professional tips and support

My personal experience is that driving a car in foreign countries is great fun. However, it should be clear to everyone who indulges in this pleasure that there may be different traffic regulations in different countries, and of course different traffic signs. A fundamental requirement for a carefree road trip in unknown areas is therefore to inquire about the relevant current framework conditions before starting your journey. There are a wide variety of sources for this, for Europe there is, for example, an information page on the "Your Europe" portal of the European Union about driving abroad with further links: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/driving-abroad/, very detailed travel destination-related information is available for example at ÖAMTC: https://www.oeamtc.at/laenderinfo/, ÖAMTC members have access to the practical travel info set, consisting of travel maps, information about the most important sights and entry, toll and traffic regulations for many destinations.

A tip for everyone who gets into "exotic" traffic: drive defensively! Especially in seemingly chaotic traffic situations such as in Paris, Milan, Rome or Madrid, a foresighted, prudent driving style that is not based on one's own right is the ultimate survival strategy. Looking ahead, thinking ahead, keeping distance, direct communication with eyes, indicators and gestures - all of a sudden, even the wildest southern traffic becomes pure pleasure. Who once got the chance to exit the innumerable lanes of the roundabout at the Place Charles-de-Gaulle in Paris without one or the other "lap of honor" and without painful "enemy contact" knows what I'm talking about.

In many countries, a fee is charged for using certain roads. The toll is paid in different ways, e.g. as a flat rate by purchasing a badge or as a route-related toll. Depending on the country, the badge is available either in the form of a physical sticker for the windshield or as an "electronic badge" where the license plate is compared with a database during the toll control. In many countries, in addition to an annual badge, there are also available badges for shorter periods of time. In the case of route-related tolls, there are again different systems, such as the collection of the fee when driving in or out in cash or by credit card, in some countries (additional or mandatory) electronic payment systems are in use. The best thing to do is to obtain detailed, up-to-date information from the automobile associations or car rental companies. In countries with an electronic payment system, this form of billing can often be activated at the car rental company during the rental.

Wherever the traffic and road conditions appear too chaotic and relaxed self-driving is called into question, renting a car with a driver is worth considering as an alternative. In the Southeast Asian region, e.g. in Bali, for example, there is a wide range of services at reasonable costs available with which you can avoid the stress and dangers of the unfamiliar, often almost disorderly, road traffic.