You've picked up your rental car in UK (Check
drivy.co.uk/ for more about rental cars in the UK) and now you're ready to get on the road and see and do fun things in UK. Make sure that before your foot steps on the accelerator, you understand the basic and most important rules of the road. This will make your driving experience easier and more enjoyable.
Driving on the left
In the UK, drivers drive on the left side of the road. This means that on your right is the opposite lane. The median of the motorway should also be on your right.
UK speed limits
UK speed limits are in force unless there are signs indicating a different speed. To drive in the UK you will use mph or Miles per Hour as the unit of speed. Motorways and dual carriageways are 70mph, while single carriageways are 60mph and within cities 30mph. Typical braking distances are best remembered as doubles in rainy or wet weather.
Legal alcohol limit
Sanctions for driving above legal alcohol limits are strict. The legal limit in Scotland is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in England and Wales. If in doubt, stick to the Scottish limit.
Parking
Car parks are the easiest way to park in the big cities of the UK. Online parking and battery parking are common in the city, so pay attention to all local signs as the times and days of the week eligible for parking change regularly.
Other elements to keep in mind that increase the price of basic rent are:
- the age of the driver, those under 25 and over 70 must pay a supplement,
- include a second driver, also taking into account the age of this second driver (we highly recommend it on long trips or with untrained drivers like us)
- return the car to a different office, in fact it is important to ask if it is possible to do so,
- if you are thinking of crossing a border there may also be a supplement for the formalities and, as in the previous case, you must first find out if it is possible to do so,
- returning the car outside office hours may also include a surcharge, although the most common is to leave the car keys in a mailbox for this purpose,
- If you are travelling with children, child safety items - pushchairs, lifts, etc. - may have an extra cost.
The milage
If the normal price includes the most basic insurance, it is also necessary to look at the small print the amount of kilometres allowed. Every day more and more companies offer unlimited mileage, but it is essential to confirm it beforehand. If it is limited, even if it seems a sufficient amount, think about the distance to the destination you have chosen, add the transfers once there and take into account how many days you will be traveling. Every kilometre you exceed your limit, you'll have to pay for it in gold.