 | | | | | Hungary General Driving Information Directions, Restrictions and Rules, Safety, Motorists' Forum | | | | Overview | | | General Info Motorways and main routes in Hungary tend to be in good condition but don't be surprised to find that some of the roads have a very rough, gravel surface. There are eight main routes in Hungary that are designated by a single digit system; seven of them pass through the capital of Budapest. Secondary roads are indicated by two or more digit numbers. These roads traverse Hungary's countryside, mineral spas and lush farmlands. Requirements To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge. Seatbelts are mandatory. Child safety seats are mandatory up to age 3. There is no permissible blood alcohol level in Hungary. INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE IS MANDATORY!! Speed Limits Speed limits in Hungary are as follows: City 31mph/50kph Open Roads 55mph/90kph Highways 74mph/120kph Rules of the Road Traffic travels on the right and streetcars and buses always have the right of way. Motorists stopped for a traffic violation must pay the fine, on the spot, in the national currency. Fuel Fuel stations are open from 6am to 8pm and most stations along the expressways are open 24 hours. Tolls The Motorway companies’ task is the operation, maintenance and construction of the expressway network in Hungary. This is comprised of 650 kilometres of motorway, 205 kilometres of clearways and highways (which are comprised of highways serving as expressways, highways with expressway features later converted to expressways, and highway sections with expressway features) as well as 188 kilometres of junction point sections, 52 kilometres of roads leading to rest areas, and 106 rest areas. The use of 69.8% of the supervised roads is tied to a fee, while 30.8% can be used free of charge. Quite often the roads are marked only by the word "matrica" which is what they call the windshield sticker. When you enter a toll road you have to stop at a gas station and purchase a "matrica" or sticker. The sticker can be purchased in increments of 4, 9, 1month, and year. They do not sell a one day sticker. Parking Most of the main tourist areas have free parking. Parking is permitted on the right-hand side of two-way streets and on both sides of one-way streets. | | Car Rental Restrictions | | General Information Most car categories can be driven anywhere in Western Europe without restriction. Due to insurance regulations, there are restrictions on luxury car categories and on travel in certain countries. Auto Europe has special rental programs for driving into other Eastern Europe countries. Please take a minute to ensure that your intended itinerary will be possible with the car you plan to rent. Restricted Countries Cars rented in Hungary are not allowed into the following countries: Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. NOTE: For an additional fee, travel into some of the aforementioned Eastern European countries may be arranged for specific car categories with advance notice. One-Way Rentals Domestic one-way rentals are free of charge with some restrictions. There are fees for international one-way rentals and not all vehicles are allowed. | | Useful Terms | | Gasoline - benzin Diesel - gazolaj dizel Motor oil - olaj Gas station - benzinkut Toll - vam Toll road - vamkoteles ut Parking - parkolo Highway - autopalya Exit - eltavozas Entrance - bemenetel Detour - kervlo ut Hospital - korhaz Police - kozrendor Police station - rendorseg Embassy - nagykovetseg | | General Driving and Safety Tips | The first thing you may notice when driving in a foreign country is that the roadway signs are different. In many countries, the speed limit is posted in kilometers, and warnings will be written in the country's native language. Sometimes, speed limits are not posted at all, and drivers will travel much faster than the driver is accustomed to traveling. Depending on what part of the world you are driving in, you may find that travellers drive on the left-hand side of the road and that the steering wheel is located on the right-hand side of the car. Check to see if the country where you will be driving requires mandatory equipment in the vehicle. Frequent mandatory items include: first aid kit, reflective warning triangle, reflective vest, spare fuses and light bulbs, fire extinguisher. It may be wise to practice driving in a less populated area before you try to drive in a foreign city at rush hour. Know your route of travel. Chart your course of travel before you take to the road, and keep a good map with you. Always have at least one-half tank of gas. Make sure that the lights, signals, horn, and brakes work properly. Avoid driving after dark, especially in rural areas. Always park in places that have good lighting. Always use safety belts. Some countries have penalties for violation of seat belt laws. After exiting or entering the car, lock the doors. In many countries, driving while under the influence is a very serious crime that could result in severe criminal penalties. Never drink and drive. Avoid riding motorcycles. If you do ride a motorcycle, make sure you wear a helmet. Obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry your IDP and your both, the National and the International, driver's license with you at all times. Look at maps and plan your route thoroughly. Check for online maps and route planning systems. Research the roads you’ll take. You’ll especially want to know if you’ll be traveling through areas of major road construction. Ensure the maps you are using are up-to-date. Check the roads before you go!Make estimates of travel times along the route, so you’ll have an idea when you’ll be at certain points on your trip. This will help you to plan rest and meal stops. It will also help you plan to avoid traveling through a major city or area of road construction during rush hour.Get the car checked, especially the filters, belts, fluid levels and have the oil changed. Don’t wait until the last minute, it may take time to get an appointment and parts may need to be ordered. You also want some time to drive around town and make sure that whatever they fixed stays fixed.Check the condition of your wiper blades. Check the operation of your turn signals, brake lights as well as the high and low beams. Examine the tread on your tires. Make sure your car is prepared for the weather it will encounter on your trip. Today, many cars have alloy wheels instead of hubcaps. These wheels usually have a lock to prevent them from being stolen. If you have a car with wheel locks, make sure you know where the key is stored (often with the jack). Otherwise, a flat tire will become a major problem since you won't be able to get the wheel off the car. Get your car cleaned. You’ll feel better in a clean car.Pack an emergency kit in your car. Include motion sickness medication if anyone in your group suffers from it. Remove any items from the car that you won’t need on your trip.Prepare some on road entertainment for your trip. Include games and CDs of music and/or audio books. Check your plates, registration and insurance information to make sure they are all valid. Be sure to place your insurance company’s emergency contact number in your car.Check your insurance for expiration dates and coverage for your automobile. Safety First Seat Belts: No matter where you are driving, it is imperative that you wear your seat belt. Almost all countries this is a strict law, but aside from that seatbelts are there to save your life, so make use of them. Avoid the temptation of road rage. Honking and yelling at the drivers around you is probably more likely to make someone get out their tire iron than to help get traffic moving. Be patient. Drive carefully and slowly in wet and windy weather. If possible, stop and wait for the weather to settle down. Fully service your car before leaving and ensure everything is running correctly. Local Regulations It is wise to learn in advance the rules and regulations of the country to which you are traveling. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than they are at home. Exercise good judgment and remember that some countries have a "zero tolerance" policy with severe penalties for those driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Drug violations, firearms possession, photography of government or military installations, and antiques purchases are frequent cause of detention by local authorities. | Driving Directions. Road Maps. Interactive "zoomable" Country Maps. | | Australia and New Zealand . Europe . Middle East . North America . South America | |
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