Hiring a car abroad can completely change how you travel, giving you flexibility, access to remote places, and control over your schedule. Done badly, though, it can also be one of the most stressful and expensive parts of a trip. This guide covers what to know before you book, what to check when you collect the car, and how to avoid common (and costly) mistakes.
Where to drive abroad
Where Driving Abroad Works Best (and Where to Be Cautious)
Not every country is equally suited to self-drive travel. Road quality, safety, signage, driving culture, and bureaucracy all matter. Below are some of the most popular and practical regions for driving abroad, along with the key things to watch out for.
Europe
Europe is one of the easiest places to drive, especially for short trips or multi-country itineraries. Roads are generally well maintained, signage is good, and hire cars are widely available.
Challenges tend to be narrow roads, especially in historic towns, and manual transmissions being more common (automatic cars often cost more). Toll roads are widespread in countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, and cities increasingly use low-emission zones that can fine unaware drivers. Parking can also be expensive and tightly regulated.
Driving works best for rural areas, road trips, and regions poorly served by trains.
United States
The US is arguably the best country in the world for road trips as a country that has been built for the car. Roads are wide, signage is clear, and driving long distances is normal. Cars are large, automatic, and relatively cheap to rent.
The main challenges are scale and distance. Journeys take longer than expected, fuel stops can be far apart (although finding gas is rarely an issue), and mobile signal can disappear entirely in rural areas and national parks. Toll roads, electronic tolling, and different state rules can also catch travellers out.
If you’re driving in the US, planning matters far more than driving skill.
Canada
Canada offers spectacular driving, particularly in the Rockies and coastal regions. Roads are generally high quality and signage is clear.
Challenges include weather and seasonality. Snow, ice, and sudden weather changes are common outside summer, and distances between towns can be vast. Wildlife on roads is a real hazard, especially at dawn and dusk. Fuel planning is essential in remote areas.
Australia
Australia is excellent for self-drive travel, especially along the coast and between major cities. Roads are well maintained and driving rules are familiar to UK travellers.
The biggest challenges are long distances, extreme heat, and isolation. Inland routes can be very remote, mobile signal is limited, and breakdowns can be serious. Wildlife is a genuine hazard at night, particularly kangaroos. Fuel and water planning is essential.
New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the easiest and most rewarding countries to drive. Roads are generally good, signage is clear, and distances are manageable.
However, roads are often narrow, winding, and slower than expected, especially on the South Island. Travel times are frequently underestimated. Tourist fatigue is a known issue—take breaks and avoid over-ambitious driving days.
South and Central America
Some parts of South America – notably Chile and Costa Rica are fantastic self-drive destinations. In Chile areas where this is the case include Patagonia, the Lake District, the Atacama Desert and the wine regions around Santiago. Major highways are good, and signage is generally clear.
The challenge comes once you leave main roads. Road quality can vary significantly, with gravel, potholes, and unsealed routes common in rural areas. Fuel stations can be far apart, and weather can change quickly in the south. A suitable vehicle and realistic planning are important.
South Africa
South Africa can be a great country to drive, particularly for safaris and scenic routes like the Garden Route. Main roads are generally good and driving rules are straightforward.
The biggest concern is safety rather than driving itself. Some areas are best avoided, especially at night, and opportunistic crime can be an issue. Research routes carefully, avoid unnecessary night driving, and follow local advice closely. For national parks, driving is well regulated and safe.
Southeast Asia (Selective Driving)
Driving yourself in Southeast Asia is very mixed. In places like Thailand and Malaysia, driving can be manageable outside major cities for experienced drivers. In others, such as Vietnam or Indonesia, traffic culture, scooters, and road conditions make self-driving stressful and risky for most visitors.
In many cases, hiring a car with a driver is safer, cheaper, and far less stressful.
Booking the Car: How to Pay Less Upfront
In most cases, using a comparison site often highlights cheaper options than booking directly with the rental company and given booking direct rarely gives meaningful benefits unless you have elite status is therefore a sensible choice.
