International Driving Permits/Licences

[SYD]

This summary from Choice might be of some help

What you need to know about driving overseas | CHOICE

Which countries accept an Australian driver's licence? Do you need an International Driving Permit for your trip? Plus, we look at travel insurance for car hire overseas.

www.choice.com.au

though I don't like waffle like "In some other countries it's recommended you carry an international permit, as it may be a requirement to rent a car".

but before that bit “you'll need an International Driving Permit for Austria, Greece, France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Armenia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania.” relating to Europe.

This is an issue between you and Constable Plod…

 

[Brissy1]

but before that bit “you'll need an International Driving Permit for Austria, Greece, France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Armenia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania.” relating to Europe.

This is an issue between you and Constable Plod…

Yes you have to comply with stupid rules, like this, (unless you think you can get away with it which I don't recommend trying in a foreign country!). Just don't like the... You don't need one but get one just in case.... type of recommendation.

 

[SYD]

Yes you have to comply with stupid rules, like this, (unless you think you can get away with it which I don't recommend trying in a foreign country!). Just don't like the... You don't need one but get one just in case.... type of recommendation.

As mentioned up thread. You don’t need Travel Insurance until you do.

But yes, IDPs are a scam in this day and age. Unlike TI - that’s very real when the poo hits the fan. I have zero sympathy for Karen stuck in Bali because they didn’t have TI.

 

[Brissy1]

As mentioned up thread. You don’t need Travel Insurance until you do.

But yes, IDPs are a scam in this day and age. Unlike TI - that’s very real when the poo hits the fan. I have zero sympathy for Karen stuck in Bali because they didn’t have TI.

OT but Yes, then asks for charity by gofundme. Should join a boat via Ashmore Reef. A relative was the consul there, boy they were busy. Queues every morning before opening.

 

[VPS]

Interesting letter in the Age

I was interested to read Michael Gebicki’s article about the need for an international driver’s licence (Traveller, October 16). In Korea, we wanted to rent a car. Having travelled in many parts of the world and rented vehicles without anyone ever looking at our international licences, we did not get one this time. We were completely unable to rent a car in Seoul without such a licence. Fortunately, the owner of the Icon Hotel where we were staying had accompanied us to the rental company and drove us back to the hotel. In less than 40 minutes, he and a reception desk clerk had organised a six-day tour of Korea using public transport, trains and buses. An hour and half after we had been refused the car rental, we were on a fast train. Our trip around Korea by public transport was easy and fantastic.
Diana Kincaid, Glenorie, NSW

 

[SYD]

Interesting letter in the Age

I was interested to read Michael Gebicki’s article about the need for an international driver’s licence (Traveller, October 16). In Korea, we wanted to rent a car. Having travelled in many parts of the world and rented vehicles without anyone ever looking at our international licences, we did not get one this time. We were completely unable to rent a car in Seoul without such a licence. Fortunately, the owner of the Icon Hotel where we were staying had accompanied us to the rental company and drove us back to the hotel. In less than 40 minutes, he and a reception desk clerk had organised a six-day tour of Korea using public transport, trains and buses. An hour and half after we had been refused the car rental, we were on a fast train. Our trip around Korea by public transport was easy and fantastic.
Diana Kincaid, Glenorie, NSW

Unusual for a hire car company (well, at least the majors) to ask to see a IDP but the police would ask for one if pulled over (in a non English speaking country / Province).

Picking up an AVIS car in Salzburg the other day, I wasn’t even asked for a PP (just DL).

 

[Cynicor]

Unusual for a hire car company (well, at least the majors) to ask to see a IDP but the police would ask for one if pulled over (in a non English speaking country / Province).

Picking up an AVIS car in Salzburg the other day, I wasn’t even asked for a PP (just DL).

Depends on the country. You won’t get a car in Japan without one.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Depends on the country. You won’t get a car in Japan without one.

^This

The purpose of the international drivers permit is to provide a translation of your license into various languages so it could be understand globally by nations adhering to the Geneva Convention. So yes your Aussie license may be fine in the U.S. or Canada, the UK, South Africa and maybe even France but if you’re going to countries whose official language ain’t yours don’t count on them understanding much less accepting your license. Heck there has even been cases of Canadians being arrested and thrown in jail in the U.S. after a traffic stop because the officer (incorrectly) believed that Canadian licenses aren’t accepted in the U.S. (they are thanks to a compact signed between the two countries ages ago):

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-woman-arrested-jailed-in-u-s-for-driving-with-a-canadian-licence-1.4648561

 

[bam71]

We always have one …. Just in case

 

[prozac]

Unusual for a hire car company (well, at least the majors) to ask to see a IDP but the police would ask for one if pulled over (in a non English speaking country / Province).

Picking up an AVIS car in Salzburg the other day, I wasn’t even asked for a PP (just DL).

Ah, but if you are pulled up in Germany without the Australian IDL equivalent that is an additional fine.

 

[SYD]

Ah, but if you are pulled up in Germany without the Australian IDL equivalent that is an additional fine.

Yes, I know. That was the gist of my comment.

The purpose of the international drivers permit is to provide a translation of your license into various languages so it could be understand globally by nations adhering to the Geneva Convention. So yes your Aussie license may be fine in the U.S. or Canada, the UK, South Africa and maybe even France but if you’re going to countries whose official language ain’t yours don’t count on them understanding much less accepting your license.

Yes, as reiterated multiple times up thread but it’s nothing to do with English proficiency - just what the official language is.

