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Q&A
Reader-submitted and editor-curated questions about driving abroad. Every editorial answer cites at least one primary government source. Reader posting opens soon — sign in via the link above to be notified when it does.
About these answers — the questions and answers below are written by the Drive This World editorial team. They are not scraped from other sites. Each carries a date and citation; check the source before relying on legal facts. Got a question we should add? Tell us.
🇺🇸 United States
Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the US?
I have a driving license from my home country but the rental company keeps mentioning an IDP. Is it actually required by law?
licensingrentalsidpReviewed 2026-05-02I got a parking ticket in a US rental car. What happens next?
I parked in the wrong zone in San Francisco for 20 minutes. Found a ticket on the windshield. Do I pay it directly, or does the rental company handle it?
rentalsparkingfinesReviewed 2026-05-02Can I bring cannabis from a legal US state into Canada (or vice versa)?
Cannabis is legal in Washington and Canada. I am driving from Seattle to Vancouver. Can I bring some across?
customscannabisborderReviewed 2026-05-02
🇯🇵 Japan
Can I bring my Adderall / Vyvanse / ADHD medication into Japan?
I take Adderall daily. I have a US prescription. I am visiting Tokyo for two weeks. Can I just bring my normal supply?
customsmedicationsjapanReviewed 2026-05-02Why is the STOP sign in Japan a triangle, not an octagon?
I am driving in Hokkaido and I keep treating the red triangles as "yield" signs because that is what they look like in my country. Are they actually full STOP signs?
signsjapanrulesReviewed 2026-05-02Do I need JAF or AAA membership to rent a car in Japan?
I am visiting Japan for a road trip around Hokkaido. Several travel forums mention JAF — is it required, or just nice to have?
rentalsidpjapanReviewed 2026-05-02
🇰🇷 South Korea
How do tolls work for foreign drivers in South Korea (Hi-pass)?
I am renting a car in Seoul and driving to Busan. The expressway tolls I read about all reference Hi-pass — is there a way to use it as a tourist?
tollskorearentalsReviewed 2026-05-02How serious is the fine for speeding in a Korean school zone?
I drove through a school zone in Seoul at what I thought was a normal speed. Should I worry about cameras?
speed-limitskoreafinesReviewed 2026-05-02
🇨🇦 Canada
Why does Quebec post ARRÊT instead of STOP, and is it legally the same?
Driving from Ontario into Quebec I noticed all the stop signs say ARRÊT. Are they enforced the same as English-Canadian or US stop signs?
signscanadaquebecReviewed 2026-05-02Are winter tires legally required to drive in Canada?
I am renting a car in Toronto in February and might drive into Quebec or up to Whistler. Do I need to specify winter tires when reserving?
canadawinterrentalsReviewed 2026-05-02
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