International Driving Permits/Licences

[TheRealTMA]

The issue is Australia, Canada, the United States and a number of other countries do not have stringent enough licensing requirements to bring them up to the requirements of the Vienna Convention (which provides for a 3 year validity permit). Ratifying the Vienna Convention would mean each Australian State would have to change its licensing requirements to conform to the requirements of the Vienna Convention. For instance, there would need to be endorsements for specific types of vehicles not otherwise classified in the existing schemes set out by the individual state governments:
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Only 88 countries have ratified the Vienna convention most of them European Union countries which by law must comply with these regulations to stay in compliance with relevant EU legislation.

-RooFlyer88

FWIW My QLD digital licence has an option to show international categories on the licence display.

 

[ethernet]

FWIW My QLD digital licence has an option to show international categories on the licence display.

MY friend arrived at SA, having rented the car before leaving at a good rate/. When he tried to collect they wanted 3-4 times the amount already paid. All day taxi rates were reasonable.

 

[SYD]

That's today but what about applying for a driver's license in Australia in 1949? Was the validity 5 or 10 years? Part of me suspects it was less. The reason why it's limited to 1 year and not longer is because Australia is a signatory to the Geneva Convention and not the Vienna Convention. Indeed most countries in the world have ratified the Geneva Convention which stipulates this 1 year validity (and was created in 1949). Back in 1949 I think the idea of driving internationally overseas in a foreign land was quite the novel concept, and the thought that you would need to have a permit that last more than a year was unheard of. I mean if the ferry boat takes you several weeks to get to Australia, and several weeks back, it's not like you have much time to go out exploring.

1949 is hardly relevant to current licences….

Anyway, NSW “paper licences” used to be 1 yr. We went to 5 yr licences a while back and then 10 yr. But there’s a max age to get a 10 yr one. I’ve never had one and never will now….

Even 2yrs or life of DL (like a US ESTA) would be better.

Anyway, it is what it is.

Plenty of peeps never get one. But some don’t get TI also. The poo hits the fan when you need them….

 

[kangarooflyer88]

1949 is hardly relevant to current licences….

Anyway, NSW “paper licences” used to be 1 yr. We went to 5 yr licences a while back and then 10 yr. But there’s a max age to get a 10 yr one. I’ve never had one and never will now….

1949 is relevant for the discussion because the Geneva Convention which was the last driving convention Australia signed was created in 1949. So there is a lot of language in the treaty that has exceeded its use by date. If Australia wanted to, they could go to 3 years provided they ratify the Vienna Convention of 1968. But that will require updating licensing laws in the several states and territories to comply with it.

For instance do all states and territories require drivers pass both theoretical and practical driving tests to receive a license?

Plenty of peeps never get one. But some don’t get TI also. The poo hits the fan when you need them….

 

[Scarlett]

Was looking at my IDP last night whilst packing for a current trip. I notice it only has a date of ‘being scammed ’ by the NRMA on the front and nothing obvious about expiry. It was produced more than a year ago, but I’ve packed it for this trip anyway. Only have hire cars booked in countries with English as the main language so shouldn’t have any need to show it anyway.

What got me thinking, based on other posts up thread, is how many languages does it actually have in the booklet. I think it was about 10 and I don’t recall Korean. How can it be used as an official language reference if that language is not featured?

 

[p--and--t]

Many years ago, the first time I drove a rental was in Samoa. I did not have an IDL.

The rep said no problem and made a phone call. A few minutes later a police officer picked me up and drove to the station.

$10 and after signing a form he gave me and I was good to go for the rest of my 10 day holiday driving around the islands.

 

[Brissy1]

FWIW My QLD digital licence has an option to show international categories on the licence display.

Wow so it does. I wonder whether the qld licence is now actually an id licence. A sticking point (as mentioned in the disclaimer) being some jurisdictions don't accept digital.

Edit... the grammar mistake in the 2nd last sentence makes it look like a scam!

 

[Denali]

Re car hire and driving in the UK.

Can someone please confirm that aussies dont need a international drivers license and can use our aussie license? Its been a while so just checking and thank you

I see we now need a ETA for the UK so things have changed

 

[SYD]

Re car hire and driving in the UK.

