Talk Quesada forum

Back home recently after a great little 3 week road trip in southern Spain, first visit to Quesada and we loved the area.
We are planning a bigger road trip early next year driving from England, approx 3 months round trip.

I drive a lot in England, have driven a fair bit in Europe but always in a LHD hire car, we will be doing this trip in our own RHD and just wanted to hear how others have found driving a RHD car in Spain.

Thanks

I have had a rh drive for years and the only problem I find is ticket machines unless you have a passenger.

I had a RHD car when I lived in Germany. Never found it a problem although you have to take extra care when overtaking as you have to pull out a bit further to see round the car or van in front.

As mentioned, only problem was at places with ticket barriers, like parking and tolls, without a passenger to press the button for you. Still managed several years with no hassle.

I'm currently here with a RHD.

Absolutely no problem except car park tickets and tolls, and these are minor, and can be easily overcome..

As a means of remembering which side of the road I should be on, should I ever wonder, I just tell myself that I, the driver, should be nearest the path, ditch, kerb or whatever.

It works just as well when I've hired a RHD - then I, the driver, should always be in the middle of the road.

Works unfailingly for me every time.

Just be aware that most UK insurers limit EU use to 90 days (which is ok for your 3 month plan) but also many work in tranches of 30 days (which wouldn't be). Some, like Admiral, will agree to do the 90 days in 1 extended trip but with prior authority. Worth just being aware of before renewal. Also, if you qualify for Saga insurance (50+) then a big plus point is unlimited EU use, the only "mainstream" insurer that tend to offer this.

As for RHD/LHD, I do prefer being on the right side for the respective country but its not much of a hardship so long as you remain aware. Only once did I wake up in a rural area where there was no traffic and no road junctions for miles around. I merrily continued a few miles on an empty road before clicking... usually any other car or junction immediately reminds you in case you are a bit sleepy. Being on the "correct" side means you never fall into that trap as (you say) you always are going to be positioned in nearer the centre line as driver.

Driving a LHD car here is a no brainer to me because everything falls into place and is so much easier, especially when overtaking large vehicles.
I suspect many people don't want to change whether it be driving licences or residencias and will only do so when forced to.
When we moved here I drove down in my RHD Peugeot 405 GTX and kept it for a number of years until it was stolen.
I was then forced to buy a Spanish LHD car and from day one it was a revelation and changed my driving experience for the better and after 25 years it's second nature now as safe and aware driving should be.

Too subjective a question to answer.

Many find RHD to be no problem whatsoever but at the other end of the spectrum there are those who will not even sit as a passenger in a RHD!

Up to you then.

PGA's post about insurance is potentially misleading as it's only the comprehensive component of your UK insurance which can be subject to limitation, minimum 3rd party cover applies throughout the EU for the duration of a policy so you can never actually be uninsured.

For many years I have made one round trip a war from the UK to Spain via France in a RHD car. The rest f the time I fly and have a LHD car at the airport.
As others have said, it is a problem at toll booths etc if you are on your own my wife always accompanies me, so she is an expert in reaching out at toll booths to take tickets and make payments with a credit card.
If you have. A passenger in the left hand seat you have to bear in mind that there is a delay when asking them is it clear to overtake? In some circumstances, the situation can change by the time you are ready to manoeuvre. It can be tricky on some D roads in France which undulate and cars coming he other way seem to appear from underground.
The big problem is driving on your own when you are behind a slow vehicle and want to overtake but you are basically unsighted. In such situations you must be patient and extra cautious.
Other than that it is not much of a problem.

If you live here and drive a lot as I do. you have enough problems to think about whilst driving and anything that helps make you a safer driver is a good thing, so driving a vehicle with the correct orientation for the country that you live in just makes common sense to me.
People who insist on driving a RHD car here as residents are just making do, and they know it.

Darro wrote:PGA's post about insurance is potentially misleading as it's only the comprehensive component of your UK insurance which can be subject to limitation, minimum 3rd party cover applies throughout the EU for the duration of a policy so you can never actually be uninsured.

Apologies I failed to caveat it sufficiently to highlight this fact or to quote the regulation that applies.

There was me thinking it might be helpful to simply flag it for the OP.

I should know on talkquesada it should lead to an accusation of being "misleading" rather than an additional post to simply non-confrontationally add this as an aide memoire. As for TPO insurance, fine if in an old banger but I suspect any vehicle making European road trips more often than not benefits from a comprehensive policy.