What do you need to consider when renting a car abroad or driving across the border? Well, perhaps more than you think. We've put together some points for you to consider.
1. Road position
As you may know, they don't drive on the right-hand side of the road everywhere in the world. The United Kingdom is perhaps the most striking, but by no means the only example of a country where they drive on the left. In most of southern Africa, they drive on the left. As they do in Australia, India, and Japan, among others. Oh yes, and in the cars you rent in these countries, the steering wheel is on the right (and you therefore operate the gear stick with your left hand).
2. Road Signs
Diverse road signs are universal. Think of the stop sign. But abroad you will undoubtedly encounter signs whose meaning you do not know. Admittedly: many signs speak for themselves, but others give rise to doubt, to say the least. Do you know, for example, what the ‘Yield’ sign in the US means?
3. Manual/automatic
Most European cars have a manual gearbox as standard. However, in the United States, for example, automatic transmission is the standard. It is much harder to rent a manual car there.
Age
In some countries, there is a minimum age for renting vehicles from certain classes. But did you know that there is also such a thing as a maximum age? In Cyprus and Malta, for example, it becomes difficult to rent a car if you are over seventy.
5. Petrol stations
Red for diesel, green for petrol. In the Netherlands, most petrol stations use uniform colour codes for different types of fuel. Abroad, petrol stations may use different colour codings. In the US, for example, green is for diesel! Exactly the opposite, then.
6. Insurance
Here, you are required to take out car insurance when you rent a car. However, this is not the case in all countries. In some countries, your own car insurance covers damage to a rental car. So, don't forget to bring your insurance certificate with you. A copy is often not accepted.
Have you ever rented a car in a ‘foreign’ country? What did you encounter? Share your tips with our readers! A Car hire in the Stein regionThis is possible at Adrem!
