- Unusual driving laws from World Cup 2026 nations
- Where is it illegal to hang your arm out of the window?
- In which country do sheep get priority?
- And has Spain really banned driving shirtless?
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Don’t drive shirtless, never hang your arm out of a car window, and always give way to sheep - these are some of the world’s weirdest driving rules.
The Top 13 list has been compiled by leading UK lease company Select Car Leasing and focuses on the nations competing in this summer’s World Cup.
There are unusual laws to be found in the World Cup host nations - United States, Canada and Mexico - that might trip up unsuspecting visitors.
Meanwhile World Cup debutants Curaçao boast some potentially head-scratching laws when it comes to roundabouts.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, said: “The UK has its own weird driving quirks - from an obsession to queuing instead of merging, to narrow rural roads which somehow have a 60mph speed limit - so it’s good to see other nations following suit with their own eccentricities!”
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Australia - hanging your arm out of the window
According to the National Transport Commission Regulations 2006, it’s illegal to hang any body part - including your arm or hand - out of the window of a moving vehicle.
Rule 268 states: “A person must not travel in or on a motor vehicle with any part of the person’s body outside a window or door of the vehicle, unless the person is the driver of the vehicle and is giving a hand signal.” So, no dangling your arm in the breeze on a hot summer’s day - unless you want a fine of around $350, depending on the state.
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Germany - don’t run out of fuel
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann will be hoping his side don’t run out of gas in the group stages. And in Germany, running out of fuel on the autobahn could see you fined up to 70 Euros. Laws prohibit ‘unnecessary’ or ‘avoidable’ stopping on the highway - and letting the tank run dry could be seen as avoidable driver error by police.
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Spain - driving shirtless
Driving shirtless in Spain could potentially get you in trouble with the law. While not specifically illegal, the country’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) frowns upon shirtless driving as it might compromise your ability to operate the car safely while also leading to friction injuries in the event of a crash.
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United States - not allowed to pump your own fuel
The New York New Jersey Stadium, located in East Rutherford, NJ, will host the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19th, and is also the venue for a slew of group games - including Panama v England on June 27th.
But New Jersey is the only US state where you can get into trouble for attempting to dispense your own fuel - something motorists take for granted here in the UK.
It’s legislated by the 1949 Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act and is there to increase safety while protecting the jobs of service attendants.
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Canada - the ‘two bells’ rule
While not a rule that impacts most motorists, in Ontario, Canada - which is among the trio of host nations - taking to the road in a horse-drawn sleigh or sled without at least two bells fitted is a bizarre traffic violation… for which you can be fined around $5.
While archaic, the law is still present in the Highway Traffic Act 1990.
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Mexico - bans based on number plates
In World Cup host nation Mexico, authorities ban cars from entering parts of Mexico City and other locations based on their number plates.
The ‘Hoy no Circula’ programme (aka, ‘today these vehicles don't circulate’) is an effort to reduce pollution and is strictly enforced. Offenders face heavy fines and can even have their vehicle confiscated. If you’re hiring a car in Mexico to take to World Cup games, check to see if the rules apply.
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Germany - can you really drive naked?
Often repeated as a fact, it’s true that there’s no German law (contained in the Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung, or StVO) which specifically bans driving naked. But there’s no rule that expressly allows it, either, so you could still be committing a public order or indecency offence.
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New Zealand - sheep have right of way
In New Zealand, drivers may have to stop while thousands of sheep or cattle are herded along public roads, with stock drovers temporarily controlling traffic. Official guidance from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi states that if animals are on the road motorists should ‘slow down or pull over to the side of the road’, should never ‘sound your horn or make a noise that could frighten the animals’, and always ‘follow any advice the farmer may give you’.
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Sweden - headlights always on
Sweden will be hoping to shine bright in Group F against rivals Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. And if you’re driving in the Scandinavian country, you must drive with your headlights (dipped beam or daytime running lights, if your car has them) at all times, even in broad daylight. It’s a law that has been strictly enforced since 1977 to improve safety and attracts a fine of up to £90.
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South Korea - motorbike ban
Ex-Spurs forward Son Heung-min will look to accelerate South Korea through the group stages. But in his home nation, all motorcycles (except police bikes) are banned from all motorways and car-only highways - no matter how powerful the bike’s engine is. Instead, bikers have to use smaller regional roads instead to get around.
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Czech Republic - zero tolerance on drink driving
You can legally drink a world-famous Czech beer - but you cannot legally drive afterwards, even if you've only had one. The Czech Republic's zero tolerance 0.0% blood alcohol content limit is strictly enforced and even a low reading can result in a £850 fine.
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Curacao - reverse roundabouts
Curacao, managed by veteran coach Dick Advocaat, is heading to its first ever World Cup Finals this summer.
A quirk of the nation’s driving rules sees roundabout priorities (at some junctions) working in reverse. Rather than traffic already on the roundabout having priority, preference is instead given to cars entering from the right, much to the confusion of visiting tourists. Local signage will tell you when that applies.
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Japan - splashing pedestrians
Japan takes an extremely dim view of motorists who splash pedestrians when driving through puddles. You can be prosecuted for it here in the UK under careless or inconsiderate driving rules. But in Japan, the Road Traffic Act specifically talks about slowing down when driving through mud or dirty water. The standard fine is around £100.
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