Driving in a Foreign Country: Do you want to drive your car in a foreign country? It is important to know that there are laws and regulations different from that of your home country and therefore there are important documents you will need to carry along with you.
Keep reading it find out what you need
Important Documents to Carry Along With You
A valid passport or ID card.
One very important document to carry around with you when you’re in a country other than your local country is your ID card. Your ID card or passport issued by your home country, which allows you to cross international borders.
Your ID card must be valid throughout your stay period. Once it expires then it becomes invalid and cannot be used. Do not forget the 6-months passport rule which states that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months before embarking on your trip. Depending on the country you’re going to, the 6-month rule may begin the day you depart or the day you arrive.
An International Driving Permit
An International Driving Permit or IDP is a translation of your local drivers licence that allows you to drive in another country. This is not your drivers licence and therefore you should have your driver’s licence with you at all times. However you’ll be required to present this permit to the local authorities and rental agencies. The IDP is usually issued in the country where your drivers licence was issued.
Apply for International Driving Permit here
A Valid Driver’s Licence
A driver’s licence is the official document that certifies a certain person’s legal right to drive one or more types of motorised vehicles, such as buses, cars, trucks, or motorbikes, on a public road.Your driver’s licence may not be recognized by all other international countries.
For the most up-to-date information, see the website of your country’s embassy because different nations have different laws governing this important matter and occasionally change those laws without prior notice.
Your ability to drive with a driver’s licence from your native country may also depend on your passport condition. In some countries, you could be allowed to drive for up to 30 days before you need to apply for a local licence.
Apply for Driver’s Licence Renewal here
Vehicle registration document (V5c)
Your vehicle is registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency using the V5C, or vehicle registration document (DVLA). It includes all the pertinent details about your car, such as the date it was first registered, the maker, the colour, and the size of the engine. Additionally, it identifies the registered owner of the car. If the vehicle you’re going to drive is yours, try to not make the mistake of forgetting or leaving your V5C behind.
Motor insurance certificate.
This is a document that the insurance provider gives to policyholders that contains information on the coverage, the vehicle, and the owner. It serves as proof that your car is covered by insurance. It is crucial in accordance with the law that this proof be offered whenever necessary. Any motor certificate that an insurer issues to you must contain the following information.
- Name of the insurer
- the insurer’s stamp or signature;
- Vehicle owners who are insured policy number, your insurance information
- Coverage period: from(______) to (______)
- Third party or complete coverage is available
- Toyota, Honda, etc. as the Make of the Vehicle
- AAA 345 BK as the Registration Number
- Private or Commercial as the Vehicle Class
International Motor Insurance Card System
The Green Card system
The green card is an international insurance document that shows visitors’ vehicles have the minimum mandatory insurance coverage mandated by the host country’s law. The Green Card System includes 47 nations from North Africa, Asia, and Europe. Motor insurers issue green cards.
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
UK
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK are among the EU nations that are legally exempt from the Green Card requirement.
Blue card system
South East Asia is covered by the Blue card system, which was developed amongst ASEAN states. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are the countries.
Orange card system
The majority of Arab League members have established the Orange card system, which is mostly used across the Middle East and North Africa.
Countries which make up this system include: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco (also Green card member), Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia (also Green card member), United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
White card system (proposed)
If the Green Card system’s territorial reach could not be expanded to encompass all of the ECO members, a proposal exists to establish a White Card system between them.
Participants are: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan (Green card member), Iran (Green card member), Kazakhstan (Green card potential candidate), Kyrgyzstan (UNECE member), Pakistan, Tajikistan (UNECE member), Turkey (Green card member), Turkmenistan (UNECE member), Uzbekistan (UNECE member).
Yellow card members
The Yellow Card is essentially a regional third-party motor vehicle insurance program that covers third-party legal liability and pays for medical expenditures incurred as a result of traffic incidents caused by foreign drivers. The COMESA Yellow Card Scheme also provides emergency medical coverage to the driver and passengers of the foreign motor vehicle involved in the traffic collision, in addition to providing third party liability protection to the insured or the driver when in a foreign nation. The third party liability coverage provided is restricted to the country being visited and where the incident originated third party liability award limits for road traffic.
Brown card members.
The Brown card system is established between most of the members of the ECOWAS and is applicable in Western Africa. The Brown Card gives the driver a full guarantee that he will get rapid, equitable, and immediate compensation for any accident he causes when travelling outside of his country of residence.
Participants are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The non-participating ECOWAS member is Cabo Verde.
Pink card
In Central Africa, the CEMAC has established the Pink card system, which is used amongst members. Participants include Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
In addition, Canada makes use of the “Canada Inter-Province” pink card system, which is accepted across the board in both the United States and all of Canada’s provinces and territories.
Useful Tips
Adhere to the country’s driving rules
“Different strokes for different folks” so they say. When you’re driving in a foreign country, it is best to adhere to the country’s traffic rules and regulations as they may differ from that in your home country.
- Watch out for signs and symbols
- Read up on the basic rules
- Find out if the country uses the right or left hand driving system
- Restricted areas and Tolls
Renting a Vehicle
Rental car firms may have their own set of standards in addition to the federal driving regulations. While the majority of firms allow drivers 18 and older to rent a car, some may have a maximum age limit of 25. Younger drivers also typically pay greater rental and insurance costs. Additionally, renting a car without a credit card can be challenging. Although a lot of rental companies let you pay with a debit card, you should be ready to provide many pieces of identification and pay a bigger security deposit.
Hope this article is helpful to you. Visit us at Chassis.ng if you need help with your driving documents.