Rent a car on overseas vacations

On your next overseas vacation, ditch that organised coach and rent a car instead.

Travel is about freedom, charting your own course and generally being in control. And it’s anything but freedom when you have to depend on others to lead the way. Hiring an organised coach tour for your foreign travel not only limits the immense possibility that renting a car offers, but also squeezes the very essence of travelling out of it.

Sure, an organised tour has its own benefits, but it lacks the freedom that your own vehicle provides. Some people have interesting notions about travelling in foreign countries by car, most of which is either based on fantasy or fear. Think about it, a couple wafting down a seemingly infinite stretch of asphalt surrounded by the natural beauty of the European countryside – sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Or the idea of meandering through the historical region of Champagne, in France, in search of sunshine, great provincial food and sparkling wine is indeed a dream, but one that’s very achievable from the comfort of your own self-driven vehicle.

So, how can you make this dream come true? Well, first things first, hire a decent sized vehicle with reasonable power. A good-sized boot will help you with your luggage, and sufficient power will mean that you won’t get left behind on the highway. And if Europe is your destination then brush-up on European languages – as this will help you with locals who may not speak English. Also, embrace technology and download a translation app on your phone. Plus, do a Google search for the meaning of universal road signs, so that you don’t end up driving the wrong way on a one-way street for instance.

An ability to read road maps and being flexible in your plans can transform your travel into an adventurous experience. Now, you can either get road maps from a touring club or an automobile association – if you prefer old-school paper maps – or you could rent a car with an in-built navigation system. And if your rental doesn’t have navigation, you could always rent a navigation device for around 10 Euros a day. But you could also just use Google Maps – but ensure that you buy a windshield mount for your smart phone so that you won’t have to take your eyes off the road.     

An experience like this, the very first time, may take some getting used to. But, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find travelling in a self-driven car far easier and more comfortable than any other form of transport. The driving culture in the West is very disciplined, and you’ll find road signs all along the way guiding you to your intended direction.

The one thing to remember when merging onto a European expressway is to speed up fast enough to match the speed of the surrounding traffic once you’ve hit the highway – so that you don’t end up being a hindrance or an obstacle. Quite often, driving too slow can be as dangerous as driving too fast. The speed limits in Europe are quite high, and there are still several stretches on the German Autobahn that are still unrestricted – i.e. there is no speed limit. On these stretches especially, you must always watch your mirrors and move to the right if you see a fast approaching vehicle. Oh, and one more thing, no one blows their horn until absolutely necessary. 

Motorways and expressways are great, but if you desire to witness the breath-taking beauty of picturesque villages and have a penchant for historical towns, you might want to consider making detours on secondary highways.

A couple of other tips – you’re likely to encounter tolls, so keep local currency handy. And never leave your valuables in the car overnight.

And, finally, don’t forget to obtain your International Driving Licence, which is your passport to overseas driving. You can also obtain one from the Automobile Association of Upper India or from any other recognised Automobile Association. The licence is valid for one year and is essential for renting cars abroad. You must also carry your domestic licence to accompany your international one.

Keep these useful tips in mind, and have a safe and adventurous driving vacation abroad.  

T.K. Malhotra is the President of the Automobile Association of Upper India (AAUI).