eli5: How do countries just allow tourists/visitors from places where they drive on the other side to just rent a car and get behind the wheel without any sort of test?

Question

I just saw a headline about an American tourist in the UK who hit a cyclist because she drove on the wrong side of the road. I’ve always wondered why it is so easy for one to just rent a car and drive in a country where the road laws are all backwards from what they’re used to. Seems like there should be some kind of test involved but it feels like most countries will just give you the keys and let you take to the streets without any worries. I’m learning to drive and the thought that I could just go to England and rent a car seems crazy to me

In: 29

Answer 1

Rental companies absolutely require you to buy their insurance in Ireland. No saying it’s covered by your credit card or whatever.

That said, the exit area of the Dublin airport is one of the more nerve wracking places to be IMO.

It’s not that hard to switch sides of the road once you get the hang of it. But to be sure, a larger number of vehicles come back with the passenger side mirror damaged then in countries where everyone’s driving on the right side of the road.

And sometimes, worse things happen. Like the story you read.