Overseas Driving Tips

1. International Driving License

Photo driving license is a must for overseas driving. In some countries, International Driving License is a must.

2. Carry compass and maps, even if you have GPS

You may have rented a GPS, but it is still important to carry a driving map with you, and a compass in case there is a technical fault with the GPS.

3. Hire car from establish players

For locals, they will be OK to rent from smaller players. But for tourist, it is better to hire a car from establish players as they will have a wider support network.

4. ½ tank rule

Once you petrol/gas tank hits half tank, it is advisable to top up the tank. 

There was one time when we compromise on this rule in Malaysia while on the highway. There was no petrol/gas station in sight for more than 100 km, and our car empty tank signal lights up.  Luckily we manage to exit the highway, and found a petrol/gas station with our last bit of petrol/gas.

5. Check local driving laws

Some countries have very strict rule on speeding, and the fines can be hefty.  Others require you to pay buy a monthly ticket to travel on their highway.

Know the rules in order not to incur unnecessary fines.

6. Lock your car

Once you get into the car, the first thing is to lock your car in case anyone open the back door and force entry into your car.

It is always good to be cautious.

7. Practice good driving habits

It is important to practice good driving habits when overseas. 

For example, on Germany motorways, the slowest speed we saw was 140km/h, and in order to be "on par" with the rest of the vehicles, we were travelling at close to 200km/h.  Even at that speed, there are cars that are very much faster than us!

It will be disastrous if a driver did not signal their intention before changing lanes as the very fast drivers may never know your intention.

8. Drive during the day

Many roads, especially inter-state highways, do not come with street lights, so for drivers unfamiliar with the road, it is advisable to drive during the day.

9. Bring food and enjoy your drive

We like to bring sweets, prunes and potato chips etc to munch while driving. When we come to a location like a lake/fields/sea that we like, we sometimes stop by, brew a cup coffee and have impromptu picnic there, while enjoying the scenery.

Driving can be an enjoyable experience, and can be part of the tour experience.  Why the big rush?

10. Average Driving Distance

To have a comfortable drive without rushing, each day we travel around 400 km. Our longest drive is about 800km on a single day when we need to move to the next city. And to compensate for last light (dusk), which is around 5 - 6pm, we set off from the hotel at around 7am so that we do not need to rush.

Source: http://selfdrivetours.blogspot.com/2010/08/overseas-driving-tips.html

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