International Drivers License Information on www.idlicense.com

When driving in Europe there are a few things to keep in mind. Consider the following ten items;

1. Radar. The use or possession of radar detecting devices is illegal in most European countries. The penalties can be steep, including a fine, driving ban and even imprisonment. GPS systems that shows the location of fixed speed cameras are also illegal. Simply deactivate the "fixed speed camera" function.

2. Tunnel Safety. European tunnels can be quite long. The longest is the Laerdal tunnel in Norway which is 24.5km long. Before entering a tunnel be sure to check your fuel level, turn the radio to the traffic station and switch on your headlights. Pay very close attention to the speed of the  vehicles in front of you and if there is a sudden hold up, turn on your hazard lights. Keep a good distance from the vehicle in front of you and make a note of the safety equipment and facilities, like the emergency exits and phones.

3. Paperwork. Be sure to have all necessary documents to hand at all times including your  full  Drivers licence  (Provisional Driving Licences are not valid abroad)with paper counterpart if you have a photocard licence , International Driving Permit, International Drivers License (International Driving licence),motor insurance certificate and your passport. You may also need a visa when visiting certain countries. 

4. More Paperwork. If the  vehicle  you are driving is borrowed, hired or leased,  you must take the V5 registration document with a letter from the owner authorising you to drive  it .

5. Crime. Keep purses and other items that would be easy to steal out of obvious view.  Always lock the doors and  never leave anything in an unattended car. 

6. Credit. If you are planning on using a credit card for the trip and are relying on it, it is a good idea to check ahead of time if it is accepted in the countries you are visiting.  should they also make sure that there is a sufficiently high credit limit?

7. Mobile Phones. Do not use a mobile phone while driving. It is prohibited in many countries.

8. Reflective Jackets. Visiting motorists have to carry reflective jackets when traveling. It is recommended that there  is one jacket  per person kept in the passenger compartment.

9. Warning Triangle. It is also compulsory in many European countries to carry a warning triangle.

10. Most of important of all – make sure you have a European breakdown cover and that your motor insurance policy covers you for all of the countries that you will drive in.

More travelers are discovering the benefits of renting a car in their chosen destination. It is much easier than having to rely on local public transit to get from one place to another. Car rentals just get more convenient all the time. You can literally find rental agencies in any country or city. Renting a car in Europe is preferable for most travelers. It makes getting around much easier and eliminates the need for assistance. A European car rental is like any other, there are things that you need to ensure are put into place in advance. Waiting to book your rental until last minute is never a good idea.

You need to make sure that all of your legal documents are up to date and on your person. You need to have a valid driver’s license in order to drive in Europe. Many of the western countries in Europe will accept an American driver’s license but many in the rest of Europe will not. Check ahead to see what the country you will be visiting insists on. You may be required to get an international driver’s permit (international driving license) before driving in the country of your choice. Factoring in adequate time for this before your departure is essential.

Calling the car rental place or contacting them on-line ahead of time is a must. Do this as soon as you book your trip. This way you can ensure that you will have a car waiting for you when you arrive in Europe. By planning ahead you can choose the type of car you would like and the exact date that you need it for rather than having to accept whatever is available. Book your car reservation early so that you get exactly what you want. Keep in mind that there are many types of car rental facilities so if one of them cannot meet all of your requirements, there are others who may be able to.

It is wise to remember that driving is quite different in Europe. You must drive on the left hand side of the road and many of the vehicles there are stick shift. You will need to be confident and comfortable driving a car with manual transmission. Many people are not, which could pose a potential problem. When you call to reserve your rental car, make sure to specify the location that you wish to pick it up at. This could be an airport or a stand alone rental agency. You can look up all of the locations on-line to determine where you want to pick up your car. In most cases, you can return the car to any rental location of the same name.

Get acquainted with the traffic laws and speed limits before driving in Europe. You could ruin a good time by running into a speeding ticket or worse, having an accident. Drive carefully and always be respectful on the road. Your trip is about having a good time so take the necessary steps to doing so.

If you are planning a trip to Europe the smart way to go is the good old American way — by car. For a journey by car across Europe, you will need to carry the following documents:

• your valid full driving licence (not provisional),
• paper counterpart if you have a photo-card licence,
• an International Driving Permit (International Drivers License or international translation of your native driving licence) where necessary,
• he original vehicle registration document,
• your European breakdown cover certificate,
• your passport,
• the relevant visa (for certain countries)
You may be asked to produce your documents at any time, so to avoid a police fine and/or confiscation of your vehicle, be sure that they are in order and available for inspection. If you're travelling in a vehicle other than a motor car or motorcycle, or towing a boat, make sure you have the necessary documentation. Make sure that you have adequate European breakdown cover.
DRIVER'S LICENSE

Before you can drive in Europe you are going to need a drivers license.

Home State Driver's License

A valid driver's license is required to operate an automobile, motorcycle, or moped in Europe. Your home state driver's license is sufficient in most countries, often up to 180 days. In some countries operation of anything other than a normal sedan requires a special license. For example, you may need a special license to ride a motorcycle in Europe.
International Driving Permit

It would be a good idea to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) when driving in Europe. It is required in Italy and some other countries. Even if you do not plan to drive in Europe, get an IDP. It is a handy additional piece of identification which can sometimes be left as deposit when renting a bicycle or a deck chair. You don't want to leave your passport.
European Driver's License

For those planning to live overseas, it is a good idea, if not a requirement, to apply for a local driver's license.

