Tips for driving abroad
Belgium, Iceland, Travel Tips, United States

How to Drive Safely a Rented Car When You’re Abroad

Sommaire

While she was in Belgium, Pascale had the privilege to have access to a car for free, but she was scared to death to drive in another country. She was even scared to drive her own car through USA and she likes to know exactly where she’s going.

On my side, I drove 2000km during a road trip in Iceland and I drove along the Pacific coast highway from San Francisco to L.A. Funny thing: both roads are called Route 1! Fortunately, no left-side driving, but a good exercise of my capacity of adaptation.

So here’s a few lessons Pascale and I learned from our experience of driving in another country.

1. Learn to drive manual vehicles

It’s better to learn to drive manual at home where you know the streets instead of trying while you’re discovering new traffic laws. It’s also way easier and cheaper to rent a manual then an automatic car in most of the countries.

Pascale's family

2. Learn or write down cities’ names in their original language

Pascale got lost in the Flemish part of Belgium, 30 minutes away from her hotel and she couldn’t recognize one city name. She had driven around several times before, but she thought that that one time is when she felt the more lost. Learning the cities’ names in the local language could save you some detours.

If you’re in a place where the names are impossible to pronounce, let’s say… Iceland? I suggest that you and your friend each learn a part of the name. If you go into a fight while driving, this would make you laugh every time. Try to get mad at each other when you are struggling to pronounce the city’s name you are looking for!

Driving in Iceland

3. Learn the highway code

Especially the signs! In Belgium, I often mixed the no entry sign with the no parking sign. And had I known that I needed a time roulette (stupid roulette!) I would’ve avoided a parking ticket.

Knowing the main signs of the place you’re visiting is mandatory for your safety. In Iceland, there are places where the streets are wide enough for one car only but there are still cars driving both ways. This could be a way to meet locals, just not a good one…

One Way Sign

4. Never leave without a GPS 

Once I got a GPS in my car, I felt like I was finally free. Before, I had to plan a 30 minutes extra for each route because I always got lost at some point and I was anxious! As soon as some machine told me where to go, I had so much more fun!

5. Never leave without a map 

A good old map is always useful. If your GPS is down or broken and you don’t have a plan B, the route can be long! And sometimes when you get out of the city, your GPS can be as lost as you are.

Paper Map in Iceland

6. Don’t always trust your GPS

Once, I was looking for a city and forgot that the GPS was set in France instead of Belgium. A sweet 3 hours detour. Look for your route on Google Map before you leave so you know the main steps of your itinerary. And if you have a doubt, stop and look twice at where your machine is taking you.

Easy Tips for driving Abroad

7. Take your time

The speed limit in Belgium is 120km/h. If you drive at 110km/h you’re as fast as a grandpa. For a long time, I wasn’t able to drive faster than grandpa. People there are changing lines so fast! I kept my security first and drove the way that made me feel safe. You shouldn’t always mimic the others, but try to understand how they drive to apprehend their reactions.

Taking your time is also the best way to enjoy the view. This is not a race! It would be a shame to miss it because you’re on a go. A flight between San Francisco and L.A. would’ve been way faster but oh! So boring! Driving is a journey in itself.

Driving in Gent

Renting a car is expensive but combined to other transportations, it gives you the freedom to explore. I very much enjoyed train rides but it never could’ve allowed me to go everywhere I went with my car in Belgium.


Pascale from the blog Scouich

Pascale is the writer behind the blog Scouich (in French). Mother of three and hyperactive woman, she runs, she swims, she bikes and more! Outdoor lover and adventurer, she recently took part in the “Défi Kayak”, a fundraising event challenging people to cross the distance between Montreal and Quebec by kayak. I would describe her as a professional multitasker and a versatile badass.

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