The Ultimate Guide to Driving Overseas

[TheRealTMA]

I have been required to produce an IDP before being allowed to drive a rental car in Bahrain.

That's too anecdotal for me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Well said. So give us some anecdotal evidence of your personal experience when not having an IDp has proved to be a problem.

I already gave my anecdotal comment. It does not measure up to what you demand, but it's there regardless and it's pertinent to the discussion. Like all anecdotal comment, people will read and decide for themselves if it's comment that helps or not. I have noticed a few threads here on AFF recently, where some people go on the attack because others experience have not been their own so they assume their experience is the fact of the matter and another persons experience must therefore be lies worth exposing. I'd say that is what's not helpful, but that's just my opinion.

 

[jsoprano]

In the UAE (Dubai) some years ago, 2006 or 2007. Was when renting with Thrifty or Dollar at the airport. I went both years, first rented with Dollar, second time with Thrifty. I remember at one of these occasions they required it and asked for it at the counter. I had one so no issues. But no idea what would have happened otherwise.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I can well understand the use of IDP in Middle Eastern or Asian countries where they may not have access to what Australian licences look like (within limits - since you still need your legal licence documents anyway), but in Western Europe it's a complete waste if time and money.

 

[dajop]

In the UAE (Dubai) some years ago, 2006 or 2007. Was when renting with Thrifty or Dollar at the airport. I went both years, first rented with Dollar, second time with Thrifty. I remember at one of these occasions they required it and asked for it at the counter. I had one so no issues. But no idea what would have happened otherwise.

I read up on this subject early last year, for rentals in the UAE. As always with the web most material was anecdotal evidence. However the recurring theme for UAE rentals was that many rental companies would allow you to rent a vehicle with just home country drivers license, and in most cases this would not be a problem. Yet it seemed if there were issues, such as an accident, insurance may not cover you and there could be problems with the authorities. Now this may or not be the case, but due to it's judiciary system, UAE is one country where I am not willing to take a chance.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I read up on this subject early last year, for rentals in the UAE. ...the recurring theme for UAE rentals was that many rental companies would allow you to rent a vehicle with just home country drivers license, and in most cases this would not be a problem. Yet it seemed if there were issues, such as an accident, insurance may not cover you and there could be problems with the authorities. Now this may or not be the case, but due to it's judiciary system, UAE is one country where I am not willing to take a chance.

Having very recently done the same investigation, I've decided that the Gov'ts of the UAE and Oman do not require the IDP but some other private entities may do so. Despite others not liking my use of the word "may" it's enough for me to think it's worth the $40 or so to carry it. Hopefully, it will not be required so an absolute waste of money......but are not all insurance policies an absolute waste of money until one needs them?

 

[dajop]

Having very recently done the same investigation, I've decided that the Gov'ts of the UAE and Oman do not require the IDP but some other private entities may do so.

Yes this was the conclusion I reached, but it also seemed, that whilst the governments do not require it, problems with the requirements of other private entities could create problems with relevant authorities. In any event, there was enough ambiguity in what I read to prevent us from renting a vehicle there at the time (as we didn't have an IDP and didn't even think about renting a vehicle until we got there.)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Yes this was the conclusion I reached, but......In any event, there was enough ambiguity in what I read

Ahhh, so my anecdotal comment was not mine alone?

Everyone will behave differently, but I'm like you.....I do not like ambiguity when I'm outside my realm of intimate knowledge. Otherwise I'd argue black is white, but in this case I had already decided an IDP is good "peace of mind" insurance despite the fact I am entirely sure many hundreds and even, thousands of visitors do not have one.

 

[Pilbaracommuter]

I'm glad you posted this as I'm often flummoxed by these. My rule of thumb has been if nobody has moved for a minute or so, it must be my turn to go.

Just think of it as a roundabout without the island in the middle

 

[Archphoto]

Not quite "driving" advice but here in Thailand, taxis show red LEDs to indicate they are for hire, and green when they aren't.

Personally I would have thought red=not for hire, but hey, they do like to do things differently here.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly

 

[BAM1748]

Peru (Lima) is interesting, when a gringo is driving never quite stop anywhere, just crawl forward until you can keep going and ignore lights. Always park in secure parking so no one steals your headlights while at dinner.

Mexico, I was never sure if the police with nice shiny machine guns and road blocks every 50kms on freeways flagging cars over were there for my protecting.

The USA, very easy going and polite drivers and I enjoy driving there and have had many road trips as a result. As a nice man wearing a Moab (Utah) Police belt buckle once told me "an armed society is a polite society". Rarely do you see anyone pushing in or cutting you off, so I agree with him. Much easier than driving in Sydney or Melbourne.


Matt

 

[burmans]

Peru (Lima) is interesting, when a gringo is driving never quite stop anywhere, just crawl forward until you can keep going and ignore lights. Always park in secure parking so no one steals your headlights while at dinner.

Mexico, I was never sure if the police with nice shiny machine guns and road blocks every 50kms on freeways flagging cars over were there for my protecting.

As a risk manager why would you ever go to such a risky place?