How long does an International Drivers Licence last?

[kingbaz]

I'm sure when i rented car for two weeks in Germany 2011 from Europcar, that actually told me they did not recognize the International drivers license. They were actual more interested in the passport as i had booked online and left the passport at the hotel. Had to go back and get it as they were interested in no other document other than sighting my passport.

 

[prozac]

I'm sure when i rented car for two weeks in Germany 2011 from Europcar, that actually told me they did not recognize the International drivers license. They were actual more interested in the passport as i had booked online and left the passport at the hotel. Had to go back and get it as they were interested in no other document other than sighting my passport.

Europecar were protecting their investment by wanting to confirm who you were. An IDP is not a form of identification, merely a translation of your Australian licence and then not legal on it's own.

 

[shifty]

In my experience, I have never needed one in any EU country, for hire or insurance purposes... I only ever use and produce my WA license with no issue.

 

[prozac]

In my experience, I have never needed one in any EU country, for hire or insurance purposes... I only ever use and produce my WA license with no issue.

Good on you.

 

[kingbaz]

Europecar were protecting their investment by wanting to confirm who you were. An IDP is not a form of identification, merely a translation of your Australian licence and then not legal on it's own.

Agree prozac, just highlighting that there was never any requirement to show a license of any type, just wanted my passport which i found bizzare.

 

[prozac]

Agree prozac, just highlighting that there was never any requirement to show a license of any type, just wanted my passport which i found bizzare.

Just making sure their car did not end up re-birthed in Turkey.

 

[Hvr]

I can say from experience that you will need an IDP when driving in Japan. I was driving at the Toyota test driving area at Odaiba and they insisted on viewing my IDP.

 

[kingbaz]

Just making sure their car did not end up re-birthed in Turkey.

Just glad i got to experience the autobahn before Merkel drops the speed to 60kph

 

[Hvr]

Just glad i got to experience the autobahn before Merkel drops the speed to 60kph

What a load of tish.

 

[kingbaz]

What a load of tish.

Obviously humour is not your strong point Hvr, or should i have put lol at the end

 

[maninblack]

Wow. These are probably the most dodgy 'documents' I have ever seen. I had not looked at one for a few years and a mate just showed me his. It doesn't carry any reference to a license number or the issuing authority of the original license so what is it actually good for? It is claimed to be a translation document but it isn't a translation of anything. According to the 'document' my friend is permitted to drive motorcycles, trucks and buses because the nong who issued the 'document' has not excluded these, this is not consistent with his licence which is only for cars! It says in fine print it is valid for only one year and cost it $35. It is issued by a desk clerk at an auto club WTF. This is a rort of the worst kind and a total nonsense. Time for the government and the ACCC to take a look into this and pull the plug on it.

 

[basso]

Wow. These are probably the most dodgy 'documents' I have ever seen. I had not looked at one for a few years and a mate just showed me his. It doesn't carry any reference to a license number or the issuing authority of the original license so what is it actually good for? It is claimed to be a translation document but it isn't a translation of anything. According to the 'document' my friend is permitted to drive motorcycles, trucks and buses because the nong who issued the 'document' has not excluded these, this is not consistent with his licence which is only for cars! It says in fine print it is valid for only one year and cost it $35. It is issued by a desk clerk at an auto club WTF. This is a rort of the worst kind and a total nonsense. Time for the government and the ACCC to take a look into this and pull the plug on it.

Dodgy looking for sure. But there is some sort of UN treaty behind it all, so pulling the plug may not be so simple.

 

[maninblack]

Dodgy looking for sure. But there is some sort of UN treaty behind it all, so pulling the plug may not be so simple.

Fortunately quite simple.

Article 32 This Convention may be denounced by means of one year's notice given to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall notify each signatory or acceding State thereof. After the expiration of this period the Convention shall cease to be in force as regards the Contracting State which denounces it.

 

[Mal]

Fortunately quite simple.

Article 32 This Convention may be denounced by means of one year's notice given to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall notify each signatory or acceding State thereof. After the expiration of this period the Convention shall cease to be in force as regards the Contracting State which denounces it.

Nothing involving the UN is 'simple'.

 

[jetlagger]

Nothing involving the UN is 'simple'.

Bureaucracy relating to the UN maintains thousands of global postings & employment for the 'privileged" ones.

 

[maninblack]

It would be Australia or any other nations sovereign decision to withdraw but more complicated to move ammendments. It's antiquated for sure and I wonder how the Auto Clubs ever got their hands on this when clearly the appropriate authority would be Vicroads or the RTA (and equivalents). Why have the auto clubs been given a license to print money, they are not responsible authorities as per the convention, they are in fact not authorities at all. Do they pass any of the revenues back to the government? Anyway the whole thing is ridiculous in 2013.

 

[bazoukka]

The international driver licence is a waste of time. All it is, is a translation of your current valid driver licence. These days most countries speak and read English, therefore you Aussie licence is all you need. It is not a legal requirement for you to hold one to drive overseas. Car hire companies ask for you actual licence when u hire a car and not your international one because the international driver licence is not a legal document.

 

[here2go]

It would be Australia or any other nations sovereign decision to withdraw but more complicated to move ammendments. It's antiquated for sure and I wonder how the Auto Clubs ever got their hands on this when clearly the appropriate authority would be Vicroads or the RTA (and equivalents). Why have the auto clubs been given a license to print money, they are not responsible authorities as per the convention, they are in fact not authorities at all. Do they pass any of the revenues back to the government? Anyway the whole thing is ridiculous in 2013.

In the UK they are £5.50 from the RAC, AA or PostOffice, plus maybe £5.50 Postage. US Fees are USD15 plus any applicable postage. Quite cheap compared with Australia. Maybe it is about time the Australian Automobile Association, as represented by the State and Territory Associations and Clubs, lost their power to charge some quite ridiculous fees.

 

[Mal]

The international driver licence is a waste of time. All it is, is a translation of your current valid driver licence. These days most countries speak and read English, therefore you Aussie licence is all you need. It is not a legal requirement for you to hold one to drive overseas. Car hire companies ask for you actual licence when u hire a car and not your international one because the international driver licence is not a legal document.

Be careful with advice like this. It is an individuals responsibility to ensure they can legally drive in a country. And as has been pointed out previously some rental companies will insist on seeing it, plus it is illegal to drive in some countries without it.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html

 

[whatmeworry]

Be careful with advice like this. It is an individuals responsibility to ensure they can legally drive in a country. And as has been pointed out previously some rental companies will insist on seeing it, plus it is illegal to drive in some countries without it.

IDP requirements by country | AA

Strange this article reckons I needed one for hiring a car in Croatia. The hire company never asked me for one, the cops never asked for one, the border officials between Croatia and BiH never asked me for one.

Friends that live in Croatia have kept their Aussie drivers licenses and never have been asked for a IDP.