The hardest places in the world to drive

Learning to drive is a difficult task when first starting out, with many rules and regulations you need to follow in order to drive safely. But how difficult is driving abroad? A new country, new rules and new steps to follow to get from one place to the next - not to mention you could be driving on the other side of the road than you're used to.

In the UK, the driving wheel is located on the right hand side of the vehicle, whereas in most other European countries and the US, the wheel is on the left hand side. Furthermore, there might be different rules when it comes to factors such as traffic lights - for example, in the USA, since 1980 all 50 states have laws permitting you can turn right on a red light unless there is a clear sign - so you will need to make sure you read up on the road rules before driving in your desired country. 

Many people choose to drive abroad with some common searches worldwide being ‘how old do you need to be to drive abroad’ which is up 100% over the past 12 months on Google searches. Also, on the social media app TikTok #drivingabroad currently has over 2.7 million views, with people on the lookout for some tips whilst driving abroad.   

That’s why we at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have looked into a variety of data points, including rainfall per city, time spent in rush hour traffic, fuel prices and the average travel time per 10 km, to help you better prepare for your next adventure and minimise any stresses when driving in a new country. 

Brussels takes the top spot as the hardest city to drive in, with an overall score of 23 out of 100. In Brussels, the average person spends 236 hours in rush hour a year, with the average speed during this time being 12.4 mph. Not only that, the fuel prices in this city are a whopping £6.60 per UK gallon which is definitely on the pricier end of the scale. Brussels is also used to quite a lot of rainfall, as the average precipitation per year is 986.24mm, which could result in a more difficult drive due to slippery roads. 

To drive in Brussels, visitors must be 18 years or older and you must have the following licences and documents with you at all times while behind the wheel: driving licence, car papers, insurance paper, MOT or ‘contrôle technique’ certificate and passport or ID of those of you and your passengers. Additionally, in this city you drive on the right side of the road, overtake on the left and children under 1.35m must be seated in a child seat or restraint, or in the rear of a car with a seat belt.  

When it comes to driving in Mexico City there are a few road rules to be aware of. Mexico is an open range country so animals tend to roam freely in the countryside, so take caution when you are driving at night as they may be difficult to see. It’s also worth noting that you will need to bring documentation with you, such as a valid driving licence, passport and proof of insurance. The legal driving age is 18 and wearing a seatbelt is mandatory for all passengers and drivers. 

When choosing to drive in Mexico City, it’s best to be prepared. Our study ranked the city as the second hardest place to drive in the world as the average person will spend 244 hours in rush hour per year at an average pace of 11.8 mph. Surprisingly, Mexico City also sees a huge volume of precipitation each year - 1170.49mm, which can make driving conditions less ideal. 

Manila in the Philippines is a great place to visit for breathtaking views and exciting activities, including the Manila Ocean Park and Rizle Park. In our study, Manila ranked as the third hardest city to drive in, with over 1,300 monthly driving related searches. Driving in general seems to be hard in this city, but adding rain into the mix will make it a whole lot harder and could affect your driving performance. Our study found that there is on average 2366.6mm precipitation per year. Additionally, the average person spends 10 days of the year (241 hours!) in rush hour traffic. 

In the Philippines, it’s worth noting that everyone is required to drive on the right side of the road and all cars must be left-hand drive, which is unlike a lot of countries where both right and left-hand cars are allowed. Cars and motorcycles have to follow the 80 km/hr speed limit on open country roads without blind corners, or 50 km/hr speed limit for buses and trucks. If you are driving through a school zone, crowded streets or similar dangerous circumstances, all vehicles are only permitted to travel at 20 km/hr. And to avoid any penalty fees in this city, don’t overtake or pass a vehicle, obstruct any traffic or drive/park on a sidewalk.

