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Original poster

How easy is it to drive a left hand drive manual hire car?

24 replies

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 16/04/2019 19:35

Posting here for traffic.

I’m going on a short break to Italy and the only hire cars are manual.
( I’ve hired in Spain before and always gone for an automatic)

How easy is it to get used to a manual gear box and change it with your right hand?
Tia

OP posts:

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 16/04/2019 19:41

It's fine. You might find yourself reaching toward the door looking for the gear stick a few times but you soon get used to it.

I used to find that in moments of stress, traffic or getting lost, I would go for the gear stick the wrong side🤣 I've genuinely never found it a problem though, you'll be fine.

Nacreous · 16/04/2019 19:42

It's fine. Annoying but really not that bad.i found the different bite point of the clutch more annoying.

Scotinoz · 16/04/2019 19:58

It's fine. I have to concentrate a bit more, but it helps that you're in a left hand drive car and driving on the right. As I say, I just have to concentrate a bit more, especially with a clutch

BuzzPeakWankBobbly · 16/04/2019 20:04

I kept smacking the door with my left hand which was doubly stupid as it was an automatic as well as LHD!

I find "wrong way round" roundabouts the most confusing thing and always hope there is already traffic on it I can follow!

Sgtmajormummy · 16/04/2019 20:25

Hi there, Brit in Italy here with 25 years’ experience of driving on the left.

Did you pass your test in a manual? I expect so, and that would mean just a short refresher IN THE RENTAL CAR PARK of driving in and out of a few spaces (reversing can seem rather counter-intuitive). Drive around in 1-2-3rd gear and listen to the engine revs. Practice the clutch bite point, too.

I’m telling you to do this in the car park because once you’re on the roads drivers pay very little attention to the rules, zooming over zebra crossings, cutting into roundabouts or overtaking into small spaces, using the wrong lanes and their indicators not at all!
Oh, and speed limits are open to interpretation. Some drivers still cite the obsolete rule of “speed limit +20%= no fine”...
Cautious slow British drivers who follow the rules risk being crashed into from behind because they don’t take the chances an Italian driver would.
Where are you going, OP?
Please don’t say Naples.

Perfick · 16/04/2019 20:31

I've driven a LHD manual a few times and like others have said, once you get past the knocking your hand into the door when you go for the gear stick phase it's fine. Good advice to practice in the car park as once you are on the road you'll need your wits about you!

Karigan195 · 16/04/2019 20:35

At first it’s weird but after about a day or so you kind of get used to it

TheFlis12345 · 16/04/2019 20:40

You pick it up very quickly and it won’t take long before you don’t notice the difference. The main thing that always throws me is the hand brake being on the wrong side rather than the gearstick.

TheweewitchRoz · 16/04/2019 20:40

It's strange for the first few minutes but then fine. If you can drive a manual normally, then you'll be fine quite quickly.

QuitMoaning · 16/04/2019 20:45

@Sgtmajormummy

I drive in Naples regularly and it is an experience!

To the OP, my best advice is if you get it wrong (lane, speed or whatever) is not to worry, the Italians really don’t care and don’t take it personally.

SciFiRules · 16/04/2019 20:48

10 minutes and it's like you've never driven anything else.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 16/04/2019 21:10

It’s surprisingly easy. Easier than driving your own right-hand drive car on the Continent because you’re in the best position to see other traffic.

Original poster

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 16/04/2019 21:51

Thanks all.
I’m used to driving on the right, as I live in France but have my British right hand drive car, so the gear stick is not a problem.

I’m actually flying into Venice and driving to Croatia, so hopefully not too much contact with Italian drivers. I am however going to take fully comp insurance to be safe.

Thanks for the heads up about driving round the car park @Sgtmajormummy

OP posts:

myadviceisdontskippaps · 16/04/2019 21:55

I live in Canada where we drive on the right - first car was a manual, sold in 2012 and got an automatic. I come back to the UK 1-2 times per year and always get a manual rental car - never any issues “remembering” how to do it even though that’s the only time of the year I’m in a manual, although I do very infrequently stall (maybe max once per trip). The hardest part for me is feeling the clutch as they’re different on all cars.

Sgtmajormummy · 16/04/2019 22:26

Venice Airport to Croatia? You’ll be in my neck of the woods, then!

You’re straight onto the A4 motorway which is the main thoroughfare for all HGV into Eastern Europe. They’ve been doing major expansion roadworks for about 2 years which mean it can be quite narrow in places with no hard shoulder. Just stay in the middle lane!

Original poster

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 16/04/2019 23:06

Thanks for that @Sgtmajormummy
I was planning to drive back from Croatia and get the flight from Venice on the same day, but if there’s roadworks, I think I will be cutting it fine.

If I got a hotel near the airport ( thinking I’ll drop the car off a day early) is it easy to get a train into Venice and do some sightseeing? For the day? Then walk to the airport the next morning for my flight...?

OP posts:

Sgtmajormummy · 17/04/2019 07:27

About the A4, it’s a bit of a gamble. Accounting for congestion and delays from roadworks I would add 2 hours to whatever the satnav gave me. Bit I am a cautious driver...

There’s a shuttle bus from Marco Polo airport into the centre of Venice but arriving by train across the lagoon and stepping out of the station onto the Rialto is an experience to remember and repeat! I’ll look for a link.

No hotel recommendations, I’m afraid. It’s my local departure airport so I’ve never used it as a tourist would!

Original poster

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 17/04/2019 07:29

Thank you. I’m arriving in the cheap airport! Treviso.
I think it’s about an hour on the train.
Any tips on what to see for a few hours in Venice?

OP posts:

Sgtmajormummy · 17/04/2019 07:41

www.veniceairport.it/en/transport.html
Lots of information there. I got a pop-up to the nearest Best Western Airport hotel which looked promising.
If time were not a problem I would catch a bus to Mestre station and take the train into Venice. But travel stress and language barriers (been there!) might make the bus to Santa Lucia your best choice.

Sgtmajormummy · 17/04/2019 07:42

Cross post!

Karigan195 · 17/04/2019 07:42

Few hrs? Take a boat ride and admire the bridges.

Karigan195 · 17/04/2019 07:43

Cathedral is nice too but you must cover your shoulders if you want to go in.

BiscuitDrama · 17/04/2019 07:44

If you’re used to driving on the right, then the left hand drive car will actually make it easier, IME.

Sgtmajormummy · 17/04/2019 08:10

The last time I used Treviso Airport (3 years ago?) I left my car at this hotel here for cheaper than airport prices. The shuttle service was an experience in itself! On the way out we had the hotel limo with uniformed driver and on the way back we had a big black Mercedes people carrier. I felt like a hotshot Russian mafioso!

Agree that just wandering is the best way to spend a day in Venice.

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