I obtained a license in Holland simply by presenting my California drivers license. As long as your home state license is valid, you can obtain a Dutch license without taking expensive lessons and a rigorous test.

Obtaining a driver's license in Germany was not as simple as in Holland. You must make application within a year of taking up residence, and take an eye examination at a regular optometrist's office. They use sophisticated instruments to check your eyes, not one of those simple wall charts. Unfortunately my test resulted in determining that I needed eye glasses. Not for me again, I decided, and talked the doctor into changing the results of the exam based on the fact that I had been partying the night before at local Fasching events and couldn't see straight yet. He bought my story and gave me an OK to drive without glasses. The technician who gave me the test was not happy. She gave me one of those looks. By the way, Fasching is a time when Germans drink and party hard. It's one of the German names for Mardi Gras, known in some countries as Carnival.

Some basic rules apply across the continent, such as: In some countries outside the EU a conventional GB sticker is required even if you have euro-plates, so it is always safer to display one. Drinking and driving is illegal and carries severe penalties.

Check with your credit card company that the cards you plan to use are accepted at your destination. Speaking on a hand held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in most countries. If you wear spectacles remember to take a spare pair along, especially if you are the only driver. Also take care to remember to drive on the right side of the road, in the correct countries

Traveling to Canada and Mexico in an American based rental car because travelers prefer having their own transportation, and in many areas it is necessary to rent a car to get from place to place. The insurance that comes with the rental car does not cover you once the car has left the country. If you are not sure about your coverage, always be sure to check your rental agreement. While this is important in Canada, it is vital in Mexico. While it is possible to buy special Mexican car insurance when traveling there, it is generally not recommended that casual visitors drive into Mexico. It is generally better to park in one of the border lots and take the shuttle bus to the border.

To drive abroad, either in Canada, Mexico, Europe or anywhere else outside of your country, it is a good idea to obtain an international drivers license . While an international drivers license or order international translation of driving licence  is not required everywhere, it is a good idea to get one. The International Driver's License is a document with which the Original Driver's License give you the right to drive a motor vehicle in more than 200 countries worldwide. The International Driving License does not substitute the Original Driver's License and must only be used as an additional document, when you travel abroad. The International Drivers Licence that is issued by the International Automobile Alliance the information in a few languages, that helps you explain to the police officer the designation of The International Driver's License and your rights to drive motor vehicles in the designated country, which is based on the verdict of the United Nations.

Also, an International Driver’s License can be used as identification. If you need to rent a car, it can be valuable as well. In fact, in more than 200 countries you can not rent a car unless you have an International Driver's License. In Europe, travel officials say that "the International Driving Document is more necessary in some countries than others, but it's advised for most." Whether you travel on BUSINESS, VACATION or on your HONEYMOON, the International Driver's License is recommended by most countries and mandated by many for driving.

It is also important to check with the company that provides your auto insurance to see if you are covered for international driving. If your normal policy does not cover you, inquire about purchasing a special policy for your trip. Also check with your credit card company to see if the rental car collision coverage they offer is good outside the country.

When arranging for a rental car, it is usually less costly to do so before you leave the United States. It can also be considerably more trouble to wait until you arrive to rent a car, and you always run the risk that the type of car you want is not available.

When renting cars in Europe, it is generally best to choose a compact or subcompact car, as many of the streets in European cities are quite narrow, and parking is often very limited. It is best to rent the smallest car you feel comfortable with.

Minibuses are a popular choice of transport but there are a number of legal requirements that affect driving abroad.

When travelling within EU member states and ASOR signatory states (Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and some Eastern European Countries) a control document in the form of a ‘waybill’ or an ‘own account certificate’ must be carried. This applies to all vehicles with more than eight passenger seats.

The Waybill is required by all profit-making organisations and comes in two forms: the EU Journey Form and the ASOR waybill. The EU Journey Form is for travelling in EU member states and can also be used in Norway and Switzerland. The ASOR waybill is for use when travelling outside the European Union and requires a set of translations to accompany it. Minibusclub.co.uk has a section with useful minibus advice on where to obtain waybills.

The Own Account Certificate (OAC) can be carried instead of a waybill if the minibus belongs to a non-profit making organisation and when travelling within EU member states. The OAC is free of charge and will remain valid for five years.

As well as a waybill or OAC, other documentation that needs to be carried on the vehicle at all times includes a minibus insurance certificate, European accident form, vehicle registration document and GB sticker. A Green Card is advisable when travelling abroad and the insurance company can help with this.

The driver of the minibus will require a Full Passport and a formal ‘Permission to Drive’ letter from the vehicle’s owner, unless they are the registered keeper of the minibus. The UK drivers licence is valid for journeys within the EU and EEA. Travelling outside these member states requires an International Driving Permit (IDP).

A tachograph needs to be used for international journeys starting from the UK. The minibus driver must comply with EU ‘drivers’ hours’ regulations for all international journeys.

This article is intended as a brief guide. It is recommended to check out all rules and regulations before driving to any international country. The International Road Freight Office, embassies and tourist information offices can provide all the necessary advice.