Dublin is a popular destination for tourists with heaps to do on your visit, from a pub crawl starting at ‘The Temple Bar’, to visiting the Kilmainham Gaol Museum. However, when planning to drive in Dublin, it’s best to prepare as it ranks as the fourth hardest city to drive in, with a score of 30 out of 100. The fuel prices in Ireland are one of the most expensive, costing £6.40 per UK gallon and drivers in Dublin also spend an average of 277 hours in rush hour per year with the average speed being only 10.6 mph. 

Like most countries, driving in Ireland means you will need to wear a seatbelt at all times and drink driving is illegal and results in charges/fines. To drive in this city you need to be 17 years old and driving licences issued in the UK, EU and EEA countries are accepted.

Rounding off the top 5 in our study is Jakarta in Indonesia, scoring 32 out of 100. Indonesia follows international driving rules where drivers are required to drive on the left side of the road. In Jakarta, you are also urged to carry a fluorescent safety vest, a warning triangle, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle, so make sure you check these four things before setting off.

In Jakarta, the average person spends 214 hours in rush hour per year at an average speed of 13.7 mph. Not to mention this city also has the most precipitation per year out of all 15 cities analysed - 3033.4mm!

London ranks as the sixth worst city to drive in with an overall index score of 37 out of 100. Following closely behind is New York City where the worst factor for driving is the rain - the average precipitation is 1200.96mm per year. Luckily, New York City has one of the cheapest fuel prices out of all cities analysed, only costing £3.60 per UK gallon. 

Krakow, on the other hand, which ranked next in our rankings with an overall index score of 41 out of 100, has a high fuel price of £5.60 per UK gallon. However, this city spends an average of just 208 hours in rush hour per year - the lowest of the top 10 cities!

Two European cities round off the top 10 hardest cities to drive in with Paris, France ranking in ninth with an overall score of 42, followed by Rome scoring 44 out of 100. In Paris, one of the main things to consider is the amount of time the average person spends in rush hour per year, 246 hours, so be sure to travel outside of these hours when driving to the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe. 

Interestingly, the top five cities with the most expensive fuel are all based in Europe, with Rome, Italy ranking as the most expensive in our study - costing an average of £7.186 per UK gallon, so you might want to put some fuel money aside ahead of your travels. 

Paris ranked as the second most expensive city for fuel, costing £6.961 per UK gallon followed by Zurich at £6.701, Brussels at £6.582 and London rounding off the top 5 costing on average £6.495 per UK gallon.

We also uncovered the cities which have the slowest speed during rush hour so you can avoid driving in these places during the busiest times. 

London came out on top with the average speed in rush hour being 8.7 mph, closely followed by Dublin with an average speed of 10.6 mph. Mexico City and Paris both have an average speed of 11.8mph, followed by Brussels at 12.4 mph, completing the top five.  

On average, drivers in London spend almost 14 days in rush hour traffic each year (325 hours). This was followed by Dublin, with the average driver spending 277 hours in rush hour per year and in third place is Paris at 246 hours. Outside of Europe and ranking in fourth place is Mexico City, with the average resident spending 244 hours in rush hour per year and Manila rounded off the top five at 241 hours. 

There are so many benefits to driving abroad when travelling to other countries - you get to explore all the city has to offer from the comfort of your own car, you won’t be reliant on public transport timings and it may even work out cheaper. 

Be sure to read up on road laws, ensure you have a good sat nav/map and all other documentation needed before you head out on your trip. Try to avoid rush hour traffic as much as possible when on holiday and make sure you’re choosing the best car for you and/or your family's needs. 

You can also read our top tips for city driving to get you prepped for your next adventure so you can have a stress-free experience.

To determine the hardest places to drive we analysed the most visited cities for tourism from worlddata.info and then used the below factors giving them a giving them a weighted ranking for an index score out of 100:

• Average monthly search volume for roads in each city
• Average monthly driving related searches for country 
• Average travel time per 10 km
• Time spent in rush hour per year 
• Average  speed in rush hour (mph)
• Fuel price (GBP per UK gallon)
• Average precipitation (mm per year)