If you are planning a vacation overseas in the near future then you are likely already thinking about transportation options while you are away. Many European countries have excellent methods of public transportation, such as bus, train and light rail, but you may also want to rent a car and drive yourself. Renting a car will be beneficial to those of you who don’t want to depend on public transport or those of you who want to road trip across Europe, for example. Having your own car will give you more flexibility when deciding when and where to go somewhere.

There are a number of concerns you should address before driving overseas. First, you can look into the requirements for renting a car in the country or countries you are travelling to. Different countries may have different regulations about who can and who can’t drive there. The number of years you have had your drivers’ license and your age may factor in when the rental car company is deciding whether or not they can rent you a car. It’s best to look into this before your trip so you can be sure you are eligible to rent a car.

The next thing to consider is what side of the road residents of the country or countries you are travelling to drive on. If it’s the opposite side to what you are used to, consider if you would be comfortable with this. For example, in the United States and Canada people drive on the right side of the road whereas in the United Kingdom and Ireland, people drive on the left. In Italy and France, however, they drive on the right side.

If you are going to drive a manual car overseas you will also have to be comfortable shifting gears with the opposite hand you are used to if vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the road you are used to. To elaborate, in the UK residents drive on the left; the steering wheel is therefore on the right side of the car and you shift gears with your left hand. This may take a little getting used to.

Car insurance is another matter you can think about before your trip. Make sure you have insurance that covers you to drive overseas. If it doesn’t, which is often the case, you will want to get it. If you scratch the side of the car while exiting a parking garage or a rock happens to hit the windshield and you need auto glass repair then your insurance company will help you sort it out quickly so you can continue on your trip.

Driving overseas requires just a bit of planning in advance. After the above preparations are made, all you have to do is look forward to your trip!

Bruce Giles writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.