As in the UK, driving in Ireland is on the left. To drive in both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland you need a full valid national driving licence or an international driving permit issued abroad.

There’s little to beat Scotland’s natural scenery: ancient lochs sparkling in the sunlight, heather and fir-filled hillsides. It’s perfect for driving tours. Car hire in UK airports is easy to arrange too – both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have car rental desks so pick up and drop off is a breeze. Many visitors head for the better-known Highlands on Scotland driving tours, but you don’t need to drive that far. The Trossachs a mere hour or so from Glasgow or Edinburgh are fantastic driving territory.

Spain’s Andalusia region is packed with pretty villages, rolling hills and historic cities. It’s perfect self-drive territory and car hire in Spain is easy to organise. This itinerary typically takes about a week, offering an ideal blend of beautiful natural scenery, historic ancient palaces and traditional Spanish cuisine. Most holidaymakers visiting Andalusia fly into Malaga on the south coast. The airport here is well served by flights from UK airports and it’s the best place to pick up your hire car. Spain’s roads are generally less busy than the UK’s. Outside the major cities, which can be a quagmire of one-way streets, driving is straight-forward and roads are good. See our Driving Guide to Spain for more information.

Not as busy as the Costa Del Sol and warmer in winter than the Costa Brava, the coastline around Alicante offers beaches for all – whether you’re looking for family fun in the sun, romantic seclusion or bustling nightlife. Alicante car hire can be arranged either before you get on the plane or when you arrive, so it’s easy to beach hop. Which one will be your favourite?

Driving in Spain is relatively straight-forward, but it can take a while to get used to changing gears with your right hand and driving on the other side of the road. Use caution when you’ve just picked up your car hire, particularly at junctions, left turns when you’ll be crossing the other carriageway, and roundabouts where you’ll be circulating in the opposite direction to the UK.