Driving in the UK

[Flying Fox]

Do I need a special drivers licence to drive/rent a car to drive around the UK for one day?

Thanks

 

[Princess Fiona]

Do I need a special drivers licence to drive/rent a car to drive around the UK for one day?

Thanks

No, your state licence will be sufficient.

 

[Flying Fox]

No, your state licence will be sufficient.

Thanks PF

The RAA was trying to tell me to pay $30 for some paper permit thing. Sounded a bit like a con to me!

 

[burmans]

Thanks PF

The RAA was trying to tell me to pay $30 for some paper permit thing. Sounded a bit like a con to me!

Well it's $30 of income they are no longer getting!

 

[Flying Fox]

Well it's $30 of income they are no longer getting!

Correct.

$30 more for me to spend whilst I'm away.

Thanks again.

 

[opusman]

The "International Drivers Permit" is a complete scam, imo.

 

[drron]

I've just driven for 3 weeks in the UK without one.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The "International Drivers Permit" is a complete scam, imo.

Nothing more than a translation of your drivers license.
International Driving Permit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[harvyk]

About the only place I know of that speaks English and requires an IDP is Florida in the US. In the UK you'll be fine.

The IDP is not exactly a scam, it's required for any place where English is not the first language / not widely spoken. It's just not in the interest of motoring bodies to fully explain that little detail.

 

[TonyHancock]

About the only place I know of that speaks English and requires an IDP is Florida in the US.

'twas repealed in 2013.

What a ridiculous law in the first place though....for a tourist destination. :shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

'twas repealed in 2013.

What a ridiculous law in the first place though....for a tourist destination. :shock:

I was just about to post that I happily drove a rental car in MIA in Dec on my NSW licence

 

[Hvr]

The "International Drivers Permit" is a complete scam, imo.

The only place I've needed an IDP was Japan.

No problems within the USA, the only comment by the rental place was that the clear panel on the VIC licence was a PITA.

 

[moa999]

There does seem to be a lot of inconsistent information re IDP.

eg/
International Driving Permits & Laws | DriveAway Holidays

 

[kelvedon]

I was just about to post that I happily drove a rental car in MIA in Dec on my NSW licence

That reminds me of an amusing reaction I had Arizona in 2003. I was hiring a car in Tuscon and presented my Uk driving licence. This was one of the old paper ones, (issued prior to 1998 when they were replaced by photo cards). These driving Licences are valid until your 70th birthday, and I had some difficulty persuading the young lady that it really did have an expiry date of April 2041!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks PF

The RAA was trying to tell me to pay $30 for some paper permit thing. Sounded a bit like a con to me!

Most probably an international licence. Advisable in those countries that don't have the rule of law.