International Driving Permits/Licences

[Max Samuels]

I think the rental car companies' policies say that IDP is not required if your license is written in Roman script and the country you are going to also uses roman script. So we can drive in Italy, France etc with just our licences. But if you go somewhere that doesn't use Roman script, like Japan, they might insist on it. Japan does. In fact, I just got my IDP for when I go skiing in Hokkaido in February!

But yes - I tend to agree its a total rip-off on behalf of the auto clubs.

 

[KevinR]

I haven't bothered with an International Driving Licence for, oh, 30 years or so and thought they were irrelevant these days with photo national drivers licences. But reading this story from OMaaT, maybe they are still required for car hire in some places. Looks like Japan is a definite one.

Getting An International Driving Permit

Here's what you need to know about applying for an International Driving Permit, which is required to drive in many countries.

onemileatatime.com

What countries have you been positively asked for an International Drivers Licence when hiring a car?

Spain is a must. I rented in Ireland....never asked me for it!

 

[JohnM]

Spain is a must. I rented in Ireland....never asked me for it!

I've rented plenty of times in Spain, but some years ago, and never been asked for an IDP.

Are you saying the requirement is being imposed in a widespread way in Spain now?

 

[RooFlyer]

Spain is a must.

I've rented plenty of times in Spain, but some years ago, and never been asked for an IDP.

Same same. Maybe 10 times, no IDP.

 

[KevinR]

I've rented plenty of times in Spain, but some years ago, and never been asked for an IDP.

Are you saying the requirement is being imposed in a widespread way in Spain now?

I rented in Madrid from Thrifty (owned by Hertz) and it was one of the first questions asked. Maybe with smaller companies things may be a bit more relaxed

 

[opusman]

Even if the rental agency doesn't ask for it, how do you know the cop won't when you're pulled over for a random check or get into an accident?

 

[JohnM]

I've always used Avis in Spain and never asked for an IDP. But, as I said, some years ago. 2011 was probably the last time.

 

[KevinR]

I worked 15 years in car rental. Only time I ever asked for an IDP was when the licence was in a language I couldn't read

 

[drron]

Well I'll have an IDP when I hire a car in Spain next year.Well really because I will be driving in Japan before going to Spain.

 

[Max Samuels]

I just received mine in the mail yesterday!!! Just as I remember them from 20 years ago! A coughpy bit of paper that folds out into 3 sections, the print almost unreadable because it is a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy...... and they just stuck my photo on and transcribed a couple of things!!! My name, DOB, and licence type (e.g. CAR).

What a joke....

 

[Michenny]

I haven't bothered with an International Driving Licence for, oh, 30 years or so and thought they were irrelevant these days with photo national drivers licences. But reading this story from OMaaT, maybe they are still required for car hire in some places. Looks like Japan is a definite one.

Getting An International Driving Permit

Here's what you need to know about applying for an International Driving Permit, which is required to drive in many countries.

onemileatatime.com

What countries have you been positively asked for an International Drivers Licence when hiring a car?

Have hired a camper jjn Germany 8 times and have never been asked for a IDL. Have never been pulled over in 8 Countries.

 

[trooper]

So I can drive with my DL only in the USA and Canada? Rather sad.

Who suggested that? Like many (most?) my understanding is that IDL's are only required when the license uses a different alphabet (or syllabary) from the country being visited.

 

[DC3]

I would be concerned as to whether there may be any insurance issues, should there be an accident. Could not possessing a valid IDP ever be any issue?

 

[get me outta here]

The news just said that the young schooli unconscious in Bali after a scooter accident has no insurance due to not having and "IDP".
Is this a change from just needing a motobike/scooter licence in Aus?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

The news just said that the young schooli unconscious in Bali after a scooter accident has no insurance due to not having and "IDP".
Is this a change from just needing a motobike/scooter licence in Aus?

I’m often seeing wording like this in a PDS:

“If you are the rider of a motorcycle, scooter or moped with an engine capacity greater than 50cc you must hold a current Australian Motorcycle Licence valid for the same class of motorcycle, regardless of the local laws and a licence valid for the country that you are riding in.” (My bolding)

I’m not a lawyer... but I take the bold part to be a possible reference to an IDP (mainly on the basis that it would be unreasonable to expect a tourist to hold an *actual* licence in the visited country). So if I’m going to be riding, I always take an IDP - I’d hate to need to claim on the policy, but be excluded just because I didn’t have one...

 

[get me outta here]

That’s the way to do it. The kid in question is very unwell it doesn’t sound too promising. So now they’ve got at least $100,000 bill for the parents. As I said once before, if it was schoolies week and it was overseas the passport would’ve been confiscated much earlier.

I’m often seeing wording like this in a PDS:

“If you are the rider of a motorcycle, scooter or moped with an engine capacity greater than 50cc you must hold a current Australian Motorcycle Licence valid for the same class of motorcycle, regardless of the local laws and a licence valid for the country that you are riding in.” (My bolding)

I’m not a lawyer... but I take the bold part to be a possible reference to an IDP (mainly on the basis that it would be unreasonable to expect a tourist to hold an *actual* licence in the visited country). So if I’m going to be riding, I always take an IDP - I’d hate to need to claim on the policy, but be excluded just because I didn’t have one...

 

[Max Samuels]

The news just said that the young schooli unconscious in Bali after a scooter accident has no insurance due to not having and "IDP".
Is this a change from just needing a motobike/scooter licence in Aus?

That sounds a bit dodgy....

 

[amaroo]

That sounds a bit dodgy....

What part?

 

[drron]

Heard the boy's father on radio yesterday and he said the insurance company would not cover the accident as his son did not have an IDP.
So no trouble renting but do you want to risk having no insurance?

 

[DC3]

... the insurance company would not cover the accident as his son did not have an IDP.
So no trouble renting but do you want to risk having no insurance?

Well, what a surprise. Sad that things turn out this way. Although, I guess some people (effectively) self-insure and take the risks.

Edit: Having never been asked to produce an IDP is the least of my worries, when it comes to insurance issues