Driving in the US as a UK driver: what to practise before your trip

A general familiarisation guide · Last updated 19 July 2026

An American road trip is one of the great drives — but for a UK driver it means switching to the right, and the change is more than symmetrical. Everything you do without thinking, from your first glance at a junction to where you place the car, was learned on the left. The good news is that the cars are almost all automatic and the roads are wide and forgiving, so once the side switch clicks the rest tends to fall into place. A little rehearsal beforehand does most of the work.

What's the biggest change for UK drivers?

The US drives on the right, so you'll sit on the left of the car, and the nearest oncoming traffic now comes from the opposite side to the one you've watched for all your life. That reversed first look is the reflex most worth rebuilding — it bites hardest at quiet moments, like pulling out of a car park or stepping off a kerb on foot. We cover the core habits of switching to the right in our guide to driving on the right as a UK or Australian driver, so this page focuses on what's specifically American about the roads themselves.

Will your rental be an automatic?

Almost certainly, and it's a real advantage. Automatics are the norm in the US, so there's no clutch and no gear-hand to relearn — one fewer new thing while you're adjusting to the other side of the road. Rentals also run large by British standards, and so do the roads, so the extra width is more friend than foe. Pickups are easy at any major airport; take a parked minute to get used to sitting on the left and reaching for mirrored stalks before you pull away.

What are American roads like?

Big and, mostly, easy. Interstates and freeways are wide, multi-lane, and gently graded, with exits on the right; traffic moves in a relaxed, spread-out way compared with a British motorway. Towns and cities are often laid out on a grid, which makes navigation refreshingly logical once you trust it. The flip side of all that space is that vehicles are larger — pickup trucks and SUVs are everywhere — so give yourself room and time to judge gaps that feel different from home. Distances are long enough that fatigue deserves respect on a full day's drive.

Which junctions will catch you out?

A few things differ from what you know. Roundabouts are rare, so most junctions are traffic lights or stop signs — including the four-way stop, where several roads meet and each vehicle takes its turn; exactly how priority is resolved there is worth reading on official guidance rather than guessing. Traffic signals are often mounted on the far side of the junction rather than at the stop line, which takes a moment to get used to. And some rules, such as whether you may turn at a red light, differ from state to state, so always check the official guidance for wherever you're driving.

How should you prepare?

Put your effort into the switch itself, because the American road environment is forgiving once you're on the correct side. A few short sessions on the mirrored reflexes — which side to be on, pulling out onto an empty road, and above all looking the right way first — cover the part that's a genuine habit change. The wide roads, big vehicles, and unfamiliar junctions you meet gently on the day; keep your speed sensible and check official guidance for anything rule-specific. Our guides to the first 30 minutes with a rental car and how long it takes to adjust cover what to expect once you land.

Remember that this is general familiarisation guidance, not driving instruction or a substitute for the official rules of your destination. Always check local guidance and drive within your ability.