International Driving Permits/Licences

[Jacques Vert]

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?

Well as I said back at post 169:

I would suggest that you also check with your travel insurance company...It would be a bummer if you had an accident and you were not insured because of a clause in the T & Cs

 

[DC3]

Well as I said back at post 169:

Exactly. As a number of us have said ....

 

[DC3]

There are a few AFFers who have poo-pooed the idea of getting an IDP, especially in English-speaking countries, as though it’s all about translation issues.

Edit: ... and focusing on whether they have ever been asked for the IDP. Well, each to their own, I think the saying is.

 

[amaroo]

Well as I said back at post 169:

Indeed. Bali, moped and tragedy was first raised in post #66 .... very sad, but a very common occurrence.

 

[Max Samuels]

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?

I just read the PDS of my insurance policy and it doesn't mention IDP at all... .

This is what it says it WON'T cover:

rides a motorcycle: i) without wearing a helmet; and ii) without having a valid licence as required in Australia and in the country of travel for the same class of motorcycle you (or they) are operating; or iii) as a pillion passenger without a helmet;

I still don't really understand what that means but it doesn't mention IDP!

 

[Max Samuels]

There are a few AFFers who have poo-pooed the idea of getting an IDP, especially in English-speaking countries, as though it’s all about translation issues.

Edit: ... and focusing on whether they have ever been asked for the IDP. Well, each to their own, I think the saying is.

I don't think they are "poo-poo"ing anything.... with regard to Hertz, for example, their T&Cs explicitly say that IDP is only required in a country with non-roman script (eg China, Japan etc), and then the actual travel insurance.

Here is the excerpt from the insurance policy:

"We will pay you for the rental vehicle insurance excess if you rent a vehicle from a rental company and it is involved in an accident, is damaged or is stolen whilst in your care. We will only pay if you have a written rental agreement from a licensed rental company. "

So I interpret that as if Hertz decides to rent me a car, I am covered.
As to what I need for Hertz to rent me the car, eg min age, licence, IDP etc, that is a different matter.

 

[drron]

I just read the PDS of my insurance policy and it doesn't mention IDP at all... .

This is what it says it WON'T cover:

rides a motorcycle: i) without wearing a helmet; and ii) without having a valid licence as required in Australia and in the country of travel for the same class of motorcycle you (or they) are operating; or iii) as a pillion passenger without a helmet;

I still don't really understand what that means but it doesn't mention IDP!

Though it can be the IDP is needed for the country of travel and quite possibly that would include Indonesia/

 

[theblank]

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?

the media dont check/explain facts very well.
The kid was rejected because he didnt have a licence valid for the country that you are riding in. (as quoted in the policies)

I cant find IDP mentioned in any travel policy. For sure I havent checked them all, but any one of us have that have ever bothered, much of this stuff is the same.

An IDP wouldnt have helped him, because that alone is NOT a valid license for riding a motorbike in Indonesia. He will have needed an IDP endorsed to include motorbike, and to get that he must have an Australian motorbike license.

I'd bet his gofund me balance that he doenst have a motorbike license and thats ultimately whats cost him.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I still don't really understand what that means but it doesn't mention IDP!

When I don't understand a clause in my travel insurance policy that I think may remotely impact what I am doing or where I am going, I send them an email and ask for an explanation to my specific question. That way I have my answer in writing.

 

[drron]

the media dont check/explain facts very well.
The kid was rejected because he didnt have a licence valid for the country that you are riding in. (as quoted in the policies)

I cant find IDP mentioned in any travel policy. For sure I havent checked them all, but any one of us have that have ever bothered, much of this stuff is the same.

An IDP wouldnt have helped him, because that alone is NOT a valid license for riding a motorbike in Indonesia. He will have needed an IDP endorsed to include motorbike, and to get that he must have an Australian motorbike license.

I'd bet his gofund me balance that he doenst have a motorbike license and thats ultimately whats cost him.

Though in the interview I heard with the father he said the insurance company voided the cover because he did not have an IDP not that he did not have a motorcycle licence.

 

[DC3]

Though in the interview I heard with the father he said the insurance company voided the cover because he did not have an IDP not that he did not have a motorcycle licence.

That’s the trouble of course, insurance company says ‘No’, and then what? Contesting it through the court process could take years, and there’s no money to fight it for most, anyway.

The T&C can be very complicated, and if there’s a loop-hole not to pay out, the insurers will find it.

Edit: Although some travellers self-insure, anyway, knowingly or not. I just pray that my travel insurance will cover me.

 

[get me outta here]

If the IDP threat is real and 'stands up', it is a vital warning for many people. The unfortunate lad is now in Aus and still in a coma.

 

[ozjuice]

They are so cheap and easy to get.....Just get one.

 

[get me outta here]

The link Rooflyer posted up on page one quotes "Indonesia*" as:
* Not party to 1949 Convention: International Driving Permit Honored (see page 2). The plot thickens if a TI company knocks back a claim due to him not having an IDP.

Getting An International Driving Permit | One Mile at a Time

 

[amaroo]

Can't recall if this has already been posted. smarttraveller.gov.au strongly recommends you get an IDP...

Road safety

Whether your in a car, riding a motorbike or buzzing around town on a scooter, know the risks and take steps to stay safe on the roads.

www.smartraveller.gov.au

 

[Jacques Vert]

Can't recall if this has already been posted. smarttraveller.gov.au strongly recommends you get an IDP...

Road safety

Whether your in a car, riding a motorbike or buzzing around town on a scooter, know the risks and take steps to stay safe on the roads.

www.smartraveller.gov.au

Thanks for posting this. And to quote an appropriate comment:

Many rental companies won’t let you hire a vehicle without a valid IDP. Some insurance policies won’t cover you for an accident if you're driving a vehicle without an authorised licence.

 

[Deleted member]

I have never bothered with an IDP, that said I would never drive a motorcycle or scooter anywhere let alone SE Asia.
I will make the effort from here on in to obtain an IDP before travelling

 

[get me outta here]

I always used to get one decades ago but fell out of the habit.

 

[Max Samuels]

Though in the interview I heard with the father he said the insurance company voided the cover because he did not have an IDP not that he did not have a motorcycle licence.

So with my insurance policy I did a word search for "international driving permit" and "IDP" and nothing came up. I also and read it from front to back (40 pages). Nothing. Perhaps this kid's insurer was different?

 

[opusman]

So with my insurance policy I did a word search for "international driving permit" and "IDP" and nothing came up. I also and read it from front to back (40 pages). Nothing. Perhaps this kid's insurer was different?

So nothing about requiring a valid driving licence?