Booking a private driver in another country sounds expensive, right?
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In reality, you can book private drivers in many countries without paying an arm and a leg. The costs are often comparable to renting a car, buying car rental insurance, and filling up the gas tank. In exchange, you’ll have a qualified, experienced local driver ready to ferry you around from Point A to B to C.
But how do you know if you actually need to find a private driver for your next international vacation? After all, Americans drive often—we’re not nervous about getting behind the wheel, and having a car rental provides a lot of freedom. You might actually feel more comfortable driving than letting someone else do it.
If that’s the case, look out for these signs that you should hire a private driver instead of renting a car on your next trip abroad.
7 tell-tale signs you should hire a private driver for your international trip
Sign #1: You’ll be doing a lot of driving
Some destinations are larger than others, with your must-see attractions spread out across hundreds of miles. Think about a place like Ireland, where many Americans hope to see distant parts of the island, or the Riviera Maya, which has dozens of coastal communities and attractions spread across hundreds of miles.
If you plan on moving between distant cities, natural wonders, or even coastal resorts, consider offloading the work to a private driver. All you need to do is show up with your gear packed and a smile on your face—your driver will handle the details. Plus, it means you get to enjoy the scenery out of your window instead of squinting at a map and playing passenger pilot.
Most importantly, a private driver can point out scenic lookouts or smaller attractions that tourists miss. Sure, not all private drivers are chatty, but they usually have some insider knowledge they don’t mind sharing.
Sign #2: Roads are small, winding, and/or old
American drivers prefer larger cars that we drive around wide streets. That’s hardly the case when you travel abroad. Even if you’re a competent and confident driver, you never know when you’ll find yourself on a winding, narrow road that’s shared with coaches and semi-trucks. (Looking at you, Norway!)
Keep in mind that this point applies to both cities and rural byways. In cities, you could face incredibly tight streets with no clear signs or even traffic directions. You’ll also need to find parking. Outside of town, you could face dirt roads with potholes and other unpleasant surprises. In either case, you might want a private driver with local knowledge at the wheel.
Even when road conditions are good, you might still get a little confused using roundabouts or when sharing the road with a light rail system. Don’t forget to factor in traffic rules here—they can get confusing, especially in dense cities.
Sign #3: Service is spotty
What’s worse than getting turned around trying to find your rural bed and breakfast when the sun is going down in a foreign country? Doing so without a reliable cell connection. Private drivers don’t (usually) rely on map apps to get around since they’re familiar with the area. You’ll get where you’re going even when service is spotty or nonexistent.
Sign #4: Traffic moves on the left side
I touched on this point in the second category, but it’s worth mentioning on its own: If you’re visiting a country where traffic moves on the left side of the road, and drivers are on the right-hand side of the car, go with a private driver. This includes places like Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, India, Australia, Japan, Thailand, and more.
Even if you can get your head around driving on the left side of the road from the right side of the car, it might not be a welcome mindbender for early-morning drives. And it’s definitely going to be tougher to navigate when the sun goes down and streetlights turn on.
Sign #5: You’ve never visited the country before
If you’re new to a country, you’ll appreciate having a private driver because it lessens the stress of figuring out road rules, minimizes the demands of navigating in a new place, and lets you soak up the views during longer drives. It’s really that simple.
I also think it’s worth pointing out that private drivers offer a more comfortable transportation experience. For example, if you visit Bangkok, Thailand, you can easily flag a tuk-tuk or a taxi. However, a private driver will guarantee things like temperature control and a more secure ride, especially given how lax road rules are.
Sign #6: You’re a little rusty with stick shift
Automatic cars are popular in the United States, but can cost a premium to rent abroad. Most drivers use stick shift around the world. That’s not necessarily a problem if you’re able to rent an automatic car without overspending—but keep in mind that if anything goes wrong with your rental, you might be given a replacement car that uses a stick shift, since they’re more common. If you’re rusty with stick shift, consider going with a private driver.
Sign #7: You don’t want to waste time navigating
This is a matter of taste, but private drivers make your trip way easier from a logistical standpoint. Even if you’re a seasoned road-tripper back home, you might find yourself getting turned around in a new country due to one of the many factors above. Before you know it, you’ve wasted hours trying to find your destination, compromising those easygoing vacation vibes.