International Drivers Permit

[prozac]

Well it is not a licence.



It is only a translation. If you do not have your actual original driving licence with you in addition to the IDP, you will be in trouble.

The folly of youth. I drove with the same one in Europe for 4.5yrs when I left Oz for Europe age 18. Back then the UK bobbies had no clue what a IDP was and it got me out of a number of scrapes, they'd just think "Oh, this is too hard" and let you go on your way with a warning.
Nowadays certain countries have reciprocal arrangements with Australia for licensing, NL for instance, however I have read some like police in Germany will charge you if you cannot show an IDP in addition to your AU licence.
I will not travel without a current IDP now. Cheap insurance but be aware it means nothing without your AU state license. Isn't that an anomaly, each state with it's own licence.

 

[OATEK]

I took an IDP for my recent trip to the UK, but it was never asked for. Will still be valid when I hit UK and France next April (2023) so will see if the French hire car company shows any interest. In the last 10 years I have picked up hire cars in Austria, Germany and France and have not once been asked for the IDP.

 

[prozac]

I took an IDP for my recent trip to the UK, but it was never asked for. Will still be valid when I hit UK and France next April (2023) so will see if the French hire car company shows any interest. In the last 10 years I have picked up hire cars in Austria, Germany and France and have not once been asked for the IDP.

Plan for the worst but hope for the best. It is not the hire car company you need to worry about. I want to know if I have a crash or transgress some obscure local traffic law, I won't be cooling my heels in some faraway gaol because I could not produce an IDP plus my AU licence.

 

[drron]

Looks like in Germany you do need an IDP or a certified translation of your licence. from their Transport ministry.

"If you hold an International Driving Permit, you do not have to have it translated.
You must carry a translation of your domestic driving licence if

it was not issued in a Member State of the European Union (EU) or a state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), or
it is not in the German language, or
it does not comply with the provisions of the Convention on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968 (Annex 6). You can find out whether your driving licence complies with the provisions of Annex 6 by enquiring at the appropriate authorities of the issuing state."

BMDV - Validity of foreign driving licences in the Federal Republic of Germany

These pages provide information on the most important German provisions for holders of foreign driving licences. If you have any further questions, for instance about the procedure for registration and issuing of German driving licences, you should contact your local driver licensing authority...

www.bmvi.de

 

[prozac]

Looks like in Germany you do need an IDP or a certified translation of your licence. from their Transport ministry.

"If you hold an International Driving Permit, you do not have to have it translated.
You must carry a translation of your domestic driving licence if

it was not issued in a Member State of the European Union (EU) or a state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), or
it is not in the German language, or
it does not comply with the provisions of the Convention on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968 (Annex 6). You can find out whether your driving licence complies with the provisions of Annex 6 by enquiring at the appropriate authorities of the issuing state."

BMDV - Validity of foreign driving licences in the Federal Republic of Germany

These pages provide information on the most important German provisions for holders of foreign driving licences. If you have any further questions, for instance about the procedure for registration and issuing of German driving licences, you should contact your local driver licensing authority...

www.bmvi.de

As mentioned earlier which is why I will always carry one now. Averaged into the years I did not have a current IDP it is still cheap.
You still need to produce your AU issued licence along with the IDP.

... however I have read some like police in Germany will charge you if you cannot show an IDP in addition to your AU licence.
...

 

[burmans]

Must admit I’m still left wondering after all these replies. I have an IDP on my current trip but haven’t been asked for it and in all this thread lots of rumours that you could be asked for it and suffer dire consequences if you don’t. BUT no actual evidence of this actually happening and from my search on FT none there either.

So I’m left wondering if we are all scared of a non existent bogeyman.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The folly of youth. I drove with the same one in Europe for 4.5yrs when I left Oz for Europe age 18. Back then the UK bobbies had no clue what a IDP was and it got me out of a number of scrapes, they'd just think "Oh, this is too hard" and let you go on your way with a warning.
Nowadays certain countries have reciprocal arrangements with Australia for licensing, NL for instance, however I have read some like police in Germany will charge you if you cannot show an IDP in addition to your AU licence.
I will not travel without a current IDP now. Cheap insurance but be aware it means nothing without your AU state license. Isn't that an anomaly, each state with it's own licence.