Can someone please confirm that aussies dont need a international drivers license and can use our aussie license? Its been a while so just checking

I see we now need a ETA for the UK so things have changed

Not required. But do check the rental companies requirements.

Normally only required in countries where English isn’t the official language (and oddities like the Province of Quebec).

 

[drron]

Re car hire and driving in the UK.

Can someone please confirm that aussies dont need a international drivers license and can use our aussie license? Its been a while so just checking and thank you

I see we now need a ETA for the UK so things have changed

Not needed one for all my rentals from avis,Hertz,Alamo or Sixt.

 

[prozac]

Todays tomato crop.

Not needed one for all my rentals from avis,Hertz,Alamo or Sixt.

In the '70s I avoided a number of fines in the UK whenever I produced my IDL. I was only young.
Could be viewed as an investment.

 

[Flashback]

Re car hire and driving in the UK.

Can someone please confirm that aussies dont need a international drivers license and can use our aussie license? Its been a while so just checking and thank you

I see we now need a ETA for the UK so things have changed

Not needed.

 

[VPS]

Re car hire and driving in the UK.

Can someone please confirm that aussies dont need a international drivers license and can use our aussie license? Its been a while so just checking and thank you

I see we now need a ETA for the UK so things have changed

Not needed but you may get some jumped up hire car employee that disagrees. For the cost and peace of mind I’d get one

 

[SYD]

Not needed but you may get some jumped up hire car employee that disagrees. For the cost and peace of mind I’d get one

No, definitely not required for the UK and you’re very unlikely to be ever asked for one by a rental company in the UK.

In countries where necessary (generally non-English speaking), the IDP is something between you and the local Constabulary - if you’re interacting with them.

 

[jastel]

Never been asked for one but usually take one.
Because I know the ONE time I dont....

The one time I got pulled over in USA the cops words were
"What the Bleep is that I want your license!"

I agree it should last as long as your license does.

 

[aplmac]

Re car hire and driving in the UK.

Can someone please confirm that aussies dont need a international drivers license and can use our aussie license? Its been a while so just checking and thank you

I see we now need a ETA for the UK so things have changed

IDL not required, however, you will need to take your physical DL with you as in my UK hiring experience they don't accept digital licenses. (They thought my NSW digital DL was quite impressive, but it doesn't scan!)

 

[SYD]

IDL not required, however, you will need to take your physical DL with you as in my UK hiring experience they don't accept digital licenses. (They thought my NSW digital DL was quite impressive, but it doesn't scan!)

and usually PP!

 

[Lockyer Man]

Interestingly one thing I learned from my experience in Estonia was that the main point of the IDP isn't a language translation (even though this is one of its functions) - it's a class of licence translation. Australia isn't a party to the 1968 Vienna convention on road traffic and Australian licences don't have the standardised category codes which indicate what type of vehicles you are licenced to drive.

More info here: International Driving Permit - Wikipedia

The above statement is actually not correct. Since the digitisation of some Australian State driving licences, you can opt to show you licence details in accordance with the International Driving Permit which indicates your relevant driving classes in the internationally recognised class codes with a visual depiction of the vehicles it relates to.

I have used my Qld driving licence in the international format for a long time travelling to many different countries using this without a problem as the licence then meets all international proforma requirements.

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:13 PM

google will give you the answer

Google isn’t always correct

 

[SYD]

The above statement is actually not correct. Since the digitisation of some Australian State driving licences, you can opt to show you licence details in accordance with the International Driving Permit which indicates your relevant driving classes in the internationally recognised class codes with a visual depiction of the vehicles it relates to.

I have used my Qld driving licence in the international format for a long time travelling to many different countries using this without a problem as the licence then meets all international proforma requirements.

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:13 PM

Google isn’t always correct

Unfortunately, NSW digital DLs currently don’t support that feature…

 

[Lockyer Man]

Unfortunately, NSW digital DLs currently don’t support that feature…

That’s a shame. Maybe they will in the future as it has saved me from purchasing an IDP lately.