International Driving Permits/Licences

[justinbrett]

Not disagreeing, but best not to try renting in Japan without one.

As I’ve said in just about every post, follow the advice of rental car companies and official government legal texts.

Just ignore all the automotive association websites.

 

[Flashback]

You absolutely do not need an IDP to drive in the UK if you have an Australian licence.

If you are living there for 4+ years, then you should be getting a UK licence. But an IDP is no better than an Australian licence.

You lose the ability to convert your Aussie licence after 12 months, without going through the full process as if you're applying for a new licence from scratch, unless something has changed in the last few months in the UK?

It's mostly an EU thing. No country that gets a lot of US tourists want to deter them by these silly requirements, except the core EU countries (France, Germany, Spain etc).

The point of them is translation, not a secondary licence (in fact most countries will accept an official translation not in the IDP form). In 2025 you'd think they can just use google translate if they can't work it out.

Again - IDPs are scams.

Pulled over by cops in Bulgaria, Iceland, Serbia and Montenegro - wasn't asked for once.

 

[justinbrett]

You lose the ability to convert your Aussie licence after 12 months, without going through the full process as if you're applying for a new licence from scratch, unless something has changed in the last few months in the UK?

Yes, that was my point about an IDP being as good as an Aussie licence. If you’re there long term, neither is legal.

Pulled over by cops in Bulgaria, Iceland, Serbia and Montenegro - wasn't asked for once.

I’m going to Iceland in a few weeks and Avis require it for non US/European licences. So I’ve had to get one to satisfy that.

The whole process reconfirmed how much of a scam it is, it’s just a template form issued for all Australian licences with my photo and dodgy handwritten personal info. It doesn’t value add at all

What’s worse, for a document that has a a primary reason of translation, why does it expire in a year? It should expire with my licence. It’s not like the English language is going to change and make the translation out of date.

 

[VPS]

Yes, that was my point about an IDP being as good as an Aussie licence. If you’re there long term, neither is legal.



I’m going to Iceland in a few weeks and Avis require it for non US/European licences. So I’ve had to get one to satisfy that.

The whole process reconfirmed how much of a scam it is, it’s just a template form issued for all Australian licences with my photo and dodgy handwritten personal info. It doesn’t value add at all

What’s worse, for a document that has a a primary reason of translation, why does it expire in a year? It should expire with my licence. It’s not like the English language is going to change and make the translation out of date.

and make them smaller so they fit in your passport wallet

 

[Flashback]

Yes, that was my point about an IDP being as good as an Aussie licence. If you’re there long term, neither is legal.



I’m going to Iceland in a few weeks and Avis require it for non US/European licences. So I’ve had to get one to satisfy that.

The whole process reconfirmed how much of a scam it is, it’s just a template form issued for all Australian licences with my photo and dodgy handwritten personal info. It doesn’t value add at all

What’s worse, for a document that has a a primary reason of translation, why does it expire in a year? It should expire with my licence. It’s not like the English language is going to change and make the translation out of date.

Data point: multiple rentals with Avis in Iceland (3x) in the past 3 years, never once asked for IDP on Aussie or UK licence.

 

[SYD]

Data point: multiple rentals with Avis in Iceland (3x) in the past 3 years, never once asked for IDP on Aussie or UK licence.

Apart from Japan (by several accounts here), car rental companies won’t ask to see an IDP.

Really only a potential issue with the local constabulary and whether they can be bothered to ask to see it.

They are a bit of an anachronism these days given technology can do what an IDP is intended for.

 

[Bolt]

I'm not a fan of it. $50 for a piece of paper with limited expiry that has no relation to the expiry of your license. It's not like you have a choice either, it's a monopolised industry.

 

[pagingjoan]

Apart from Japan (by several accounts here), car rental companies won’t ask to see an IDP.

Really only a potential issue with the local constabulary and whether they can be bothered to ask to see it.

They are a bit of an anachronism these days given technology can do what an IDP is intended for.

Not quite.
We were refused a booked car rental in Sardinia because we could not produce an IDP.
Two alternative companies also refused for the same reason.

