What are the Rules for Renting or Driving a Car in the UK When Youre American

London is the most populated city in the entire European Union.  The number two city, namely Berlin, has half the population of its posh neighbor, so it has no small command of its leading position.  Even considering the entire world, it's still one of the fifty most populated cities in the world in one of its most prosperous nations.  While that sounds like an amazing statistic to put on the back of a postcard, it can be hard for today's tourist to give those numbers much consideration.  When you realize that there is no small number of drivers amongst those eight million people?  That's definitely a consideration for the average tourist, even one staying outside of the big smoke.

Domestic travel is definitely easier to manage for the average American; while you may be from Ohio, chances are good that the car rental and driving laws are pretty similar whether you in Kansas, Hawaii, or Maine.  Head to Europe and, immediately, everything changes.  While everyone knows that you drive on the left side of the road over there, there are plenty of other things to keep in mind.  Here are some rules of law and rules of thumb that will help driving and renting cars become a little less foreboding while in the United Kingdom.

If you don't need a car, don't rent one: This one may seem obvious, but many Americans just feel more comfortable when they have the access to a car.  If you're going to be staying in London or another big city exclusively, however, it's probably not needed.  In most of the major cities, the public transportation is far more efficient than a car.  It'll also be cheaper over the long term, and not expose you to the needless confusion of driving yourself around in an unfamiliar city.

Your American driver's license is valid in UK for up to a year: Unless you're going to be staying within the borders of the UK for longer than 365 days, you're able to use your American license on the road ways of Britain, Northern Ireland, and Wales during your stay.  This doesn't mean, however, that you shouldn't familiarize yourself with the local rules of the road.  While most safety laws are fairly similar to the American standards, you will want to make sure that you don't expose yourself to unnecessary risk.  Double check your insurance policy to make sure it covers your adequately while abroad.

Try to avoid driving in Central London: Just about any car you are likely to be traveling has to pay between 10 and 12 GBP to drive in this area.  When possible, walk instead.  Electric cars receive a substantial discount on this, so if you do need to rent a vehicle while in the UK?  Consider a electric car to cut on these fees as well as the cost of gas..  

The United Kingdom is filled with plenty of amazing places, but it's highly likely you'll end up in a large city.  London may be the most common, but there are plenty of busy places outside of the Great Wen with excellent mass transit systems in place.  If you decide you do need a car, make sure you familiarize yourself with the specifics of the UK before you get behind the wheel.
