Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about left side driving. Driving on the left is one of the big reasons many people don’t explore more of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It can be intimidating, but it’s worth it because you can see so much more if you have your own car.
Car Rental in the UK
There are plenty of rental car agencies to choose from, including global brands like Hertz and Avis. We find it easiest to rent a car directly at the airport unless we are first going to spend a few days in a larger city like London or Dublin, where a car is not needed. You do not need an international driver’s license for driving in Ireland or the UK, so that’s one less thing to worry about!
Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Europe
Most Cars are Manual Transmission
In the UK, most rental cars are still manual transmission, also known as a stick shift. You can get an automatic, but it will cost a lot more. If you don’t know how to drive a stick shift, it’s worth learning because you’ll save a lot of money on your car rental.
Pay for the GPS
When you rent your car, I recommend getting the GPS that is offered. The best part of driving in Scotland, Ireland or Wales is that you can get out into countryside and explore small villages. The downside is you might not have cell phone coverage out there! It’s a nice peace of mind to have when you’re out exploring off the beaten path. GPS is also helpful in the roundabouts because it will tell you which exit to take.
Pay for the Insurance
I also recommend adding additional insurance at the rental car agency, especially if you are not super comfortable driving on the left. Again, it’s more for peace of mind than anything else. Just don’t assume your auto insurance from home or your credit card will cover any damages you incur.
Do Not Drive in London!
As I mentioned already, we do not keep a rental car for our entire trip if we are visiting the larger cities. In a place like London, having a car is more of a burden than anything else. We typically start our trip by exploring outside of the city, return the car and then spend a few days in the city before flying home. Parking is expensive and hard to come by and traffic is a nightmare. With easy to use public transportation, there’s no reason to have a car in London.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts are actually more confusing than driving on the left. We are starting to see these more in the States, so they are not as foreign, but they still take some getting used to. The lane you choose in the roundabout will depend on where you plan to exit the roundabout. What’s great is that if you miss your exit, you can just circle around again. Just don’t end up like Clark Griswold in European Vacation!
Traffic Lights
Red, yellow, and green still mean the same thing that they do everywhere. However, some of the traffic lights will give you a yellow light as it turns from red to green. This is simply to give you a head’s up that your light is about to turn green. This is especially handy in a stick shift, as you’ll have a second to get the car back into gear before taking off.
Traffic Enforcement
Police and fire engines almost always have their lights on. It doesn’t mean you are getting pulled over. When you hear the sirens, that’s when you need to pull over. The motorways have variable speed limits, and they are equipped with speed cameras, so mind your speed at all times. This means the speed limit on the same stretch of road can vary based on road conditions and traffic, so you always have to pay attention. We once got a ticket mailed to our US home because we were captured driving in Scotland in a bus lane.
Parking is a Premium
Even outside of London, parking can be very expensive in some areas. Make sure you are factoring this into your accommodation prices, and if parking is not included, find out how much more you are going to pay for parking your rental car.
When you are driving in England and need to pay for parking, most places will have a pay station. You’ll have to enter your license plate number into the pay station in order to pay for your parking spot. You’ll get a receipt that you place on your dashboard.
Gas is in Liters
You may see the gas prices and think it’s a steal, but it’s actually measured in liters. There are 3.78 liters in a gallon, so it will add up quickly. Petrol is quite expensive in Europe, which is why you see so many small cars on the road. Between narrow lanes and high petrol prices, nobody is driving the big SUV’s that Americans are so fond of. We always buy the rental car package that allows us to return the car on empty, as it can be hard to find gas stations near the airport.
Expect Narrow Lanes
There are few ultra-wide roads like we are used to in the States. The farther into the countryside you explore, the more narrow the lanes will become. Sometimes the road will even narrow down to one lane for two directions of traffic. Just look for spots where you can pull out to let someone by. If need be, just take it a bit slower than you are used to. There’s really nothing to worry about if you are paying attention.
Ireland and UK Driving takes some getting used to, but it’s pretty easy after the first day. It’s worth it to learn how because you’ll have so much more freedom to explore small towns. If you want more tips on travel in Europe, check out some of our other blog posts: