International Driving Permit (IDP)

[QwertyKnowsBest]

Have I been in hibernation and missed the US now requiring these?

Friend who use a travel agent has been advised that he needs one for a California trip.

[u07ch]

Driving licenses in the USA are a state issue. You need to check the state you are visiting; some require them some don’t. The official guidance is check the state’s dmv

https://www.usa.gov/non-citizen-driving#:~:text=Depending%20on%20the%20U.S.%20states,a%20regular%20state%20driver%27s%20license.

You can get them from a UK postoffice with a photo in about 10 minutes for £5.50

[QwertyKnowsBest]

Thanks. Never knew 🙄

[dougzz99]

Rented in last year or so in California, Nevada, Colorado, Washington and Florida and been asked for more than license and credit card. If you’re using some sort of status where you have these on file then license only.

[e14]

dougzz99 wrote:

Rented in last year or so in California, Nevada, Colorado, Washington and Florida and been asked for more than license and credit card. If you’re using some sort of status where you have these on file then license only.

You can add AZ and MA to that list

[davefl]

While they’re legally required in a lot of countries (and I carry 2 different IDPs) I think you’ll only be asked for one by the authorities in countries where they don’t use the Latin alphabet.

[Matt]

Never been asked for one anywhere, which is lucky since I’ve never had one. The aim of them is to act as a translation, so very unlikely to be an issue in the USA with a UK licence.

Can add GA and TX to the list of states where they definitely aren’t requested.

[Anna]

We haven’t been asked in some of the above, plus Virginia and Hawaii.

Grand Cayman rental companies used to insist you needed an international licence but one year the lady at the post office told us it’s not true – part of the Geneva Convention or something?! I think they were pocketing the $20 fee, tbh. We challenged it on our next trip and they backed down.

[John]

Anna wrote:

Grand Cayman rental companies used to insist you needed an international licence but one year the lady at the post office told us it’s not true – part of the Geneva Convention or something?! I think they were pocketing the $20 fee, tbh. We challenged it on our next trip and they backed down.

What fee and who was pocketing it?

[PeteM]

davefl wrote:

While they’re legally required in a lot of countries (and I carry 2 different IDPs) I think you’ll only be asked for one by the authorities in countries where they don’t use the Latin alphabet.

That’s my experience too. Japan is very big on them for instance. I’ve also seen less scrupulous car hire companies ask for them when they run out of cars and just need to send people away – including in Spain!

[Anna]

@PeteM, they asked for an international license or charged £20 per driver to issue a local one. A few years ago we decided to get them from the post office before we left to save a few quid and that’s when we found out it wasn’t actually required. I’ve heard from a couple of US visitors that some rental companies are still asking for them.

[Anna]

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

This is what gov.U.K. says – according to this it’s not required for the US.

[PeteM]

Anna wrote:

@PeteM, they asked for an international license or charged £20 per driver to issue a local one. A few years ago we decided to get them from the post office before we left to save a few quid and that’s when we found out it wasn’t actually required. I’ve heard from a couple of US visitors that some rental companies are still asking for them.

I didn’t ask, but that’s cheeky! The problem is that you are, to a large extent, at the mercy of the car hire company in these situations…

[Froggee]

I gave up and googled it. No idea if Jerry is authoritative but seems plausible:

https://getjerry.com/questions/in-which-states-do-i-need-an-international-driving-permit

[yonasl]

I have rented cars in Thailand, Morocco, Israel, Europe, US, Mexico, Colombia … never been asked for an IDP. (UK or Spanish license)

As far as I know, only Japan requires you have one.

[e14]

Anna wrote:

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

This is what gov.U.K. says – according to this it’s not required for the US.

There are more than a few countries I’ve driven it without one on the list saying I should have had one ! If the post office can now do them for less than a tenner then I might bother next time

[RK228]

Anna wrote:

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit

This is what gov.U.K. says – according to this it’s not required for the US.

In my reading, this site says you need a 1949 IDP for the USA and may need to show it for insurance in the event of an accident or am I missing something?

[JDB]

yonasl wrote:

I have rented cars in Thailand, Morocco, Israel, Europe, US, Mexico, Colombia … never been asked for an IDP. (UK or Spanish license)

As far as I know, only Japan requires you have one.

Lots of countries say they require IDPs but in practice don’t, so it’s useful to have one just in case. I was once asked for it in Argentina where the FCDO will still tell you it’s required.

[strickers]

This is all a bit bizarre, an IDP is just a translation of your UK licence for countries where English isn’t an official language. Last time I checked most of the USA still spoke English to a fashion?

[Sip]

Having driven in most countries (including China, India, Jordan, Nepal, obviously Europe and the US). Whilst it may say that it’s not required, the cost of the IDP is often just a good insurance to have in my opinion.
At the counter, I normally just have all the docs including the IDP ready to hand in so that it gives people not chance to say no.
As many have pointed out, Japan is a stickler for rules and definitely does need it.
Most IDP lasts a full year so it’s handy to have if you’re planning to drive or travel more than once anyway.

[RK228]

strickers wrote:

This is all a bit bizarre, an IDP is just a translation of your UK licence for countries where English isn’t an official language. Last time I checked most of the USA still spoke English to a fashion?

Well, technically, English is not an official language of the USA (it has deliberately declined to specify any at federal level), although it is quite evidently the de facto one.

[strickers]

@RK228 You live and learn.

[davefl]

Just looked up Slovakia and they only require one for stays over 6 months in length and it’s valid for 3 yrs (the 1968 version). Every country outisde the USA seems to have a different rule

[Imran]

I am planning to drive in Greater Toronto Area next week. Does anyone know if I will be required to show an IDP in Canada?

[paulm]

Imran wrote:

I am planning to drive in Greater Toronto Area next week. Does anyone know if I will be required to show an IDP in Canada?

Rented three times in the last year in Canada and not been needed