Driving licence

You can drive a car and or motorcycle in Britain as long as you have a valid driving licence from your home country. The licence is valid for a period of 12 months from the date you enter the country, as long as the licence remains full and valid.

Car rental

Rental vehicles are graded accorded to size. If you’re not sure what’s what, specify the number of people and the amount of luggage you have and let the rental company recommend a vehicle.

You should reserve a vehicle before you arrive in the country. If you want a car with automatic transmission, make your request when making the booking. However, manual cars may be cheaper.

Do note that the speedometer is calibrated in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour, the miles being the larger and more obvious of the two.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory in the UK. Most car rental companies offer a Collision Damage Waiver or CDW, which covers any damage that may happen to the vehicle.

Motorways

Expressways in the UK are known as motorways and are supposedly the highest quality roads. They are marked in blue on maps.

Service areas are adjacent to the motorway and are usually about 30 miles apart. You can stop there for hot meals, snacks, a toilet break and petrol.

Motorways have emergency phones placed one mile apart on the road shoulder and they will connect you to the local police. Calls are free, but they should be used only in the event of a breakdown, accident or other emergency.

“A” and “B” roads

“A” roads are the next-highest quality and are usually marked in green on maps. These may have one or two lanes on either side. “B” roads are narrower and usually marked in orange or yellow on maps.

Driving

The Highway Code provides a summary of UK traffic law and has pictures of all the road signs. It is an official government publication and has its own website. The same road traffic laws and regulations apply throughout the UK and speed limits are posted in miles per hour.

Roundabouts

When you reach a roundabout, you’ll see a large green sign with a diagram of the upcoming roundabout, complete with details about the roads that travel out from the roundabout. The rule is that you give way to traffic already on the roundabout or approaching it from your right if you are both likely to get to it at the same time.