International Driving Permits/Licences

[Cossie]

I didn't need one for my Avis rental there a couple of years ago

Same here, I've rented 6 times there without being asked for one. I do get an IDP each year, just in case.

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

I can't remember how many cars I have rented over the years, would be hundreds by now, and I have never been asked for one.

The only issue I've ever had renting a car was with Thrifty via their agent Buchbinder at Frankfurt, where they made me take out daily insurance coverage regardless my own travel insurance.

 

[amaroo]

?????????????

Hardly.

I've pointed out that the information you might find on the web cannot necessarily be relied upon. That's specifically why I asked if you actually knew from your own experience. From the response you provided, it seems that you have no experience with international licences in the US.

When people use CAPITALS, they are screaming.

USA government websites are normally pretty reliable IME.

The experience I bring is posting accurate information. What members decide to accept is a matter for them.


<snip>

continue to travel and hire cars in the US without an international licence.

Lots of people drive cars without any type of licence .... my care factor is absolutely zero.

 

[opusman]

I'd never been asked for one either until the first time I was asked for one...

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe the difference in people's experiences is whether, if the local legislation requires one (maybe under certain conditions) and if the car rental agency people now they should ask to see it, and/or care.

Sigh. I suppose I'll need to get one, now.

 

[amaroo]

Maybe the difference in people's experiences is whether, if the local legislation requires one (maybe under certain conditions) and if the car rental agency people now they should ask to see it, and/or care.

Sigh. I suppose I'll need to get one, now.

Indeed.

In the 90's I managed to hire a pre-booked car at LHR without any license. I stupidly emptied my wallet prior to leaving for the trip. I talked the agent into letting me take the car with a promise I'd get someone to fax (yep, fax) the licence when Oz woke up. Took a while, but the young bloke agreed and we drove away.

How's that for experience

 

[Buzzard]

The RAA charge $42 for an IDP so not a huge cost considering what the rest of the trip is likely to cost.

 

[jase05]

The RAA charge $42 for an IDP so not a huge cost considering what the rest of the trip is likely to cost.

Yep, can honestly say it has been years since I have been required to produce one to rent a car but I renew mine every year just in case.

 

[Cossie]

Maybe the difference in people's experiences is whether, if the local legislation requires one (maybe under certain conditions) and if the car rental agency people now they should ask to see it, and/or care.

Sigh. I suppose I'll need to get one, now.

Think of it as a donation to your local motoring organisation.

 

[Franky]

When people use CAPITALS, they are screaming.

USA government websites are normally pretty reliable IME.

The experience I bring is posting accurate information. What members decide to accept is a matter for them.


<snip>





Lots of people drive cars without any type of licence .... my care factor is absolutely zero.

When people use CAPITALS, they are screaming.

USA government websites are normally pretty reliable IME.

The experience I bring is posting accurate information. What members decide to accept is a matter for them.


<snip>





Lots of people drive cars without any type of licence .... my care factor is absolutely zero.

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.

 

[OZDUCK]

Since 1976 I have driven in most of Western Europe (Only not in Lichenstein, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City or Portugal), Malaysia, New Zealand and Canada and have never been asked to show an IDP - which I usually had. I definitely did not need one in Norway this year. However, I will get one for Germany next year as a just in case.

 

[defurax]

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.

 

[jase05]

Since 1976 I have driven in most of Western Europe (Only not in Lichenstein, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City or Portugal), Malaysia, New Zealand and Canada and have never been asked to show an IDP - which I usually had. I definitely did not need one in Norway this year. However, I will get one for Germany next year as a just in case.

Last year the Europcar agent at FRA asked if I had a IDP but didn’t ask to see it. He mentioned that he had heard from customers that police in some of the countries I was visiting may occasionally ask to see the IDP. I drove through Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria and was never asked once despite being pulled over by police for a couple of random checks across the journey.
I have driven in most countries in Europe and have found France is the most stringent on IDP’s

 

[Austman]

I've rented cars in France without an IDP.

It's essentially a translation paper that might help local authorities understand, if necessary, what's actually written on your driver's license.

In some countries you can't rent a car without one.

But most authorities around the world understand enough English to read an Australian driver's license. Certain USA states exempted it seems.

 

[defurax]

I've rented cars in France without an IDP.

The problem is not renting, it's the law enforcement performed by paperwork loving gendarmes. It also has to do with Australia not ratifying the 1968 convention as stated above.
The Australian embassy in France also states it.

International Driving Permits

france.embassy.gov.au

 

[Austman]

The problem is not renting, it's the law enforcement performed by paperwork loving gendarmes

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.

 

[defurax]

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.

But you forget that almost all countries still have passport ID information in French, so they might not be used to confronting English-only documents.

 

[goldenhorn]

Just back from 30 day driving holiday in Italy and our entire holiday was almost screwed because we didn’t have an IDL.

We’ve rented cars in Italy numerous times without one (June 2018 most recently) so when we went to pick up our car at Rome Termini they asked for one and refused to rent us our car that we had booked 5 months earlier.

They told us the police are now cracking down on this and fining drivers and rental companies thousands of Euros. Although, knowing Italian corruption, I would not be surprised if it was another scam to just get more money out of customers.

We were stranded along with many other Americans and Canadians who also had no idea they needed an IDL. It was truly awful at the time and we couldn’t work out how we could possibly find a solution.

In the end, after being stranded with luggage at the station for 4 hours, and after copious googling and talking with our fellow stranded tourists, we ended up buying an online international drivers license - which was probably fake (but great business idea!) – printed it at a local print shop and they accepted it.

Unfortunately, we had already cancelled the original car booking. We then had to rebook on the spot and they completely screwed us with the price, which was four times the original booking.

Typical Italy, but what can you do? At least we had a car and our holiday wasn’t ruined.

Lessons learned. Next time we’ll lease a car in France or Switzerland and drive across the border!

 

[DC3]

Just back from 30 day driving holiday in Italy and our entire holiday was almost screwed because we didn’t have an IDL.

We’ve rented cars in Italy numerous times without one ...
We were stranded along with many other Americans and Canadians who also had no idea they needed an IDL ...

Yes, that would be very frustrating.

I’ve done 2 x Italy and France driving holidays in the last several years. Not sure what prompted me (must have read something somewhere) but both times I took the IDL with me and will continue to do so in future. Whereas, in probably close to 10 trips to the USA, I have never bothered.

Also, I would not expect Americans/Canadians to even know about an IDL.

Edit: The whole IDL thing is a total rip-off anyway. And a with 2-year expiry as well?

 

[Austman]

We’ve rented cars in Italy numerous times without one (June 2018 most recently) so when we went to pick up our car at Rome Termini they asked for one and refused to rent us our car that we had booked 5 months earlier.

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.​

​

Rental Terms

 

[Cossie]

I thought they were only valid for 1 year.