How long does an International Drivers Licence last?

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Wot?

Oh, that's right - Spanish¡

Yes, many speak Spanish also

 

[maninblack]

How can they tell if it is expired - mine from RACV has no issue or expiry date on it

Correct. The whole thing is a scam. Why is it valid only one year, it should be concurrent with your actual license. But these rubbish documents don't even carry your actual drivers license number. Just keep carrying your old one if your worried in any way. Stamp the front of it yourself "Expires 2023" As if the Albanian policeman who pulls you over and can't speak more than 3 words of English is going to read the fine print inside the front cover that makes some meaningless statement about one year. As if he cares anyway. Three decades of driving overseas in at least 20 countries and never been asked to produce one. But as always YMMV

 

[Berlin]

Correct. The whole thing is a scam. Three decades of driving overseas in at least 20 countries and never been asked to produce one.

Couldn't agree more. Just a way to make money- to foreign coppers, the normal Aussie driver's license looks much more real and official anyway! And for Thailand or Indonesia, it's probably best just to roll your Aussie license in a bank note

 

[trentusjuventus]

I agree that is it a scam as well, but a well implemented one with the insurance companies in tow as well. As many have said previously, while the police officer who pulls you over might not care about it, the insurance company (travel or rental) will happily deny your claim on the grounds that you did not have an international license. While this may be slightly annoying is you've scraped a bumper in a parking lot, things could get a whole lot worse if you were in an accident where you or someone else were injured. Also unlicensed driving can automatically make you at fault even if you were not in the wrong.
I know that here in Taiwan you definitely need a motorcycle license from your home country, and an IDP to legally ride a motorcycle or scooter, and a car license/IDP for a driving a car or scooter, but again (as with many Asian countries) legally driving and actually driving are two different issues.

 

[fairhsa]

Anyone who thinks the license is a scam or not needed has clearly never tried to hire a car in Korea. My husband and I had booked the car and given our license details but husband lost his interntional drivers license. He had a valid HK license, a valid UK license, a valid Australian AND a valid NZ license with him (we've lived in many countries). NONE of these was acceptable and in the end I had to drive.

Similar story in Japan last week.

But you want to know something really fun? We hired a car in Cairns using our (written in Engish) HK licenses last year, and Europcar INSISTED on having an International License! I didn't have mine, and my Aussie license had expired, but luckily my NZ license had about 2 weeks left on it. That worked.

Yes they are a pain to renew, but they can save an awful lot of hassle at the car hire counter.

 

[RAM]

Anyone who thinks the license is a scam or not needed has clearly never tried to hire a car in Korea. My husband and I had booked the car and given our license details but husband lost his interntional drivers license. He had a valid HK license, a valid UK license, a valid Australian AND a valid NZ license with him (we've lived in many countries). NONE of these was acceptable and in the end I had to drive.

Similar story in Japan last week.

But you want to know something really fun? We hired a car in Cairns using our (written in Engish) HK licenses last year, and Europcar INSISTED on having an International License! I didn't have mine, and my Aussie license had expired, but luckily my NZ license had about 2 weeks left on it. That worked.

Yes they are a pain to renew, but they can save an awful lot of hassle at the car hire counter.

I've been hiring cars in the UK, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland regularly since 1995 and never once been asked for one. Being cautious, I rang the hire car depot in France (Normandy in 1995) and asked. They said not required despite then Aust Govt advice (over phone) saying they were. When turned up in July 95 sure enough not required.

 

[BringBackY2K]

We have just returned from UK, Czech, Poland and Spain. Not once were we asked for the IDL nor were any rental staff interested when they were presented.

I agree that they should be issued for the same period as our current license? Rental companies want to see your actual drivers license so no issue if someone's license is cancelled.

RACQ charged us $39 each and for what? It's more expensive than the real thing !!

 

[kempvet]

I have driven in the Ukraine and Russia, the IDL seemed to be an essential for the car rental there, this was 2009

 

[drsmithy]

Only driven in english speaking countries, (including USA), I got one for the first trip but never again.

Slightly off topic, I still have the old style laminated Qld licence, it is current, and at a museum in Germany you were supposed to leave your ID when you got an audioguide.
The guy would not accept it, he said it was a childish forgery and I had to leave $50 euro.
I agree with him totally but wasnt paying again for a pretty new one until it expires.