Most major rental companies do have loyalty schemes, but for occasional renters these often amount to little more than faster pickup or occasional upgrades. They’re nice to have, not something to pay extra for.
When choosing a car, think practically. Automatic transmission is standard in the US but can cost more elsewhere. Bigger cars are often surprisingly cheap in North America, but fuel costs can still add up. Equally depending how many of you there are and how long you are going to be in the car are also important factors for long road trips in North America where driving and parking are easy a larger SUV can be well worth the extra whereas a shorter occasional travel in Europe where many towns and cities were build before the era of the motor vehicle larger cars can sometimes be a nightmare as well as expensive.
Insurance: The Biggest Money Trap
Insurance is where most people overspend on car hire.
Car rental excess (the amount you’re liable for if something goes wrong) can be extremely high, particularly in the US, where excesses of $1,000–$3,000 or more are common. Damage claims can also include tyres, glass, and underbody damage.
The key rule is don’t buy excess insurance at the rental desk. It’s usually very expensive and often heavily marked up. Instead, buy third-party excess insurance before you travel—it’s typically far cheaper and provides equivalent or better cover. If you travel multiple times in a year an annual cover can be much better value.
Documents & What to Have Ready
Always carry your physical driving licence. Some countries (and some rental companies) also require an International Driving Permit, so check before you go. Save your rental agreement and insurance documents offline on your phone in case you lose signal.
Checking for Vehicle Damage
Whilst most major rental firms are generally reliable, there are some more pedantic operators out there—and, unfortunately, a few outright crooks. Rules can vary widely between providers, and sometimes even between the same provider operating in different countries. Some companies will walk you around the car before departure and clearly record any existing damage, while others may simply hand over the keys and send you on your way.
Before driving off, it’s always worth doing your own thorough check. Take clear photos of any scratches, dents, or scuffs (making sure they’re date-stamped), or better yet, record a short walk-around video pointing out any existing damage. If you’re later accused of causing damage you didn’t make, this evidence can save you a lot of time, stress, and money.
The Scale of the USA: Prepare for Offline Travel
For European travellers especially, the sheer scale of the US can be surprising. You’ll often drive for hours through areas with limited or no connectivity.
Large stretches of road—particularly in deserts, rural areas, and national parks—have patchy or zero mobile signal. Radio stations can fade in and out, sometimes for hours.
Before you set off, download:
- Spotify or Apple Music playlists if you like your music
- Podcasts or audiobooks
- Google Maps offline areas (this is an essential backup)
Silence can be beautiful, but having options is wise—especially on long drives.
Charging Cables & In-Car Tech
Hire cars vary wildly in what they support, even within the same category. Some have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, others don’t. USB-A, USB-C, wireless charging—or no charging at all—can differ between almost identical cars.
It is therefore important you bring your own setup:
- USB-A and USB-C cables
- A 12V cigarette-lighter charger
- Your own phone mount (many cars don’t have one)
- If going to very remote car rental places a battery pack as the cars may be old or basic.
Never assume you’ll be able to charge your phone easily on the move.
Navigation & Route Planning
Apps like Google Maps and Waze are invaluable. Waze is particularly useful in the Americas and Europe for live traffic, speed changes, police and traffic cameras, and finding cheaper fuel nearby.
Interstates are fast but often bypass towns completely, and services can be far apart—especially at night. Always have a rough idea of your next fuel stop, your next town, and a backup option if something is closed.
When using apps like Google Maps and Waze make sure you have data. See our guide to using phone abroad for help on this.
Crossing Borders in a Rental Car: What to Check First
If you’re planning to drive into another country, never assume it’s allowed—or covered. Border crossings are one of the easiest ways to accidentally invalidate your rental agreement or insurance.
First, check whether cross-border travel is permitted by the rental company. Some allow it freely within regions (for example, much of Western Europe), while others restrict it entirely or only allow specific neighbouring countries and may charge extra for it. In places like Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Africa, and parts of South America, permissions can be very limited.
