Practical guide
First time driving a right-hand-drive car
The new seating position changes your view of the road and the far side of the car. Give yourself a stationary setup routine before combining unfamiliar controls with left-hand traffic.
By the Leftside team · Updated
- Driving position
- Driver sits on the right
- Main adjustment
- Judging the car’s left edge
- First task
- Set up the car while parked
Set the seat, mirrors and controls before moving
Adjust the seat so you can reach the pedals fully and steer comfortably, then set the mirrors for that position. Locate the parking brake, gear selector, hazard lights, headlights and demister. Ask the rental staff to demonstrate anything unclear. Use this as a handover checklist, not something to work out at the first traffic light.
Test the indicator and wiper controls while stationary; stalk placement varies by model. Do not assume it changes solely because the steering wheel is on the other side. Tourism Australia’s Tourism Australia: driving in Australia introduction also highlights the unfamiliar controls visitors may encounter.
Confirm the transmission you actually received
The accelerator is on the right of the brake. A manual also has a clutch to the left; the gear lever is usually operated with your left hand in a right-hand-drive car. Check the actual shift pattern, reverse selection and parking procedure with the rental staff.
In an automatic, use your right foot for the accelerator and brake and keep your left foot resting away from the pedals. If you booked an automatic to reduce the number of unfamiliar tasks, resolve any mismatch at collection. Learning a new transmission at the same time as a new road system adds another job to every junction.
Judge the whole car, not just your seat
On an ordinary two-way road with left-hand traffic, the driver’s seat is nearer the centre line and the passenger side is nearer the left edge. This is a useful orientation cue, but it does not apply to every one-way or divided-road layout. Follow the actual lanes and markings.
Look ahead along the lane and use your mirrors to check position when appropriate. Avoid moving left simply to put your seat where it felt familiar in a left-hand-drive car. That can crowd the kerb or verge. Get help from a qualified local instructor if you cannot judge the car’s width reliably.
Give the first few turns your full attention
Set navigation before moving and identify the lane you will enter at the depot exit. Use a short, uncomplicated first route. After a fuel or coffee stop, take a moment to identify the left-hand side again before rejoining traffic.
If you want physical familiarisation before joining the road, ask the rental company or an instructor where it is permitted. An apparently empty car park can still have pedestrians and other vehicles. Make any real practice lawful, insured and suitable for your ability.
Explore the viewpoint before collection
Try Leftside’s lane-position lesson, switch to the cockpit with C and compare it with the follow view. The game uses an automatic car; it cannot teach clutch control, actual pedal feel or the dimensions of your rental. Read your destination guide alongside this vehicle checklist, because seating position and local road rules are separate things to learn.