Sometimes the best way to see another country is with your own itinerary and at your own pace. Even so, mastering another country's driving requirements and rules can be daunting.
Follow these basic tips from Enterprise, and you can relax and enjoy the drive.
Conducir en España
-Depending on the vehicle, the minimum age for drivers can be 25.
-See a motorway name beginning with "AP?" Better have cash handy as it indicates the road is a toll road.
-Speeding can be costly: Radar traps are all too frequent and it's expected that fines be dealt with on the spot.
-Don't think about changing lanes without using your turn signal. Use of turn signals when entering the highway or changing lanes is strictly enforced.
-In the event of a sudden slowdown, hit the hazards to warn others that traffic has slowed.
-Unbroken center white lines shouldn't be crossed. So if you need to turn, continue on to a suitable turning place.
-Ready to park and take in some sights? Yellow curbs mean no parking, while spaces marked with blue/green lines mean you need to buy a ticket from a machine or an attendant.
Conduire en France
-Want to see the sites at a leisurely pace? Look for road signs with the word "Bis" on them, indicating that they are holiday routes and therefore more scenic and less crowded.
-Gas stations throughout France accept Visa and MasterCard; however, some 24-hour automatic pumps only take credit cards with chips and a PIN number.
-Unlike the United States, vehicles entering from the right have the right of way in cities and towns.
-Uphill traffic has priority (downhill traffic must yield), a point well noted when driving through the French Alps.
-U-turns are forbidden, just as crossing a solid white line is.
-If at all possible, avoid driving in Paris on Saturdays in July and August when the city is even more congested than usual.
Driving in the UK
-Drive on the left: It may take some getting used to but by the end of your trip, you'll be driving like a pro.
-Pass traffic islands to the left.
-Rules of the roundabout: Travel clockwise and be sure to exit from the outside lane.
-No right on red. Ever.
-If you must use your mobile phone, hands-free devices are required.
-At unmarked crossings, cars on the right have the right of way.
-Don't count on finding a gas station around every bend in rural UK. Once the needle dips below the halfway mark, it's time to fill up.
Fahren in Deutschland
-Don't tweet from the driver's seat. Talking on the phone (or texting for that matter) while driving is illegal.
-Click it or ticket. Seatbelts must be worn at all times.
-When driving Germany's famed Autobahn, remember while there is no posted speed limit, German authorities suggest a speed of 130 kmh (80 mph).
-Left lane is for passing, otherwise stay in the right lane.
-If you are planning to travel outside of the country in your rental car, you must make prior arrangements directly with the renting branch. Vehicles must be returned to the original rental site in Germany.
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