Most of the world drives on the right — but a third of people don't. Here's which side each country drives on, which way the wheel sits, and when you need a permit to rent.
| Country | Drives on | Steering wheel | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Left | Right-hand | Watch the roundabouts. |
| Ireland | Left | Right-hand | Narrow rural lanes. |
| Japan | Left | Right-hand | IDP + your license. |
| Australia | Left | Right-hand | Long remote stretches. |
| New Zealand | Left | Right-hand | — |
| India | Left | Right-hand | IDP; busy — consider a driver. |
| Thailand | Left | Right-hand | IDP required. |
| Indonesia | Left | Right-hand | IDP required. |
| Malaysia | Left | Right-hand | — |
| Singapore | Left | Right-hand | — |
| Hong Kong | Left | Right-hand | — |
| South Africa | Left | Right-hand | IDP required. |
| Kenya | Left | Right-hand | IDP required. |
| Nepal | Left | Right-hand | — |
| Sri Lanka | Left | Right-hand | IDP required. |
| Jamaica | Left | Right-hand | — |
| Cyprus & Malta | Left | Right-hand | EU, but drive on the left. |
| United States | Right | Left-hand | Turn right on red (usually). |
| Canada | Right | Left-hand | — |
| Mexico | Right | Left-hand | IDP + car permit. |
| Brazil | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| Argentina | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| France | Right | Left-hand | Priority-to-the-right zones. |
| Germany | Right | Left-hand | Autobahn — keep right. |
| Spain | Right | Left-hand | — |
| Italy | Right | Left-hand | IDP; ZTL city zones. |
| China | Right | Left-hand | Foreign licenses not valid. |
| South Korea | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| United Arab Emirates | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| Egypt | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| Morocco | Right | Left-hand | — |
| Vietnam | Right | Left-hand | Foreign licenses often not valid. |
| Russia | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| Turkey | Right | Left-hand | IDP required. |
| Netherlands | Right | Left-hand | Cyclists everywhere. |
| Most of the world | Right | Left-hand | If it's not in the "left" list, assume right. |
About 75 — most were British colonies, plus Japan. The big ones travelers hit: the UK and Ireland, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, India, South Africa, and much of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong). Everywhere else, assume they drive on the right.
Often, yes. Many countries require an IDP alongside your home license to legally drive or rent a car. It's cheap and issued by your national motoring club — but only before you leave home, not once you arrive. When in doubt, get one; it's an easy insurance.
Most people adapt within an hour, but the first junctions and roundabouts are the tricky part, and the wipers/indicators are often swapped. Rent an automatic, go slow at intersections, and say out loud which side you're keeping to.