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Before you go, check you have your driving licence handy
as photocopies or faxed copies will not be accepted. If
you have one of the new photo licences then you must also
take the paper licence. You must have an international driving
permit when driving abroad. More information on this can
be found at http://www.theaa.co.uk/motoringandtravel/idp/index.asp
Before you drive away in your hire car, check maps and other
visitor information, as wrestling with a map whilst on the
road, especially when driving on the other side of the road,
is not recommended! Familiarise yourself with the car controls
before you drive away and check how much fuel is in the
tank - its easy to forget vital details like fuel levels
when you just want to get to where you are going!
When driving abroad, always familiarise yourself with any
local restrictions, as these could be very different from
what you are used to at home. Things to check for are; differing
road signs and markings, speed limits, parking zones (especially
in cities) and most of all don't drink and drive! This may
seem obvious but some countries have a zero tolerance towards
blood alcohol levels which means a driver is not allowed
to have consumed ANY alcohol before driving. (A car hire
supplier reserves the right to refuse to supply a vehicle
if they believe that you have consumed alcohol!!) Bear in
mind if you drink the night before you plan to drive anywhere
you could still fail a blood alcohol test. Please be safe
- being arrested for drunk driving will definitely ruin
your holiday!
If you will be travelling to snowy areas you may need to
hire a set of snow chains and whilst you can pre-book a
set on the site for collection at the depot, this can work
out to be quite pricey. You may find that it is cheaper
to buy a set of heavy duty chains cheaper from a local garage,
depending on how long you will be staying.
IDP (International Drivers Permit) - One of these may be
required in addition to your national drivers licence when
driving abroad. More information on these is available at
http://www.theaa.co.uk/motoringandtravel/idp/index.asp
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