Traveling in your car can be a wonderful idea, you get to drive your own car in new streets you’ve never been to before. Yet, taking your car with you abroad can be a very complicated process that involves many steps. This includes checking on each one of your car’s parts before traveling, acquiring all necessary permits, and making sure your car insurance policy covers all potential travel risks. You may not be able to avoid all mechanical breakdowns on the road, but you need to at least make sure you’re legally compliant with all the international driving rules. That said, you need proper guidance on how you can drive your car to another country. Here are the 6 most important things to check before traveling to another country by car.
1. The Overseas Driving Rules
It’s important to pay attention to the international driving rules, this includes drink driving laws and local speed limits of the regions you drive by. You may get a fine without even knowing what you did wrong. To avoid breaking the law, you may need all different kinds of equipment, such as warning triangles and reflective jackets. Some European countries may even require you to have GB stickers or headlight converter stickers. It’s always your responsibility to carry all the equipment you need on the road.
2. Your Car’s Battery
It’s recommended to give your car batteries a look before traveling in it to make sure it has a tight connection and that it’s corrosion-free. If you detect corrosion in your batteries, it will be necessary that you use a wire brush to clean the connectors after disconnecting the battery. Sometimes, it may be better to check with a professional for assistance with your car’s batteries. Batteries may leak corrosive acid if their connectors are forced off, and many people do not know how to clean or check their car batteries for corrosion.
3. If You Will Need An International Driving Permit
Some countries may require that you have an international driving permit or IDP before driving in their streets. Other cities and countries will require all different sorts of legislation and permits to drive. In California, according to Quick Auto Tags, you will no longer be forced to wait in line or wait a few days before you receive any vehicle registrations or car-related transactions. You may need more than one permit for each country you visit on your way. It will be a luxury to get your papers finished on the same day so that you can make your trip on time.
4. The Fluids and Filters in Your Car
Your car contains several different fluids that require checking before you hit the road. This includes power steering and transmission fluids, engine oil, and windshield washer fluid. Top off the fluids that are running low or change the oils in your car that’s close to running out. It’s also recommended to make sure your car’s engine coolant is filled properly. Sometimes, you may need to change the coolant if the fluid is clear or if there are floating particles in it.
5. Your Car’s Insurance Company
Before traveling, you may need to check your vehicle’s insurance company to see if the policy covers damage and theft if you’re outside of the country. Some countries like Andorra, Iceland, Norway, Bosnia, and Herzegovina may require you to carry a green card or a physical copy of it for your vehicle. In other countries, you will need extra insurance on your car in addition to a green card in order to show that you’re covered.
6. Lights and Electrical Equipment
Another important step is to replace burned-out bulbs and ensure your car’s exterior and interior lights are working fine. Replace your windshield wipers as well if they’re not efficiently wiping or removing leaves, streaks, and water from the windshield. You’ll need a new pair every five to six months. Make sure you also take a look at your air conditioning system and car’s horn before setting out on your trip.
Many people prefer to travel internationally by car, however, it can be a very complex decision. Many considerations need to be taken before taking your car with you abroad, this includes vehicle registration and checking different international driving rules. You also need to ensure all of your car’s parts are working properly before setting out on a long trip like this. Ensure all electrical equipment is in good shape and that your car batteries are corrosion-free. This will guarantee that you have a safe trip and that you comply with all international legal standards while driving on the road.
