International Driving Permits/Licences

[goldenhorn]

How odd that even Hertz Italy states Australians don't need one:

At the time of rental, the driver must present a valid national driver's licence which has been held for at least 1 year. Italian citizens who hold the new European driver's licence, must also show a valid national identity card at the rental counter as proof of their residential address.​

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An International Driver's Permit (IDP) is required if your national driver's licence is not in Roman script.​

An International Driver's Permit (IDP) is also mandatory by law for non-European Union renters except for customers from the following countries who can rent with their national driver's licence and passport: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and United States.​

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Rental Terms

Yes, we heard Hertz had that in their paperwork from one of the stranded Canadians who was in the same dilemma. We rented with Avis.

 

[DC3]

I thought they were only valid for 1 year.

Yes, I think so. Even more of a rip-off.

I think that I just managed two Italy trips in just under 12 months, so was probably the same permit.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

France is one country requiring foreign drivers to have an IDP. Rental agencies don't care, but the Gendarmes on the other hand...
New Caledonia is a tough one considering they have many of their own laws, but roads are patrolled by police and gendarmes, so we always get an IDP anyway.

This surprises me.
I have hired cars numerous times in France with just an Australian drivers license.
I have also been stopped by gendarmes and several varieties of police.
For the record, Gendarmes are not exactly police, more like a domestic military force. There is no equivalent here. You won't see them doing traffic duties.
However I have been stopped by them at checkpoints near the payage (toll booths) on motorways, notably just after the terrorist attacks in Paris including the attack on the Bataclan theatre. These were security checkpoints.
I have also been stopped by the actual police in Paris, just near Chatelet, to check whether I was entitled to drive in the city that day under the pollution control laws.
I was never asked for an IDP and in all cases my Australian licence was accepted as sufficient.
Of course it may have helped that I speak French. As I recall one of the gendarmes did have some questions about my licence which I was able to answer.
But after verifying my ID they spent much longer discussing why an Australian could speak fluent French!
I did wonder how people who did not speak French would have coped - most of the gendarmes spoke no English!
As for New Caledonia, I have hired cars there dozens of times without an IDP, but I don't think I have ever been stopped by police or gendarmes.

 

[p--and--t]

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

Several years back, but Samoa. They had a 2 sec look then asked for USD10 and issued me a temporary Samoan licence.

 

[Austman]

We rented with Avis.

Needing an IDP seems to be a requirement of Avis, not Italy. I suppose it's up to the rental companies...

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Needing an IDP seems to be a requirement of Avis, not Italy. I suppose it's up to the rental companies...

Avis don't seem to require it in France though.

 

[RooFlyer]

Avis don't seem to require it in France though.

Nor in Italy when I hired 2 years ago

 

[Happy Trails]

The USA can't even spell licence.

 

[goldenhorn]

Needing an IDP seems to be a requirement of Avis, not Italy. I suppose it's up to the rental companies...

We rented through autoEurope (actually Avis when you pick up your car) and they state on their website it’s now law in Italy to have an IDL.

Unfortunately, they didn’t advise us of this when we booked it through them 5 months earlier. The agents told us the law has only started being enforced by police in the last few months of this year.

https://www.autoeurope.com/international-driving-permit-italy/

 

[amaroo]

Using Caps for one word in a fairly long post is hardly screaming. The one word was used as an emphasis as I read it - it could also have been done in Bold, Italics or Underlined, but the Caps made the point in any event.

Maybe, maybe not. The tone, aggression, etc all makes for an ugly unnecessary post!

One thing that can't be mistaken or refuted - some States in the USA do require an IDL

 

[opusman]

Yes, I understand that. But even the "paperwork loving gendarmes" can probably read an Australian driver's license (if they wish to)... Mine has a total of 9 English words on it: Driver, License, Type, Expiry, Conditions, Car, Date, Of, Birth.

The issue isn't the language, it's the licence class codes.

 

[OATEK]

Just back from France where AVIS did not ask for an IDL, but I had one just in case. I have heard the stories about people being pulled over and given a hard time if they don't have an IDL, but have never experienced it.

 

[amaroo]

Deadset, given the numerous posts here, why would you not get one

 

[DC3]

Deadset, given the numerous posts here, why would you not get one

Thread was only started today. Many people wouldn't have a clue about these permits anyway.

 

[OZDUCK]

But after verifying my ID they spent much longer discussing why an Australian could speak fluent French!
.

Now you have got me curious too!

 

[kpc]

Same with Estonia, no issues with me needing one there.

We met an Aussie couple in Vilnius 2 months ago who had to cancel their driving holiday around Estonia (and did a bus tour in the end) as they didn't have IDPs The 2 countries where I drove and who insisted on an IDP were France and Japan.

 

[Austman]

licence class codes.

Mine just states "car". Nothing more I think...

The 2 countries where I drove and who insisted on an IDP were France and Japan.

I've certainly rented in France without one. In Italy. In the UK. In the Netherlands. In the USA. In Spain. And many more places.

The middle east can need them! I think that's my only place so far...

 

[opusman]

Mine just states "car". Nothing more I think...

Your what?

 

[Scarlett]

Given how dodgy the real IDP thing looks, I'm surprised most people aren't just printing them out at home for themselves...
(extortion by the AAA on a global scale - I'm amused how they refer to it as a 'permit' as though they carry some sort of governmental style authority)

 

[jase05]

Deadset, given the numerous posts here, why would you not get one

Yep, I’m staggered that people would spend many thousands going OS but won’t fork out a few measly bucks just for peace of mind. Mind you the boss went to Europe this year on a river cruise and spent close to 40k all up but didn’t want to spend money on travel insurance