Driving in Europe

Gemut.com has a wonderful free publication here https://www.gemut.com/car-rentals/free-rental-car-booklet.html that can really help you. You will need, at least in some countries, an International Driver’s Permit.

It varies country to country. Some country required it others do not. If you are thinking about renting a car anywhere, I would get it, International Driving Permit. It is merely a translation of your current driver's license into several languages. You have to carry both. Better to have and not need it than to need it and not have it.

scottanddianew, go to the sidebar menu to the left on this page and click the link to Travel Tips, and then the one for Transportation, and go from there.

Exactly. Where in Europe? In certain European countries they drive on the left. In certain parts of Italy and Greece they don't drive by rules. Etc.

Most important, before you drive in any country for the first time you need to:
A) Learn the road traffic laws for that country. Ignorance of the law is no defence.
B) Learn the traffic signs. Traffic signs in most European countries follow the Vienna Convention, so are similar, but each country has some signs that are unique.
If the country you come from does not use Vienna Convention signs you have more to learn. See here for a synopsis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_European_road_signs

Depending on which country issued your licence (you don't say where you come from), you may need an International Driving Permit (not licence), which is a document which certifies your licence as valid (same way you need to certify any foreign legal document), and translates it. You need to carry the IDP and your licence and show both to the police if stopped.

You will need to pay a toll to drive on Austrian autobahns. You pay per week not per Km. You buy a "Vignette" which is a sticker you attach to the car. You can buy this at the border.

If you are renting a car in one country and returning it in another this usually has a large surcharge,

Tom, if it is not a translation, then what do you call it?

Chris F.

It's so true. For instance in one country I know of cars turning fro side streets, under certain circumstance, have the right of way; and they know it and will pull right out in front of you. If you don't understand the rule, you don't watch for it, and an accident is almost a certainty. There are no signs warning of it.

scottanddianew, that would be Hungary.

Frank, last time I got one, it was in English and simply confirmed my license was legitimate. But that was 12 years ago.

No it is not just a translation. It follows a particular convention and places the translated information in a format that the official in the other country will be familiar with, regardless of language. It allows the official to view the original license effectively.

Because the authority to create IDPs is devolved to specific organizations in each country it also allows the official to have certainty that the piece of paper or plastic handed him or her is authentic.

Austria technically required an IDP, though you'll probably only be asked for it is there's an accident or such. If you're USA-based, AAA has 'the franchise' for selling IDPs in the country- bring a couple passport-sized photos to your local AAA office, pay a modest fee, and you get a document that's good for a year.

We did go through a police checkpoint for the vignette sticker in fairly limited highway driving there though .