International Driving Permits/Licences

[TAK]

I have a IDL issued 1979, when I hired a car in LA (in 1979) just left a cash deposit of $300 US and drove out on a new Ford Matador. No internet, no credit cards. Slept in the car that night and when a cop woke us up early next morning and asked us to open the boot, all he saw was a dozen empty beer bottles, didn’t ask for any ID, just said don’t do it agin as people have been killed up here in there cars.
Anyway great to have the opportunity to tell that story (again)
Never been asked for IDL, note though - always asked for DL, even though I an Hertz Presidents Circle and Avis President Club. NONONE will give you a car without a DL

 

[jg::]

.... and when a cop woke us up early next morning and asked us to open the boot, all he saw was a dozen empty beer bottles, didn’t ask for any ID, just said don’t do it agin as people have been killed up here in there cars.
Anyway great to have the opportunity to tell that story (again)...

Since you told your story, I'll tell mine. Around 1990 in LA, a cop pulled me over after I mistakenly drove through a pedestrian crossing when the pedestrian hadn't quite finishing crossing. I apologized profusely, and told him I was heading to the airport and home, as I handed him my regular Aussie drivers license - it must have been the early days of plastic cards. It wasn't necessary to have an IDP for car hire back then, but I was nervous about whether the police would feel the same way. He gave it a good look, gave me a stern look, and said: "One thing you gotta understand about driving in America - if you hit someone, they'll sue you!". And sent me on my way.

 

[OZDUCK]

Well yes, obviously the treaty permits IDPs to be issued by an authorised association. I'm curious why the treaty negotiators decided on that, why Australia specifically chose to use that option, and whether there's any actual oversight of the AAA by the government or whether they can just do what they want.

I think that it was probably done as a convenience because the Auto Associations around the world were authorized to Issue Carnets Carnet de passages en douane (CPDs) | Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) to allow the free(ish) movement of motor vehicles internationally so it probably seemed to be the obvious place to go.

 

[ajd]

I think that it was probably done as a convenience because the Auto Associations around the world were authorized to Issue Carnets Carnet de passages en douane (CPDs) | Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) to allow the free(ish) movement of motor vehicles internationally so it probably seemed to be the obvious place to go.

That's probably it now that you mention! (when you're Australian you don't tend to think much about driving your own car internationally...)

 

[OZDUCK]

That's probably it now that you mention! (when you're Australian you don't tend to think much about driving your own car internationally...)

I was always surprised how, relatively, many vehicles came through Australia on Carnets. I checked or processed many of them in my past life.

 

[ajd]

I was always surprised how, relatively, many vehicles came through Australia on Carnets. I checked or processed many of them in my past life.

I guess I'm not that surprised that Australia is a destination for road trips. Saw a couple of Polish-registered bikes in Sydney a few months ago...

 

[Kremmen]

Contact the motor vehicle department of each state you will drive in for its requirements

When people are discussing whether there is a list of which states might require one, a suggestion to go look up every state's requirements individually is pretty much the opposite of useful.

 

[amaroo]

When people are discussing whether there is a list of which states might require one, a suggestion to go look up every state's requirements individually is pretty much the opposite of useful.

Sigh, that’s why my first post was limited to the quote “some states” .... exactly how it’s quoted on the .gov website.

 

[OATEK]

Sigh, that’s why my first post was limited to the quote “some states” .... exactly how it’s quoted on the .gov website.

Perhaps a case of not reading from the beginning of the thread?

 

[Kremmen]

Sigh, that’s why my first post was limited to the quote “some states” .... exactly how it’s quoted on the .gov website.

Without a list of which states those are and/or links to the specific rules, I would categorise that as unsubstantiated rubbish. Most likely, the federal government, which has no requirements in this area, is leaving the possibility open that some state might, even though there are no actual examples of one doing so.

 

[RooFlyer]

Without a list of which states those are and/or links to the specific rules, I would categorise that as unsubstantiated rubbish. Most likely, the federal government, which has no requirements in this area, is leaving the possibility open that some state might, even though there are no actual examples of one doing so.

Have you read through the thread?

 

[Kremmen]

Have you read through the thread?

Yes. Do you have anything sensible to add?

 

[ajd]

Without a list of which states those are and/or links to the specific rules, I would categorise that as unsubstantiated rubbish. Most likely, the federal government, which has no requirements in this area, is leaving the possibility open that some state might, even though there are no actual examples of one doing so.

Did some Googling of random state names until I found one.

Michigan requires an IDP if your licence is not issued in English: Michigan Legislature - Section 257.302a and SOS - Where can I obtain an International Driving Permit?

I doubt there's going to be any US state that requires an IDP for licences issued in English, just like we don't require an IDP for foreigners with English licences.

 

[amaroo]

Without a list of which states those are and/or links to the specific rules, I would categorise that as unsubstantiated rubbish. Most likely, the federal government, which has no requirements in this area, is leaving the possibility open that some state might, even though there are no actual examples of one doing so.

Who would have thought posting a factual quote would create such emotional irrational reactions.

 

[Kremmen]

Who would have thought posting a factual quote would create such emotional irrational reactions.

If you can't find a single example of your assertion, then you are the one being irrational.

Also, nothing emotional about my response either. I just wish threads wouldn't get cluttered with your kind of vague, worthless post is all.

 

[amaroo]

If you can't find a single example of your assertion, then you are the one being irrational.

I did. Look at post #16

If we keep this up ..... we might double your post count.

 

[tgh]

Roof_lyer is likely already getting a bottle of bubbly from admin for getting a post over 100 hits.. don't make it worse you two….
I thought Juddles was the master instigator but it seems he has competition...

 

[RooFlyer]

, I would categorise that as unsubstantiated rubbish.

your kind of vague, worthless post is all.

 

[VPS]

I think the original post was a perfectly reasonable question. Yes you may have not been asked for an IDP on your last 35 international trips so don't worry about getting one for you 36th and then don't whinge and moan when you do get asked for one and you can't do what you want to do. In the big scheme of things it is a piddling amount of money and if you want to carry on about other stupid regulations we could be here for years

 

[Jacques Vert]

I did. Look at post #16

If we keep this up ..... we might double your post count.

FWIW, I always find your posts informative.