International Drivers Licence - A "Dodgey" Document

[Happy Trails]

Not at all. I was quite surprised watching the lady 'make it' in front of me

I renewed mine last week and I remember commenting that the technology hadn't changed since I got my first one nearly forty years ago.

 

[here2go]

I am looking at doing the same later in the year. Germany requires an official translation, ie AAA Documentation. Check the mission in Australia for the country you are visiting. Eg Deutsche Vertretungen in Australien - Startseite.

 

[MatF]

In Italy you need to show your Int Drivers Licence when hiring a car...they will not accept a foreign licence. Passport must also be shown.

I found this a bit hit and miss. We hired a car in Siena, and they wanted to see the international permit, along with my passport.
Hired another car in Salerno (for a few days in Positano ... that road is one of the great drives of the world! ), - they didn't ask for the permit and were happy with my Australian Licence (but also wanted to see my passport).

Better to be safe than sorry, of course. At the end of the day it's easy to get and inexpensive.

I agree though - it does look like something a primary school kid brought home to put on the fridge.


EDIT: here's a video of a section of that road along the Amalfi Coast from Positano back to Salerno if anyone's interested! An awesome road to drive on as your first experience driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of the car

It goes for about 3 minutes. Apologies if it makes anyone seasick - my wife was trying to hold our little Canon s95 as still as she could

You may be able to tell near the start that we were a bit over Italian drivers by this stage - hence the laughing.

[video=youtube;8G82gY2EZFc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G82gY2EZFc[/video]

 

[obrienja]

As someone who spent 5 years living in a college town in the US I can speak from many experiences and let you know that an Aussie DL is useless as ID & the international permit doubly so because it looks forged right from the outset. The bouncers in many states are only trying to protect themselves so want a US licence they can scan to ensure it's accurate or a passport. Even with a passport he's likely to have trouble. I've had more than one conversation which started with a polite version of "it's good enough to get me into the country but not your bar..." He might get lucky if the bouncer demonstrates some commonsense or finds a door manager with some but I wouldn't hold out any hope. Does he have the option of applying for a local licence when he gets there? I expect this will be unlikely unless he has a social security number, proof he's got the right to remain in the country for a significant period of time (varies by state) and miscellaneous other paperwork documenting address etc.

 

[robd]

Does he have the option of applying for a local licence when he gets there? I expect this will be unlikely unless he has a social security number, proof he's got the right to remain in the country for a significant period of time (varies by state) and miscellaneous other paperwork documenting address etc.

That seems like a lot of work for a drink!

 

[serfty]

I guess YMMV on this, but I've only been 'carded' when purchasing liquor from stores (like Costco).

In these cases my D/L was sufficient; however, I do look 55 going on 70 ... :shock:

 

[robd]

I guess YMMV on this, but I've only been 'carded' when purchasing liquor from stores (like Costco).

In these cases my D/L was sufficient; however, I do look 55 going on 70 ... :shock:

Actually, Robdjnr & I both got asked for ID last year in (dare I admit it?) Hooters (it was on the "gotta try it" list - what's done is done, and it will NOT happen again).
I tried to consider myself flattered being asked for ID, but I'm sure there was some other reason they wanted to see it.