International Driving Permits/Licences

[Max Samuels]

So nothing about requiring a valid driving licence?

No. The rental car company requires a valid license. The insurer requires a contract with a rental car company. I suppose the assumption on their part is that the rental car company won't rent to you unless you have a license? I have recent experience in this regard.... a few years back in France I crashed a rental car and was slugged the $4000 excess. When I made the claim back in Australia the insurance company just asked for the rental agreement and the "proof" that I was charged the excess, which in this case was a credit card statement. They didn't ask me to provide my license to them. And I didn't have an IDP either

 

[opusman]

No. The rental car company requires a valid license. The insurer requires a contract with a rental car company. I suppose the assumption on their part is that the rental car company won't rent to you unless you have a license? I have recent experience in this regard.... a few years back in France I crashed a rental car and was slugged the $4000 excess. When I made the claim back in Australia the insurance company just asked for the rental agreement and the "proof" that I was charged the excess, which in this case was a credit card statement. They didn't ask me to provide my license to them. And I didn't have an IDP either

Depends on your policy I guess. This is from the BankWest Mastercard policy (one I happened to have to hand):

 

[Max Samuels]

Depends on your policy I guess. This is from the BankWest Mastercard policy (one I happened to have to hand):

View attachment 199093

Yeah mine says the same with regard to motor cycles - I think the confusion is around "you hold a licence valid in the relevant country" - what does that mean? It certainly does not say IDP. And it cannot mean you have to get a motorcycle license from the local DMV or whatever? Or does it? It would be good to get clarification about this

 

[drron]

Though in some countries eg Japan your Australian licence is only valid if you have an IDP.In otheres the IDP is needed if you get a ticket or have an accident though you can still rent a car etc.
As Indonesia is not an English speaking country it is likely that is the case there.

 

[opusman]

I think the confusion is around "you hold a licence valid in the relevant country" - what does that mean? It certainly does not say IDP.

It means what it says. Valid in the relevant country. If the relevant country says "your Aussie licence is no good without an IDP" then if you don't have an IDP you don't have a valid licence there.

 

[get me outta here]

I don't think it's worth the quibble, just do it.

 

[ozfflyer]

driving all over the world for last 40 years & have never ever been asked for IDL, even in countries that don't speak english, as main language.

& the good thing about any fines, can simply throw them away in all countries IIRC, except Germany, where red light / speed cameras get charged back to rental car companies, who of course have your credit card & simply charge it

 

[get me outta here]

For me, the issue that I am concerned about now would be the TI as per the young man's father who was told no IDP, no TI for an unconscious kid.

driving all over the world for last 40 years & have never ever been asked for IDL, even in countries that don't speak english, as main language.

& the good thing about any fines, can simply throw them away in all countries IIRC, except Germany, where red light / speed cameras get charged back to rental car companies, who of course have your credit card & simply charge it

 

[ozfflyer]

For me, the issue that I am concerned about now would be the TI as per the young man's father who was told no IDP, no TI for an unconscious kid.

TRAVEL INSURANCE ? What has that got to do with renting a car ?

 

[get me outta here]

Quoting you, "driving all over the world for last 40 years & have never ever been asked for IDL, even in countries that don't speak english, as main language. ".

TRAVEL INSURANCE ? What has that got to do with renting a car ?

 

[drron]

driving all over the world for last 40 years & have never ever been asked for IDL, even in countries that don't speak english, as main language.

& the good thing about any fines, can simply throw them away in all countries IIRC, except Germany, where red light / speed cameras get charged back to rental car companies, who of course have your credit card & simply charge it

Also in the UK ,US and of course Australia.
Don't try and hire a car in Japan-no IDP,no car.

 

[Scarlett]

To lighten the mood a little: how I got my Indonesian drivers license (or SIM - Surat Izin Mengemudi).
There were about 50 of us foreigners (on our Bahasa Indonesia course) taken out to the Kompleks Polisi and effectively made to go through the written test and practical driving test. We'd paid our 250K rupiah or so each, which guaranteed we were getting the license, irrespective of anything else. So the machine readable multiple choice answer sheets didn't match up with the question sheets and no one even looked at the answers (I just coloured in a, b, c, then d sequentially down the page...) anyway.
Then it was outside to 'view' the practical driving test, where two or three guys got to do a parallel park and that was it. Wait another hour for the licences and we were done.

So I don't need an IDP to drive in Indonesia... like most things, it's not what you know, it's who you know, and how much you pay them!

 

[Max Samuels]

It means what it says. Valid in the relevant country. If the relevant country says "your Aussie licence is no good without an IDP" then if you don't have an IDP you don't have a valid licence there.

Not particularly helpful. Can you share an example of where it says this? We have examples of what the rental car companies say (they say when an IDP is required), and what the insurance policies say (doesn't mention IDP), but not of this 3rd mysterious rule. Very strange. Seems to only relate to motorbikes too. Surely someone on this forum is of a legal background and can speak to this?

 

[Max Samuels]

Here are a couple of choice links I think everyone will enjoy....

Firstly, rental terms from Hertz (just selected it at random)

Rental Terms

"At the time of rental the driver must present a valid national driver's license which has been held for at least 1 year, provided your national driver's license is in Roman script.

All licenses issued in the European Union are accepted.

All other licenses in Roman Script are accepted for renting, however, an International Driving Permit is highly recommended as you may be required to present it to the authorities.

With all Non-European Union driver's licenses not in Roman Script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory"

Now here is the official AAA website that says which countries require an IDP....

International Driving Permits - Australian Automobile Association

The AAA and its member clubs are the only authorised distributors of IDPs in Australia for Australian driver licence holders.

www.aaa.asn.au

which is hilarious as it says the USA is "recommended" and that every European country I looked up says "Yes"

As many people have posted on this forum, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, USA never require an IDP. I have been pulled over by cops in France and the USA and they never asked for an IDP. I have been issued speeding fines in other countries and they didn't ask for an IDP.

So the question is, who or what is the authority as to whether an IDP is required? Not the police or the rental car agencies it seems....

 

[Max Samuels]

And in the USA it is determined by each state... California for example doesn't require one - explicitly says so

Driver's License or ID Card Online Renewal - California DMV

It’s important to renew driver’s licenses (DLs), identification (ID) cards, and provisional instruction permits before they expire.

www.dmv.ca.gov

 

[Max Samuels]

Also in the UK ,US and of course Australia.
Don't try and hire a car in Japan-no IDP,no car.

Of course - it's a non-Roman script country...

 

[drron]

Of course - it's a non-Roman script country...

I was replying to the post about fines automatically being sent to the rental agency.

 

[opusman]

Not particularly helpful. Can you share an example of where it says this?

I already did.

 

[opusman]

As many people have posted on this forum, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, USA never require an IDP.

Not correct. Italy does, for example. Just because a cop doesn't ask for one doesn't mean another cop won't.

Honestly, if the $40 is too much for you just keep on taking the risk. One day it'll bite you on the bum and you'll regret it.

 

[Max Samuels]

Not correct. Italy does, for example. Just because a cop doesn't ask for one doesn't mean another cop won't.

Honestly, if the $40 is too much for you just keep on taking the risk. One day it'll bite you on the bum and you'll regret it.

I do have an IDP - just got one recently for Japan because I know that you need it there. Just like I know that you don't need one in California - the state government website explicitly says you do not.

I have rented lots of cars in Italy. Even crashed one. Never been asked for an IDP. Insurance paid out the car. So where does it say that an IDP is required? This is not a trick question - can you point to an official website or document issued by the Italian Government that says such?

I think that we can at least agree on the fact that the rules surrounding the need for (or not) and IDP are unclear at best!