Travel
Wherever you move, getting around will be a key factor of daily life.
Making sure there are adequate transport systems, or that you can drive there, are vital concerns.
The main things you need to ask include:
- Are you happy driving in a foreign country?
- What are local bus and train services like?
- How far do you need to travel to buy basic items such as food
and fuel?
- Could
you be snowed in during the winter months?
- Is there a regular rainy season?
- If
you are intending to return to your home country on a regular basis,
how easy is it? There may be an airport nearby, but
do flights go to an airport anywhere near where you would be visiting?
A reasonable degree of accessibility is also important if you are expecting regular visits from family and friends.
Cars
Driving is one of the most convenient ways to get around in a new
country. It offers you independence and is ideal if you have mobility
problems.
Please note that this section
focuses on cars, but many of the same points apply to motorcyclists.
It can be quite overwhelming learning to drive in a new
country. You may have to drive on the other side of the road, and you
will need to learn a whole new set of driving laws. Some countries even
insist on you taking a driving test there.
Before you commit to buying
a property that relies on you using a car for access, establish how you
would cope if you were unable to drive. Illness or visual problems
could force you off the road for good.
If you are part of a couple, can
you both drive? If not, and the driver has an accident, would you both
be stuck? Plan for what would happen if one of you were to die, too.
Decide if you will take your own car abroad with you, or whether you
will sell up at home and buy a new vehicle there - which is often cheaper once taxes and fees have been taken into account.
Importing a car Before you decide to take
your car abroad with you, look at the reasons for doing so.
If you are
taking it simply because it seems easier to keep it than to buy another
abroad, be warned that the bureaucracy and costs involved can actually
make it harder work than changing cars.
For a start, you have to get it there. You will need to fill out
paperwork with your home country's driving authority to be issued an
export certificate. In the UK, fill out the export section of your V5
logbook and send it to the DVLA in Swansea. They will send you a V561
Certificate of Export in return.
For high value, vintage cars, an additional licence will be
required from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport if exporting
from the UK.
If you are not sure, check well in advance.
You will also have to register your car officially in your new country
and will probably need to pay duty on it, adding further expense.
Check
the page for the country you are moving to on this site for specific information. If you become
resident in your new country, you are likely to have to change the
registration plates to local ones, too. In some American states, this
has to happen within 30 days of becoming resident.
Your
car will need to meet legal requirements for road worthiness and be
able to keep doing so at regular testing. You could have problems with
locating parts, especially if you have a right-hand drive vehicle in a
left-hand drive country.
Owners' clubs can often provide advice on
where to get parts and may offer cheaper insurance for members.
However, insurance premiums can be extortionate for imported cars.
You
are unlikely to get the car's full value when selling it on abroad,
particularly if it has foreign registration plates.
If your steering wheel is on the opposite side from local cars, it can
be more difficult to remember which way to turn at junctions, and
harder to overtake, as you cannot see around vehicles in front,
especially without a passenger to guide you.
When taking your car
abroad, run through basic safety checks. Get it serviced at home before
you leave, where you can use a garage you know from experience is
reliable, and English-speaking.
Make sure all lights are working and have them
dipped to the other side of the road if necessary. Take out insurance for the entire journey, and check all
documentation is up to date and easily accessible when you go through
customs.
Unless
your car is worth a lot of money or is particularly precious to you, it
will probably not be worth the hassle and expense of exporting it to
your new country.
Buying a car locally
In a similar way to buying a car in your home country, you
need to be sure that it is legitimate and roadworthy.
New cars will
have a manufacturer's warranty, but used vehicles have no such
guarantee, so check it over thoroughly before you buy.
Buying from a
garage costs more, but gives you more rights in most countries than a
private deal. If possible, buy from
a reputable or recommended vendor, and take an expert with you, if you
know one.
Even if you do not, breakdown companies operate a
checking service in some countries, so you can have it looked at for a
fee. This is a relatively small amount up front but could save a lot of
money in the long term.
In Europe, these are backed by
DEKRA,
the European leader in car safety.
If you cannot speak the language, go with someone who can translate for
you. Trust your instincts - if it does not feel right, leave it. There
are plenty more cars out there.
Check
all documentation and then register the change of ownership with the
local authorities as soon as you have bought the car.
Remember to
insure yourself before driving off, or you will be breaking the law,
with potentially serious consequences. In some countries the driver is
insured, not the car - in others, it is the car that is insured for
anyone qualified to drive. See the 'Insurance' section of your relevant
country on this site for more information.
Driving licence
A valid licence is compulsory wherever you go. Not only is
it your proof of being a capable driver, but can often be used as ID,
too.
Find out the licence requirements for your new country. They may
insist that you take another test, to prove you are competent behind
the wheel.
This could involve taking lessons again and may cost quite a
lot of money for what can seem like an unnecessary expense. Make sure
you follow the laws, however, or losing your licence (and your
mobility) later on is highly likely.
You might be able to
drive using an international licence, which you can apply for before
leaving your home country. If you are moving from one EU country to
another, your licence should be valid. However, you may need to update
it to a plastic card version from a paper version.
