Scotia, New York, located just outside of Schenectady, gets incredibly cold in the winter. Snow buries the entire upstate New York area every winter due to the weather coming off the nearby Great Lakes, making it one of the snowiest parts of the continental United States. In other words, you might be looking to get out of Scotia come winter, maybe on an international trip to somewhere warm. So if this is your plan, or you’re just heading out of the country from Scotia, New York any other time of the year, and you’re planning on driving in this foreign destination, you should consider a few things.

First off, research whether you can drive in your ultimate destination with just your American driver’s license. Each country has different rules about drivers and their licensing requirements. Many require foreign drivers to have an International Driving Permit, or IDP, which can be purchased for a small fee from the National Auto Club or AAA. You must also be 18 to obtain an IDP.

Yet when it comes to auto insurance, international coverage usually can’t be done through your insurance provide in the United States. Of course, there are a few exceptions. For travels to South America, Asia, Europe or most anywhere else, coverage will need to be obtained from an independent insurance company that specializes in insuring those who drive abroad, like the Depaulo Agency, who serves the Scotia, New York area.

Considering the nature of insurance is to protect you from the unforeseen and unpredictable things in life, there is no better time to have an auto policy when driving internationally. You never know what to expect on these types of adventures, which is exactly why you are going on it in the first place. That, and to escape the cold.