Driving in the U.S. and Canada is easy. The American Automobile Association or AAA is an excellent resource for maps. In the U.S. and Canada, people drive on the right. Gasoline is still relatively inexpensive in the U.S. You will pay between $3.25 to $3.60 per gallon (4 liters); gasoline prices vary by region.

Non-U.S. residents can drive in the U.S. with a valid drivers license from their resident country. Some people recommend getting an International Drivers license. This costs about USD$45 and can be ordered online.
We recommend that you check with the U.S. car rental agency for the specific requirements pertaining to your country of residency.

Rental car conditions in each country vary, but most have some general conditions. Most countries require that your drivers license be valid for at least 6 months. They also require that pay for your rental with a credit card. Most do not accept cash.

While driving in the US is less expensive, don't forget to consider what it will cost to park you car at a US hotel. The prices could be very high and range from $25 to $80 per day.

Driving in Europe is more expensive than in the U.S. The price of gasoline in Europe varies. It's about 2.3 times the price in the US. Expect to pay up to USD$7.00 per gallon or more if you visit the Far East or Europe. You will also be driving a much smaller car and one that gets good mileage. As you might expect, gasoline is very cheap (USD$0.50 per gallon) in oil producing countries.

The United Kingdom's Drive Alive web site provides comprehensive information on motoring through Europe. We especially like the overview of speed limits, traffic laws and the specific information in English on driving in Spain, France and Germany.

If driving through out Europe, Canada and the US is too expensive, consider using rail. It's terrific and affordable in Europe and reasonably good in the US and Canada. See our articles on train travel.