In all cases, check before you go. It is not worth the risk of driving
illegally, especially as a foreigner abroad.
Traffic laws (speed limits, drink/driving, seat belts, accessories, fines) The
rules of the road differ from country to country, but there are some
that stay the same everywhere. Always wear your seatbelt - punishments
for not doing so vary, but it is invariably illegal.
Motorcyclists must wear a helmet where required. Many countries
renowned for allowing riders to not wear helmets have tightened up
their laws to promote safety.
Do
not drink-drive anywhere; limits are different worldwide, but it will
not be tolerated in any country. You risk a fine, losing your licence
and a jail sentence for breaking the law.
Police in some
countries are also beginning to use drug tests on drivers they think
might be under the influence. The safest thing to do if you are driving
is to avoid all intoxicating substances completely.
Make sure your car or motorbike is in roadworthy condition and has
passed any relevant local inspection tests. This includes conforming to
local laws such as carrying specific safety equipment in case of
breakdown, and a spare set of bulbs.
Read up on the local laws. Check the speed limits for
different kinds of roads, who has priority at junctions and where you
are required to stop for pedestrians.
Find out what parking signs mean,
so you can avoid picking up tickets. In some countries, for example,
your car must be facing the same direction as the traffic flow when you
park on the side of the road.
It can be helpful to take a copy of the local road laws in your vehicle
with you, at least until you have lived there long enough to learn the
rules.
In
the past, expatriates have not paid fines thinking they would not be
caught up with as a foreigner, but be warned that systems are now more
sophisticated. Do not be tempted to avoid paying fines.
MOT equivalent
Most countries have a standard test of roadworthiness for vehicles
in use on the roads. Time limits may change - it is annual in many
countries for older cars and motorbikes, but may be less for new
vehicles.
Find out the local policy on our country-specific pages, and
make sure you get your vehicle tested accordingly.
Car insurance
You will need insurance for yourself or your vehicle when you are driving.
Public transport
Having
a reliable public service provider operating in your new area can be extremely
useful. You can often travel faster and do not need to worry about
parking at the other end.
Prices vary greatly, too, but some places
offer much better value for money than using a car, especially with a
season ticket.
Those over pensionable age are often entitled
to cheaper travel, too. If you are disabled or have mobility problems,
contact the travel company beforehand to find out the policy for access
to transport.
Buses, trains and trams
The level of service offered by public transport around the world
varies enormously. There are overcrowded services complete with animals
and goods in less developed areas, while
other countries offer slick, efficient routes.
Note that you often
have to buy a ticket before you board, either at machines, terminals or
in shops. You then have to validate the ticket for the journey you are
making, usually at a special machine by the doors.
This helps speed up
passenger entry and exit, especially from short-stop transport like
buses and trams. Of course, it relies on trust, but inspectors
frequently board to check tickets and fines can be relatively large.
Even if you are intending to rely on a car, look at public transport
facilities nearby. Your car may break down, leaving you stuck, or, over
time, you could find yourself unable to drive through ill health. In
this case, being unable to get anywhere could be severely restricting.
Flying A priority
for many expatriates is how to get back home when the need arises.
Whether you want to pop back to see old friends, or need to get back
quickly, getting there is all important.
Budget airlines operate throughout much of Europe, connecting countries
cheaply. They tend to use smaller airports, offering as a result good
access to regional towns that may be far from the country's long haul
airports.
Larger countries have their own domestic airline
schemes, which, while not especially cheap, are a lot quicker than
covering the same distance on the ground. You can usually buy an
airpass if you will be travelling frequently, which can save a lot of
money.
For
all flights, the internet is a great place to start, as airlines
usually offer cheaper fares for booking on the web. Look for the
flights you require in a reputable search engine.
Boats
Travel by boat can be a great way to get between
destinations away from traffic or long drives. Water transport can be a
relaxing way to travel, with passengers well catered for.
Ferries,
hovercraft and catamarans may take cars and larger vehicles, depending
on the journey being made.
Going long distances by boat is often not dissimilar in
price to flying, but allows you to carry more belongings with you than
an aeroplane.
If you are planning on taking carfuls of possessions
abroad by boat, check the allowed weight limits and any banned items
before travelling.
Taxis
Follow the same basic
principles with taxis worldwide as you would at home - use a reliable company, with a
displayed registration badge and driver ID where possible.
Avoid
travelling alone at night in unmarked mini cabs. Try to use a taxi with
a meter, so you can see how much you will be paying. Alternatively,
negotiate a price up front, especially for longer distances.
Cabs often
charge more for lots of baggage, so check this before you get in.
More local authorities are making wheelchair access compulsory for new
taxis, so there should be a good choice available in modern places.
Check any accessibility worries with the taxi company before you book,
as they may need to send a special vehicle.
In less developed
countries, taxis are relatively unregulated and standards are lower
outside of main cities. In this case, trust your judgement before
getting into a car and, if there is no meter, arrange the fee up front.
In all countries, wear your seatbelt, even in the back, as you never
know how competent the driver will be.