Holidays are great fun, and hiring a car is a fabulous way to see the sights and get around easily, but you should also be aware of your safety. You will need to be more cautious when driving a hire car abroad than you would if you were at home, as you won't know the roads or the traffic systems, and, you won't know which areas are safe.
Here are some safety tips to bear in mind when driving your hire car:
- Always wear your seat belt and make sure that your passengers do the same.
- Keep the doors locked when travelling, and beware of anyone approaching your hire car.
- If you see someone who appears to be in trouble, don't stop and get out. Instead, phone the police, who will send assistance.
- Never give a lift to anyone that you don't know.
- If you break down, don't go off in a stranger's car if they stop to offer help. If you are unsure of anyone who is approaching your hire car, make sure that the doors are locked and that the windows are closed.
- Drinking and driving laws will be different everywhere you go. The best advice is not to drink and drive at all - it's just not worth it. In some countries you can face imprisonment if you are caught driving over the limit.
- When driving your hire car on fast roads or in cities, try not to go back and forth between lanes unless you need to, and look out for pedestrians and bike riders. For more tips on driving in built-up areas, take a look at our driving in the city page.
- Try not to leave any valuables in the hire car. Lock everything away in the boot out of sight. Never keep your airline tickets and other important documents in the car - it's best to carry anything you may need with you.
- When parking your hire car at night, do so in a well-lit area and check for anyone loitering around before approaching or leaving your car.
- If anyone signals for you to pull over, don't do so unless it is the police.
- If your hire car is hit from behind, don't stop, as this could be a way of getting you to pull over. Drive to a police station or some other safe public place before stopping. Always consider your safety first.
- Thieves often target hire cars. If anyone tries to take your belongings, let them - your safety is paramount, and you can always buy new things.
- Always be careful not to stray into dangerous or unlit areas in your hire car. If you are lost and notice that you are entering a run down area, turn around and go back the way you came, and then stop and ask directions when you're somewhere well lit and safe, such as a petrol station. If you have to pull over to check your map, try not to be obvious about it - tourists are often seen as targets. Don't leave a map in a visible location when you are away from your hire car.
- Always stick to the speed limits and slow down in bad weather. For more tips on driving your hire car in difficult conditions, check out our driving in rain , driving in fog and driving in winter conditions pages.
- If you decide to take a trip in your hire car which involves crossing borders or state lines, remember that you will probably need to alter your speed and driving to comply with local laws.
- If you have children in the vehicle with you, they must be restrained and seated in conformity with local laws.
- Never drive your hire car if you are over-tired. If you are already on the road, take lots of breaks and don't continue your journey if you are feeling sleepy or unwell.
- If you are involved in an accident or have car trouble, don't get out of your hire car on the side of the traffic. Keep off the road. For more tips on what to do if something should go wrong while driving your hire car, take a look at our accident and breakdown page.
- In some countries, you are legally required to carry a warning triangle to be used in event of a breakdown or accident. However, you should only place it if it is safe to do so without endangering yourself.
- The law in some countries states that you must carry special bright reflective vests in your hire car. Find out if this is the case in the country that you'll be visiting, and remember to put them on if the need arises.
- Don't drive your hire car in off road conditions unless you have a car that is designed for this. If you have an accident or damage the car, you may not be covered by your insurance. For pointers on how to manage this terrain easily, check out our 4WD driving page and our desert driving page.
- If you have been shopping and want to return your bags to your parked hire car before heading back to the shops, always put them in the boot. Try to do this without being seen.