My point was that as it is only a translation that you only need it in non- english speaking countries who require it (some do not).

So you do not need it in the UK, even if at times you cannot understand the accent of the local bobbie, or vice versa

 

[kpc]

I think Japan (Okinawa) is the only place I needed an IDP....

 

[drron]

Japan definitely requires an IDP. The car hire companies demand it. No IDP, No car.

 

[Hvr]

I think Japan (Okinawa) is the only place I needed an IDP....

Japan is also the only place I've ever required it,

 

[Oscarq]

Hired a car in Italy 2019 and read prior to travel IDP is a legal requirement, it was requested at time of rental, "No IDP No car".
Recently hired in 2022 USA and Canada without need of an IDP.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The whole thing is a scam. Once you have AN IDP it should be valid for the validity of your real licence. Nothing has changed. It’s not a legal document just a short translation of your real licence.

IMHO no need to get a new one every year.

 

[ketsuzei]

Japan definitely requires an IDP. The car hire companies demand it. No IDP, No car.

Approximately true for Australians, but an officially recognized translation is acceptable for some jurisdictions.

Drive with a foreign license

This page about Drive with a foreign license

english.jaf.or.jp

Lots of Taiwanese tourists on the road, or at least there were prior to 2020.

 

[Hvr]

The whole thing is a scam

The auto clubs, NRMA, RACV et al have a great scam going being the organisations that actually issue the IDP.

 

[drron]

So I now look up the countries I will drive in. Next year is Portugal but from August 1 this year Australians do not need an IDP for up to 6 months.

Driver Licence

 

[SYD]

Recently hired in 2022 USA and Canada without need of an IDP.

As above. Generally no requirement for an IDP in an English speaking country.

 

[BAM1748]

Many years ago now, in fact 22, I hired a car in the USA without my drivers license and I don't bother with IDP for the USA. I'd landed in from Sydney and forgot it, had changed wallets the morning of departure which obviously I don't recommend.

I was kicking myself of course but with the help of the Alamo car rental desk agent (where my original booking was) I found a rental car company off airport and they accepted my passport. They did insist I take out all the insurance they offered.

Drove from SFO to LAX via Colorado without issue even being pulled up at Tombstone Az by the Border Patrol.

 

[SYD]

Many years ago now, in fact 22, I hired a car in the USA without my drivers license and I don't bother with IDP for the USA. I'd landed in from Sydney and forgot it, had changed wallets the morning of departure which obviously I don't recommend.

I was kicking myself of course but with the help of the Alamo car rental desk agent (where my original booking was) I found a rental car company off airport and they accepted my passport. They did insist I take out all the insurance they offered.

Drove from SFO to LAX via Colorado without issue even being pulled up at Tombstone Az by the Border Patrol.

I wouldn’t recommend doing that. It can be a criminal offence to drive a vehicle without your licence with you. The IDP itself isn’t a licence (even if you’d had one).

At least in NSW we have the digital licence fully integrated. You might get away with that OS but I’d be having conniptions if I’d forgot my licence and had an upcoming rental!

I once forgot to take my passport with me to collect a car (remembered sitting on the 45 min train ride to Toulouse!) fortunately it was AVIS and I’m “Preferred” member, but I’ve seen many people turned away at foreign rental desks without a PP (yes, but rarely get asked to see the IDP…that’s for the Police).

 

[kangarooflyer88]

My understanding is you only need an IDP if you are in a country that doesn't speak English as the IDP serves as an official translation. I say this having hired cars in the US, UK, South Africa and now Australia with my Canadian driver's license no problem.

-RooFlyer88

 

[docjames]

Germany July 2022 - never asked (Avis)
UK June 2018 - never asked (Hertz)
Germany July 2018 - never asked (Avis)
Italy 2014 - never asked (Hertz)
UK 2010 - never asked (Hertz)
Germany 2010 - never asked (Hertz)

They are just the ones I recall.

The IDP is a rort (famous last words).