Does your QLD license have the even dodgier renewal sticker on the back of it ?

Last time we were in the states (month or so ago) my wife and I were carded at a bar and all we had with us were our QLD licenses. The bartender took them both, looked at us and went to talk to his manager. Eventually got the drinks without a problem, but he did say the only reason they let it fly was because a) neither of us looks under 21 and b) despite both of them looking like, as you said, childish forgeries, two of them together lends a bit more authority to the situation.

The other thing I find that always gets the yanks is the order of month and day in the date. Especially since my birthday is the 13th.

I've rented cars in numerous countries throughout Europe and also in the US and never needed an international permit - even with my dodgy looking QLD license.

 

[AndyQB]

There was a change to Florida law earlier this year that made an IDP compulsory, as reported in the UK's Independent in February, but it will not now be enforced:

Quote:
Last month Florida's legislature broke ranks with the other 49 American states and made it [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, serif]mandatory for overseas visitors to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP)[/FONT] as well as their national licence. Earlier this week, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles warned that any British driver who broke the new rule would face a mandatory court appearance and possibly jail.
...
But last night officials in Florida said that while the law would remain on the statute, drivers who broke it would not be punished.
The department said: “The Florida Highway Patrol will defer enforcement of a law that requires visitors from outside the United States to have an International Driving Permit to drive lawfully in Florida”.

Source: (can't post link, but URL contains these words) british-holidaymakers-in-florida-embroiled-in-bureaucratic-bungling-as-theyre-told-theyll-need-international-driving-permit--but-wont-be-punished-if-they-dont-have-one

 

[klavdy]

Aussie issued IDP last one year from date of issue.

The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic make for gripping long haul reading.
If the two above tomes don't put you to sleep, what will?
You'll need an IDP in countries that have not signed and vice versa, people from those unsigned countries usually need an IDP to drive in the signatory nations.
For example,China and Indonesia are not signatories, that's why you need to get an IDP or sometimes (Indonesia) you'll have to, ah, buy a local licence.
[h=1][/h]
[h=1][/h]

 

[ellen10]

We have always purchased and IDL. Last year in Arras France (north west) we hired a car through Avis, we had to produce our international drivers licence. Not sure what would have happened if we didn't have one.

 

[tim374]

The other thing I find that always gets the yanks is the order of month and day in the date. Especially since my birthday is the 13th.

My NSW license has my DOB in the format "xx NOV 19xx". That should solve any Yanks who can't work it out.

 

[UP4014]

Never been asked for one by a rental car company, never been asked for one by the police in several countries when pulled over.

never bothered with one since 1991.

Matt

 

[djd]

I also needed one for a Hertz hire in Bangkok last month.

 

[serfty]

Hmm, I'm doing two Florida rentals next month - looks like I'll better fork out the $35 ... just in case ...

 

[prozac]

Had one when I lived overseas in the '70's. I was asked to produce it on 4-5 occassions in the UK. Each time the plods had no idea what it was even after reporting back to HQ on their radios only told to let me go with a warning.

I recently investigated hiring a car in Denmark where an IDP is not required. The Danish hire car company (I think it was DanskAutoRent ) said it required production of an IDP and that failure to hold one could void the vehicle insurance. As I would be driving in Germany also where an IDP is required this did not bother me particulalry.

Essentially the IDP is required where Englsh is not generally spoken and it is an interpretation into the local lingo of your Aussie licence. Of note is that you must produce your Aussie licence together with the IDP for the IDP to be considered valid. Some will respond that they have never been asked for the Aussie licence when showing the IDP and I will not argue with what you have experienced. Just stating what the rules outline. Do with it what you wish. I never carry an IDP in Netherlands as it is not required as in many other EU countries.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

As mentioned you may find it a condition of your insurance and/or rental agreement.

 

[prozac]

As mentioned you may find it a condition of your insurance and/or rental agreement.

Yes agreed, part of the conditions of hire. I usually beg and borrow in Netherlands.

 

[kempvet]

I have driven in the Ukraine and Russia, the IDL seemed to be an essential for the car rental there, this was 2009.
Just like to add to this, when I was driving a friends car without my IDL there was a simple procedure to avoid any problems, a simple on the spot $10US donation to the officers Christmas fund avoided any issues and I was free to continue on my way.