France and Quebec Province require an IDP (Canada being a real oddity). But I was asked to show one in South Africa…

Otherwise, any country that doesn’t have English as it’s official language technically requires an IDP to drive legally.

 

[Cossie]

I tried to show Avis staff mine in both Luang Prabang and Vientiane, not interested.

It's $50, not a real biggie imo, but as usual ymmv.

I was stopped in Sweden many years ago when I was driving a truck. Showed the policeman my ACT paper drivers licence held together with sticky tape. He said "ls that it? It is the most inferior quality license I have ever seen!" We were driving north so it was way up past Umea on the E4, ahhh, good days.

 

[SYD]

It's $50, not a real biggie imo, but as usual ymmv.

My only compliant is the arbitrary 12mth validity.

Why can’t it be for the life of the DL?

The one I produced in Sth Africa had actually expired. I just happened to have it in my travel docs folder…the officer didn’t care. She seemed surprised I had one.

 

[prozac]

My only compliant is the arbitrary 12mth validity.

Why can’t it be for the life of the DL?

The one I produced in Sth Africa had actually expired. I just happened to have it in my travel docs folder…the officer didn’t care. She seemed surprised I had one.

Drove on mine in the 1970s for nearly 5 yrs. Back then you'd get pulled over in UK, show your license and they were buggered. "Wot's this?" "On yer way" I was immune from tickets. Terrible attitude now I think back.

 

[kpc]

Depends on the country. You won’t get a car in Japan without one.

Yup!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

My only compliant is the arbitrary 12mth validity.

Most likely has something to do with the Geneva Convention which has fairly strict definitions for things (and little wiggle room). Then again, if it weren't for the convention, we'd all be confused driving internationally.

Why can’t it be for the life of the DL?

Take a step back for a second. Generally speaking two things need to be valid for one of these to be issued: first a driver's license and second a passport. If either is expired then it's a no go. So now you have to ask yourself how long can you reasonably have a IDL valid for? Theoretically 5 years in the best case (that assumes you get your IDL on the date you get your new DL and your passport is valid for 5 years or more). You also must appreciate that different countries will have different validities for licensing purposes. In Ontario it's 5 years, I'm not sure what it's like elsewhere in the world but wouldn't be surprised if there are jurisdictions where it is less than that.

The one I produced in Sth Africa had actually expired. I just happened to have it in my travel docs folder…the officer didn’t care. She seemed surprised I had one.

When I was renting a car in JoBurg I had the IDP but the Avis agent didn't care, they were more than happy processing things with my Ontario license.

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Most likely has something to do with the Geneva Convention which has fairly strict definitions for things (and little wiggle room). Then again, if it weren't for the convention, we'd all be confused driving internationally.

Take a step back for a second. Generally speaking two things need to be valid for one of these to be issued: first a driver's license and second a passport. If either is expired then it's a no go. So now you have to ask yourself how long can you reasonably have a IDL valid for? Theoretically 5 years in the best case (that assumes you get your IDL on the date you get your new DL and your passport is valid for 5 years or more). You also must appreciate that different countries will have different validities for licensing purposes. In Ontario it's 5 years, I'm not sure what it's like elsewhere in the world but wouldn't be surprised if there are jurisdictions where it is less than that.

In the context of Australians - this is AFF. Most DLs are max 10 yrs. 5 yrs common.

Life of DL was specific to issuing IDPs in Oz. But yes, there’s probably a rule.

When I was renting a car in JoBurg I had the IDP but the Avis agent didn't care, they were more than happy processing things with my Ontario license.

I’ve never been asked at rental office. In SA, it was the police at a road check.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

In the context of Australians - this is AFF. Most DLs are max 10 yrs. 5 yrs common.

That's today but what about applying for a driver's license in Australia in 1949? Was the validity 5 or 10 years? Part of me suspects it was less. The reason why it's limited to 1 year and not longer is because Australia is a signatory to the Geneva Convention and not the Vienna Convention. Indeed most countries in the world have ratified the Geneva Convention which stipulates this 1 year validity (and was created in 1949). Back in 1949 I think the idea of driving internationally overseas in a foreign land was quite the novel concept, and the thought that you would need to have a permit that last more than a year was unheard of. I mean if the ferry boat takes you several weeks to get to Australia, and several weeks back, it's not like you have much time to go out exploring.

 

[TheRealTMA]

My only compliant is the arbitrary 12mth validity.

Why can’t it be for the life of the DL?

The one I produced in Sth Africa had actually expired. I just happened to have it in my travel docs folder…the officer didn’t care. She seemed surprised I had one.

It’s a rip off. Should be for life of the original DL, and one wonders in reality if it isn’t valid for the life of the DL no matter what it says. Not being g a legal document, how can it only have a 12 month validity when the underlying legal DL is valid.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It’s a rip off. Should be for life of the original DL, and one wonders in reality if it isn’t valid for the life of the DL no matter what it says. Not being g a legal document, how can it only have a 12 month validity when the underlying legal DL is valid.

The issue is Australia, Canada, the United States and a number of other countries do not have stringent enough licensing requirements to bring them up to the requirements of the Vienna Convention (which provides for a 3 year validity permit). Ratifying the Vienna Convention would mean each Australian State would have to change its licensing requirements to conform to the requirements of the Vienna Convention. For instance, there would need to be endorsements for specific types of vehicles not otherwise classified in the existing schemes set out by the individual state governments:


Only 88 countries have ratified the Vienna convention most of them European Union countries which by law must comply with these regulations to stay in compliance with relevant EU legislation.

-RooFlyer88