Travelling in Europe by Car
If you are planning to tour bucolic regions of Europe’s countries you better go by a car. Travelling in Europe by car is the old American way in which you can be able to access Holland, France, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, Turkey and other parts of the continent. The best thing with travelling in Europe by car is that you will be able access even the remote areas such as Bavaria and Burgundy. There are flea markets in Europe where you can stop to pick shopping and leave with your car parked with plenty of new valuables. It will be an unforgettable trip; however before stepping on the road you have to familiarize yourself with some differences between driving in USA and driving in Europe. If you are travelling in Europe by car for the first time you have to get good maps or a GPS device for guidance.
Europe by car / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored
The other difference which you will notice with time is that the cost of driving a car in Europe is more expensive. This is because the costs of automobiles, gasoline, tolls, maintenance, parking as well as car rental insurance can be more than two times higher in Europe than in USA. Probably you will be renting a car if you want to drive. There are various auto rental agencies, but you have to keep in mind that a car rented in one country may not be allowed to enter into another country. Additionally, there are charges if you return a rented car in another location other than where you had rented it from.
Other significant differences you get when travelling in Europe by car include the roads and road markings, courtesy, road rules, both customary and official, speed and the type of cars being used. For instance, as you approach Cambridge, England the law says you should keep the left side of the road. You are also not allowed to turn on the right side in the first intersection because of the red sign with white belt. In the second intersection you are allowed to turn right to get the M11 motorway that takes you to Stansted Airport or London. There are no distances given, but instead route numbers are given.
Driver’s License
You are required to have a valid driver’s license to operate a motorcycle or automobile in Europe. In most countries, your home country driver’s license is sufficient, but only for about 180 days. In some countries, to operate anything other than the normal sedan you are required to have a special license. For instance, in Europe you may be required to have a special license for riding a motorcycle. When travelling in Europe by car, it is always good to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). IDP basically translates your driver’s license into several foreign languages as well as shows the classes of vehicles that you are authorized to drive. Your home country driver’s license should always accompany your International Driving Permit as you drive in Europe.
James Rowland works in SEO for a prestigious marketing company in the UK. With years of experience in copywriting he enjoys writing about travel, insurance, finance and sport.
Category: Travel Tips
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Thanks for the overview! I hope it won´t be very difficult as I am thinking of renting a car for my travels in Europe this summer. Probably England and Cyprus will be the most interesting countries to drive for me, keep your fingers crossed! Also one more question, is driving in southern Italy recommended or is it way too crazy to get by?
Well, the southern Italy is absolutely different from all of Europe in terms of traffic, STOP sign does not mean to stop, neither give way! So be carefull! The red light does not mean to stop as well, in fact the priority is given to the car which is driving faster.