Stay Covered Even When You Drive on the Wrong Side of the Road

Thinking about traveling overseas? Sounds great, right? New sights. Fabulous experiences. But how will you get around? If you are thinking about driving overseas,
|there is more to know than what side of the road you drive on - especially as it applies to your auto insurance.

Many people think that their auto insurance policy will cover them overseas just like it does here in the United States. Not necessarily. Therefore, you should read over your policy to determine if you are covered when
traveling abroad. Most United States based auto insurance providers do not automatically provide coverage for renting a car overseas. You should contact your auto insurance provider in a timely manner to plan for obtaining insurance to cover you while driving on a trip. Discuss your options with your agent or broker to purchase the auto insurance coverage you need.

Another consideration for the overseas traveler is the rental car situation. Many overseas rental car agencies will not provide rental auto insurance to you without an international drivers' license. Well, it is not really a license, but a permit. Check first with the country to which you will be traveling to see if you need the permit. If you do, the State Department has authorized only two organizations to issue these permits. They are AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. In order to qualify for the permit, you must be at least 18 years old and have a valid United States drivers' license. Also, beware of driving permit scams or overpaying for your international drivers permit. If you stick with AAA and the American Automobile Touring alliance, you should be okay.

Beyond getting an international drivers license to drive overseas, you need to check with the country you are traveling to in order to make sure you have the minimum auto insurance requirements for that country. Even if you insurance will cover you abroad, you may not have enough coverage to drive legally in that country. Don't think it is a big deal? Well, if you are caught, some countries require that you pay a bond of up to 50 percent of what the car is worth. So, maybe a little increase in your insurance premium isn't that big a deal now?

The most important part of driving overseas as it relates to your auto insurance is safety. Before you travel to any country, you should research the rules of the road. Know the minimum and maximum driving age. Understand seatbelt laws. Find out who has the right of way in various driving situations. Research toll fees and driving permits. By following the rules of the road you will be a safer driver overseas, and it could prevent auto insurance headaches later. You can check out the tourism offices from the country you are going to visit or contact the foreign embassies here in the United States to obtain more information on driving in those foreign countries.

Driving safely and having the right amount of auto insurance are two major considerations when driving overseas. When traveling abroad, you want to be able to enjoy your vacation without worrying about your auto insurance coverage. Also, study the types of fraud prevalent in those countries you are visiting, just to be a little safer on those foreign roads. Always make sure you have your drivers license, international drivers permit, and auto insurance documentation on you when you are driving to prevent any hassles should something happen.

Where should you look for more information on auto insurance, documentation needed and rules of the road for driving overseas? You can visit http://www.embassy.org/embassies/index.html to find a list of embassies to contact or you can visit foreign boards of tourism at http://www.towd.com to see their requirements. Discuss your travel plans with your auto insurance provider, too, in order to make sure you are covered wherever your plans take you.

Stay Covered Even When You Drive on the Wrong Side of the Road

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