6 Mistakes To Avoid – First Road Trip Abroad

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Mistake #1: Skipping Research on International Driving Permits

Depending on where you’re headed, your regular license might not cut it. Some countries require an International Driving Permit alongside your home license. Others are fine with just your license as long as it’s in English or has an official translation.

It gets tricky because the requirements can vary from one country to the next. There’s no universal standard when it comes to road use. You might not need an IDP in most of Europe if you’re from Canada or the US, but if you try to rent a car in Japan or drive through certain parts of South America without one, you’ll run into challenges. Some rental companies won’t even hand over the keys without seeing it.

Getting an IDP is usually pretty straightforward. In Canada, you can get an IDP through CAA for around $25. It’s valid for a year and takes around 20 minutes to sort out, which is way easier than dealing with cops or rental agencies abroad who won’t budge on the rules.

Look up the specific requirements for every country on your route before you leave. Don’t just check the rental car company’s rules either. Look at what the government websites say about foreign drivers.

Mistake #2: Underestimating How Draining International Driving Actually Is

Most people don’t expect it, but driving in a new country can be mentally exhausting because you’ll need to concentrate more. You can expect road signs to be in a foreign language or use symbols you’re not used to. You’ll need to be alert, too, because your GPS might struggle with your pronunciation or lose signal in more rural areas.

Then add jet lag, unfamiliar road layouts, and maybe driving on the opposite side of the road from what you’re used to. After a few hours, you’re way more tired than you’d be on a normal drive back home.

A lot of first-timers plan driving days that would be totally manageable at home, but become brutal abroad. Google Maps says it’s a five-hour drive, so you figure you’ll knock it out and still have time to explore when you arrive. But you didn’t account for getting lost, taking wrong turns, stopping to figure out road signs, or just the general fatigue of processing everything in a different language.

Keep your driving days shorter than you think you need to. If you’d normally be fine with six hours in the car, plan for three or four when you’re abroad. Build in extra time for getting turned around, taking breaks, and giving your brain a rest. 

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Connectivity Until You Need It

You’re driving along and suddenly realize you have no idea where you are. Your GPS went dark when you lost signal. The road signs make zero sense. There’s no Wi-Fi for miles.

These situations happen more than you’d think, especially on rural routes or in mountainous areas. You can’t just pull into any random café and expect free Wi-Fi either. Some countries don’t have the same connectivity infrastructure you’re used to, and hunting down a local SIM card in a country where you don’t speak the language gets old fast.

An eSIM solves this problem before it starts. You set it up before leaving home and activate it when you land. No searching for SIM card shops, no language barriers at mobile stores, no sketchy Wi-Fi in gas stations. You’ve got data for GPS, emergency calls, checking road conditions, or finding that restaurant everyone raves about. It’s one less thing to stress about when you’re already dealing with a million new variables.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Local Traffic Laws and Driving Customs

Speed limits, right-of-way rules, roundabout etiquette, and even which side of the road you drive on. These things change from country to country, and sometimes the differences are huge.

In some places, flashing your high beams means “go ahead.” In others, it means “get out of my way.” Honking might be rude in one country and standard communication in another. You could accidentally break laws you didn’t even know existed.

Take roundabouts as an example. They’re everywhere in Europe, but work differently depending on where you are. In the UK, you give way to traffic already on the roundabout. In other countries, vehicles entering have priority. Get that wrong, and you’re asking for an accident.

Then you’ve got speed cameras. Some countries are absolutely covered in them, and the fines get mailed to your rental company, which then charges your card with an extra processing fee on top. Germany’s autobahn sections without speed limits are famous, but miss the signs where limits do apply, and you’ll pay for it.

Spend some time reading up on driving customs before you go. Watch a few YouTube videos of dashcam footage from the country you’re visiting. It sounds excessive, but seeing how people actually drive gives you a much better feel than just reading rules.

Mistake #5: Not Checking Your Insurance Coverage

Your home car insurance probably doesn’t cover you abroad. Your credit card’s rental car coverage might have limits or exclusions you don’t know about. And rental company insurance can be confusing as hell with multiple tiers and add-ons that all sound important.

Some countries legally require certain types of coverage. Others have minimum liability requirements way higher than what you might carry at home. If something happens and you’re underinsured, you could be on the hook for massive costs.

Read your current insurance policy before you leave. Call your credit card company and ask specifically about international rental coverage and what’s excluded. When you pick up the rental car, read what the insurance covers instead of just signing quickly to get on the road.

Also, check if your coverage applies in all the countries you’re visiting. Some policies cover you in one country but not its neighbour, which is useless if you’re crossing borders.

Mistake #6: Overlooking Basic Car Checks and Emergency Prep

You pick up your rental, throw your bags in, and take off. But did you actually check where the spare tire is? Do you know how to open the gas cap? Can you figure out the windshield wipers before you’re stuck in a downpour?

Every car is different, and rental cars abroad might have features or quirks you’ve never dealt with. Diesel versus petrol fuel. Manual transmission when you normally drive an automatic. Different button layouts for basic functions. These seem like small things until you’re fumbling with them in the dark on the side of a mountain road.

Take 10 minutes in the rental lot to familiarize yourself with everything. Find the hazard lights, high beams, and emergency brake. Check that you have a warning triangle, reflective vest, and first aid kit, all of which are legally required in many countries – program emergency numbers into your phone.

Also, confirm you have the rental company’s roadside assistance number and know how to contact them. Some countries use different emergency numbers than the 911 you might be used to. In Europe, it’s 112. Knowing this stuff before you need it makes a world of difference.

The Bottom Line

International road trips are incredible. You get to explore at your own pace, stop at random villages, and take detours down roads that look interesting. But they require a bit more prep than domestic trips.

Sort out your permits and insurance. Learn the basics of local traffic laws. Keep your driving days manageable. Make sure you’ve got solid connectivity and know where your emergency gear is. Handle these things before you go, and you’ll spend way less time stressed and way more time enjoying the adventure.