As travellers get more accustomed to other countries they become a bit more adventurous. UK drivers who, years before, wouldn’t think of driving in countries where they believe drivers are on the wrong side of the road but that attitude has changed significantly in recent years.

An increasing number of people are buying vacation homes in Europe, which means they are in a particular country a lot more often. If you are used to driving then very soon you will find that you get used to the way the traffic runs and find it easier to drive for yourself. Once you have had several European vacations you will feel more at home and perhaps more inclined to drive, whether you take your own car or drive a rental vehicle. It’s surprising how soon you pick up somebody else’s rules of the road.

One thing that you do need to check out thoroughly before you start driving in Europe is whether the rules are any different. If you live in the UK then you can use your driving license in any EU country but if you are outside of Europe, and American for example, then your driving license on its own is not valid. You will need a green card, which is an international recognition of the fact that you are a qualified and licensed driver.

Before you begin driving in Europe you should check with your auto insurer what you are actually covered for. In the UK for example some insurers only give third party cover if you want to drive when you are abroad. This means that you either need to change your auto insurance provider or you need to buy extra cover elsewhere in case you break down or are involved in a collision.