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Having just purchased a property in Vera town I would like to get about and to further destinations by driving but feel very unsure about taking the first steps to do so. Are there any driving schools that offer 'practice' for driving on Spanish roads to get used to right hand side driving? Just a thought. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Posted: Wed Nov 3, 2021 6:28pm
Helpful member
Not sure whether any driving schools offer what you want.
However, what I would say is that generally the roads are far quieter than the UK. I also find on the most part drivers are less aggressive. If you are driving a left hand drive vehicle it really is no different than UK driving. I would initially avoid driving around 8.30am (when drivers are rushing to work) and 2pm (when they are rushing to lunch), then you will have fewer problems. The hardest thing is generally no one uses their indicators and most Spaniards have no clue how to negotiate a roundabout. Having said that, if you drive here and treat everyone else as though they are possible idiots you will have no problem.
Good luck, enjoy driving and exploring this lovely part of Spain.
LosPardoslady wrote on Wed Nov 3, 2021 6:28pm:
Not sure whether any driving schools offer what you want.
However, what I would say is that generally the roads are far quieter than the UK. I also find on the most part drivers are less aggressive. If you are driving a left hand drive vehicle it really is no different than UK driving. I would initially avoid driving around 8.30am (when driv...
Read more...
...ers are rushing to work) and 2pm (when they are rushing to lunch), then you will have fewer problems. The hardest thing is generally no one uses their indicators and most Spaniards have no clue how to negotiate a roundabout. Having said that, if you drive here and treat everyone else as though they are possible idiots you will have no problem.
Good luck, enjoy driving and exploring this lovely part of Spain.
Thank you so much for your reply. What you have said is very helpful. Maybe I will pluck up the courage. Do you know if there are similar companies like enterprise car club where I can rent a car and have a local collection and drop off bay?
Posted: Thu Nov 4, 2021 8:02am
Helpful member
Sally66 wrote on Thu Nov 4, 2021 7:27am:
Thank you so much for your reply. What you have said is very helpful. Maybe I will pluck up the courage. Do you know if there are similar companies like enterprise car club where I can rent a car and have a local collection and drop off bay?
No sorry I don't.
Posted: Thu Nov 4, 2021 10:58am
Helpful member
LosPardoslady wrote on Wed Nov 3, 2021 6:28pm:
Not sure whether any driving schools offer what you want.
However, what I would say is that generally the roads are far quieter than the UK. I also find on the most part drivers are less aggressive. If you are driving a left hand drive vehicle it really is no different than UK driving. I would initially avoid driving around 8.30am (when driv...
Read more...
...ers are rushing to work) and 2pm (when they are rushing to lunch), then you will have fewer problems. The hardest thing is generally no one uses their indicators and most Spaniards have no clue how to negotiate a roundabout. Having said that, if you drive here and treat everyone else as though they are possible idiots you will have no problem.
Good luck, enjoy driving and exploring this lovely part of Spain.
Few towns in UK have streets as narrow and steep, combined with very sharp corners, as many Spanish country towns do, requiring lots of gear changes and skill in avoiding scraping the sides of the car! Or mountains with narrow roads with a precipice on one side and bind corners! A problem can be that such a road starts quite wide and in good repair, then higher up deteriorate: good Spanish roads and motorways are great, but dive deep into the countryside and driving can be difficult.
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Bess wrote on Thu Nov 4, 2021 10:58am:
Few towns in UK have streets as narrow and steep, combined with very sharp corners, as many Spanish country towns do, requiring lots of gear changes and skill in avoiding scraping the sides of the car! Or mountains with narrow roads with a precipice on one side and bind corners! A problem c...
Read more...
...an be that such a road starts quite wide and in good repair, then higher up deteriorate: good Spanish roads and motorways are great, but dive deep into the countryside and driving can be difficult.
Many thanks for your comments and I will take those on board. I will initially try and keep to the larger roads I think. Thanks again
Sally66 wrote on Thu Nov 4, 2021 11:13am:
Many thanks for your comments and I will take those on board. I will initially try and keep to the larger roads I think. Thanks again
if you want to practice then just go to the Antas Industrial area and drive round the roads minimal traffic most of the time but plenty of corners and roundabouts to go up and down. This is how I got my confidence when we first arrived here.
Sally66 wrote on Thu Nov 4, 2021 7:27am:
Thank you so much for your reply. What you have said is very helpful. Maybe I will pluck up the courage. Do you know if there are similar companies like enterprise car club where I can rent a car and have a local collection and drop off bay?
Hi Sally I don't know of any car hire companies locally that drop off and collect a hire car, but as you are in Vera town you could get the bus to Costa coches on Mojacar Playa (the bus stop is right outside their office). If you collect it out of "rush hour" you could drive up and down the paseo a few times until you feel confident enough to venture further. I found it helpful at first to know where I was going so I was only concentrating on driving and not looking for road signs as well. Happy motoring.
JAS wrote on Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:29am:
Hi Sally I don't know of any car hire companies locally that drop off and collect a hire car, but as you are in Vera town you could get the bus to Costa coches on Mojacar Playa (the bus stop is right outside their office). If you collect it out of "rush hour" you could drive up and down the paseo...
Read more...
... a few times until you feel confident enough to venture further. I found it helpful at first to know where I was going so I was only concentrating on driving and not looking for road signs as well. Happy motoring.
Thanks so much for your ideas and I think I will definitely be doing that. Sounds great!
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:27am
Hello All
We are researching the Vera area to purchase a holiday home.
Can you please advise pros and cons of living in Vera.
Many thanks in advance
Jen
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