Second, confirm that your insurance remains valid once you cross the border. Even if the rental company allows travel into another country, the standard insurance may not automatically extend there. Additional documentation or cover may be required, and in some regions you’ll need to carry proof of insurance in the car at all times.
There may also be extra fees or paperwork involved. These can include cross-border charges, green cards (proof of insurance), or temporary import documents. Border officials may ask to see these, and lacking them can result in fines or being turned back.
Finally, be realistic about road quality and rules changing abruptly at borders. Speed limits, fuel availability, signage, toll systems, and enforcement can all differ immediately once you cross into another country.
If crossing borders is part of your plan, raise it before you collect the car, get written confirmation, and carry all required documents with you. It’s far easier to arrange in advance than to fix at the border.
Toll Roads & Toll Passes: Don’t Get Caught Out
Toll roads are another area where driving abroad—particularly in parts of the US and Europe—can catch travellers by surprise.
In many countries, toll booths no longer accept cash at all. Instead, they rely on electronic tolling, where your number plate is scanned as you drive through. In the US, this is increasingly common, and in some states there are no cash booths and no way to pay online afterwards.
If you drive through a toll without a pass, the rental company will usually pay it on your behalf and then recharge you—often with hefty admin fees added on top. A small toll can quickly turn into an expensive charge.
If you know you’ll be using toll roads where you can’t pay as you go through, it’s usually worth getting a toll pass from the rental company or arranging one in advance. These allow automatic payment without penalties or admin fees. Just be clear on how they charge—some are per-day, others per-use.
That said, toll roads are often avoidable. Many scenic or slower routes are toll-free and barely add time to your journey. Before you travel, check your planned routes and decide whether toll roads are genuinely worth it.
Google Maps and other navigation apps allow you to avoid toll roads entirely by changing your route settings—this is well worth turning on if you don’t have a toll pass.
The key is to decide before you collect the car: either commit to a toll pass or actively plan to avoid toll roads. Drifting through tolls without a plan is what gets expensive.
Fuel (Gas)
Fuel works very differently in different parts of the world, particularly between the US and Europe.
In the US, prices can vary dramatically. It’s common to see differences of 30% or more within a short drive, and crossing state lines can change prices instantly due to differing taxes. Apps like Waze and Google Maps are useful for finding cheaper stations nearby. Even with this variation, fuel is generally much cheaper than in Europe.
In most cases, you pay before you pump. You can either pay at the pump with a card or go inside and tell the cashier how much you want. If you overpay, any unused amount is automatically refunded to your card.
Some stations offer a slightly cheaper cash price, often around 3% less. However, once you factor in poor cash exchange rates and ATM fees, paying by card usually works out cheaper overall (see our guide on paying abroad for more detail).
One easy mistake to make is that fuel handle colours are reversed compared to much of Europe. In the US, black handles are usually unleaded petrol and green handles are diesel. Always double-check the label on the pump before filling.
If you’re unsure which side of the car the fuel cap is on, look for the small arrow next to the petrol icon on the dashboard—it points to the correct side.
When travelling in countries where English isn’t widely used, make sure you know how unleaded petrol and diesel are labelled, especially where fuel types are shown only as numbers. The inside of the fuel cap or the car handbook will usually confirm the correct fuel type.
Driving Rules & Etiquette (Quick Reality Check)
Around the world driving etiquette varies, with the most stark being between Europe and the US. In the US driving rules vary by state, but a few things regularly catch people out. Right turn on red is allowed in most states unless clearly signed otherwise. Whilst fixed speed cameras are much rarer local police using handheld speed guns are a lot more common and speed limits are rigorously enforced in most states. Likewise school buses with flashing lights are taken extremely seriously—traffic must stop in both directions.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a car abroad gives you freedom—but only if you prepare properly. Book through a comparison site, sort insurance in advance, plan for offline travel, and don’t assume US driving works the same way as Europe. A little preparation upfront can save money, stress, and time once you’re on the road.
Holiday Nerd 