with rules that’ll catch you completely off guard.

So let me walk you through the ones that surprised me most.

The Whole “Other Side of the Road” Thing

Let’s start with the big one.

In the UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Thailand, and plenty of other places, everybody drives on the left.

I knew that going in.

Knowing it and doing it are two very different things.

On my first day in Ireland, I turned out of a parking lot and drifted straight into the wrong lane.

A delivery truck honked at me, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

Here’s the trick that saved me.

As the driver, keep your body toward the center line of the road, always.

I even stuck a little note on the dashboard that said “stay left.”

Sounds silly, I know.

But it worked, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Roundabouts Run the Show

Americans, we’re just not built for roundabouts.

We have a few back home, sure, but overseas they’re everywhere.

In left-driving countries, you go clockwise and yield to traffic already circling from your right.

In right-driving countries, it flips, and you go counterclockwise.

The first time I hit a huge roundabout outside Edinburgh, I circled it all the way around and then went around again.

I wasn’t lost.

I was just terrified.

My advice is to slow down early and pick your exit before you even enter.

Say it out loud if you have to.

And don’t be afraid to take another lap, because honestly, nobody’s judging you as much as you think.

Manual Transmission Is the Default

This one hit my wallet.

In much of Europe, the standard rental car is a stick shift.

Automatics exist, but they cost more and they sell out fast.

I booked late once in Italy and ended up with a tiny manual on a hilltop village road.

Stalling on a steep hill with a line of cars behind you will humble you quickly.

If you can drive stick, great, you’ll save some money.

If you can’t, book an automatic the moment your flights are locked in.

I’d rather pay extra than white-knuckle my way through a mountain pass.

And that’s a hill I’m willing to die on.

You Might Need an International Driving Permit

I used to think my American license was enough everywhere.

It’s not.

Plenty of countries, like Italy, Spain, and Japan, expect or require an International Driving Permit alongside your regular license.

It’s basically a translation of your license into several languages.

I grabbed mine at an AAA office in about fifteen minutes, which was way easier than I expected.

It cost me a small fee and a passport-style photo.

Nobody asked for it at the rental counter in some places.

But in others, it was the first thing they wanted to see.

And if you get pulled over, having it can save you a huge headache.

Check the rules for your destination before you go, and don’t just assume.

Kilometers Everywhere, and Cameras Watching

My speedometer was in kilometers per hour, and my brain kept doing the wrong math.

Those speed limit signs look scary high when you’re used to miles.

They’re not.

It sounds obvious, but when you’re tired after a long flight, you’d be surprised.

Speed cameras are also way more common overseas than back home.

And here’s the kicker.

The ticket doesn’t arrive right away.

It follows you home, often through the rental company, with an admin fee tacked on.

I got one in the mail weeks after a trip, and I still don’t remember speeding.

So set your phone’s maps app to show the limit, and keep an eye on it.

Tolls and Vignettes Will Sneak Up on You

Toll roads are a thing in the States too.

But overseas, they’ve got their own flavor.

In France and Italy, you grab a ticket, drive for a while, and pay at the end.

In Portugal, some highways are fully electronic, with no booths at all.

You have to register your plate or pay later, and it’s so easy to miss.

In places like Switzerland and Austria, you need a vignette.

That’s a sticker on your windshield that proves you’ve paid to use the highways.

I once drove across a border without one and got a very polite but very expensive lesson.

Ask your rental company about tolls up front, and keep a handful of coins ready.

Priority to the Right Is Real

This rule baffled me in rural France.

It’s called priorité à droite, and it means cars coming from your right can have the right of way at certain unmarked intersections.

Even if you’re on what looks like the bigger road.

I was cruising along a country lane when a tractor pulled out from a side road like it owned the place.

Turns out, it kind of did.

Most main roads are marked so you do have priority, usually with a yellow diamond sign.

But in small towns and villages, it’s easy to get confused.

So when you see a side road and no signs, slow down and check right.

It’s better to be safe than to be a story the locals tell for years.

City Centers Can Be Off Limits

I learned this one the hard way in Florence.

Many Italian cities have restricted traffic zones, called ZTLs, where regular cars aren’t allowed in without a permit.

The signs are easy to miss.

The cameras are not.

Weeks later, I got a fine in the mail that made me wince.

And it’s not just Italy.

London has its own congestion and low-emission zones, and plenty of cities across Europe have environmental rules for older or diesel cars.

My move now is simple.

I park outside the city center and walk or take transit in.

It’s less stressful, and I get to stroll the streets without worrying about my rental.

Drinking Limits Are Lower Than You Think

I’m not here to lecture.

But this one matters.

In the States, the legal blood alcohol limit is usually higher than in much of the world.

In a lot of countries it’s lower, and in some, like Sweden, it’s super strict.

A few places, like the Czech Republic, are basically zero tolerance.

That means a single glass of wine at dinner might put you over the line.

I used to think a beer with lunch was no big deal.

Overseas, I just don’t risk it anymore.

I pick a designated driver, or I leave the car at the hotel and grab a cab.

It’s not worth it, and the penalties abroad can be seriously harsh.

Check the Pump Before You Pour

This might be my most embarrassing story.

I pulled into a gas station in Portugal, grabbed the nozzle, and almost put diesel into a gasoline car.

The pump handles are color-coded differently than in the States.

In a lot of places green means gasoline, but in others it’s the opposite, and the labels are totally different too.

You’ll see words like “unleaded,” “diesel,” or “gasóleo.”

I stopped just in time, and I’ve never forgotten how close I came.

So before you fill up, check the sticker inside your fuel door.

Most rental cars have one, and it’ll tell you exactly what to use.

Also, plenty of stations are pay-first, so keep a card handy.

Fuel’s a lot more expensive overseas too, which makes a mistake sting even worse.

Related read: Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Japan — Instant PDF + Kindle download. Secure checkout by Stripe