 

[SYD]

Not quite.
We were refused a booked car rental in Sardinia because we could not produce an IDP.
Two alternative companies also refused for the same reason.

Add that to the list!

 

[Oscarq]

Italy has embedded the IDP requirement into government legislation. One of the few countries that has handcuffed the rental companies with no alternate option but to demand sighting an IDP at rental pickup.

 

[Flashback]

Italy has embedded the IDP requirement into government legislation. One of the few countries that has handcuffed the rental companies with no alternate option but to demand sighting an IDP at rental pickup.

Oscar Piastri in disguise. Changed the P to Q in the handle

Surely a super licence would exempt from such requirements #F1

BTW have rented several times in Italy without IDP.

 

[Oscarq]

Oscar Piastri in disguise. Changed the P to Q in the handle

Surely a super licence would exempt from such requirements #F1

BTW have rented several times in Italy without IDP.

You buy the McLaren, I'll happily drive it! @Flashback

 

[Flashback]

You buy the McLaren, I'll happily drive it! @Flashback

How about if I steal it? Woking isn't far from here.... I can see if I can get some Papaya Insurance to cover it.

 

[pagingjoan]

….
BTW have rented several times in Italy without IDP.

As have we.
We ran into the problem only in Sardinia.

 

[justinbrett]

Data point: multiple rentals with Avis in Iceland (3x) in the past 3 years, never once asked for IDP on Aussie or UK licence.

I just rented a car there (Avis) and didn’t need it. I even asked if they wanted to see it and she said no.

It says not required for European and North American licences, I guess we’re in Eurovision so must be part of Europe.

 

[Brissy1]

Given car hire companies requirements don't always follow their country's requirements, it's nice to clearly see in Avis's Greece t&c "... accept a national driver's licence but with latin characters from... Australia"

 

[TheRealTMA]

Car rental in Italy now seems to want IDPs, despite the fact that Italian is NOT one of the languages on the IDP. Just a scam.

 

[Lockyer Man]

The actual issue about an IDP is that it is actually not valid without a full drivers licence anyway. So when a person carries an IDP, they also have to carry their national D/L with them. This, in my opinion, makes the IDP a worthless document and a waste of money. As many have stated, many countries around the world permit a person to drive on their national licence so all people have to do is to check with the particular countries transport department (or equivalent) to find out if they can drive on an Aussie D/L legally in that country rather than relying on anecdotal information that may not be accurate.

 

[SYD]

The actual issue about an IDP is that it is actually not valid without a full drivers licence anyway. So when a person carries an IDP, they also have to carry their national D/L with them. This, in my opinion, makes the IDP a worthless document and a waste of money. As many have stated, many countries around the world permit a person to drive on their national licence so all people have to do is to check with the particular countries transport department (or equivalent) to find out if they can drive on an Aussie D/L legally in that country rather than relying on anecdotal information that may not be accurate.

This thread goes around the buoy on this every couple of months.

In general, countries that use English do not require an IDP if your DL is in English.

Countries that don’t use English generally require an IDP. The IDP itself is just a translation from English to languages various. No, it can’t be used on its own to drive a car but it can be used as official ID in some circumstances.

There’s often comments that it’s a scam promoted by Auto Associations (as they’ve traditionally issued them). But recently, I did another road trip in NZ and thought I check if there are any quirky road rules, even though I’ve driven there multiple times. I found this Gov issued document that stipulates IDPs for non-English DLs. Presumably there’s an equivalent in most non- English speaking countries.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/driving-in-nz/docs/driving-in-nz-english.pdf

“If your overseas licence or permit isn’t in English, you must also carry an accurate English translation.”

 

[luckypierre]

Given car hire companies requirements don't always follow their country's requirements, it's nice to clearly see in Avis's Greece t&c "... accept a national driver's licence but with latin characters from... Australia"

View attachment 504476

And yet to my surprise a future Autoeurope car rental booking for a Greek island required a IDP. for Australian DL holders. I queried this and advised it was a requirement. My Greek friends suggested that in Greece they wouldn't care less about IDPs.