International Drivers License -- Do you really need one?

I think I have seen this debated here before but not for a couple of
years.

Are there any countries where you MUST have an International Drivers
License?

Has anybody had a situation where they had to show it to somebody who
would not accept their home drivers license?

Last I recall of the debate was that Nobody had first hand experience
of actually needing one but several people had heard of somebody who
knew somebody that actually had to produce it.

The other conclusion from the debate seemed to be that they are
relatively cheap and easy to get so why wouldn't you just get one?
Even if you never need it. That same arguement could probably be made
for a dog license even if you don't have a dog.

So, what is the current concensus and experience?

We will be driving in Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland,
Hungary Croatia, Italy, Austria, France at least.

Gord

On Feb 21, 12:01 pm, wrote:
I think I have seen this debated here before but not for a couple of
years.

Are there any countries where you MUST have an International Drivers
License?

Has anybody had a situation where they had to show it to somebody who
would not accept their home drivers license?

Last I recall of the debate was that Nobody had first hand experience
of actually needing one but several people had heard of somebody who
knew somebody that actually had to produce it.

The other conclusion from the debate seemed to be that they are
relatively cheap and easy to get so why wouldn't you just get one?
Even if you never need it. That same arguement could probably be made
for a dog license even if you don't have a dog.

No. I don't need an international DL if I don't drive outside my home
country. But if I do I would definitely get one. What if someone
replies to you and says that no from personal experience you don't
need one, and there you are driving in some backward village in
Slovenia and the para military police don't accept your DL and fines
you $1,000 EUR? Who are you going to complain to then?



So, what is the current concensus and experience?

We will be driving in Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland,
Hungary Croatia, Italy, Austria, France at least.

Gord

On 21 Feb 2007 12:06:17 -0800, PeterL wrote:

On Feb 21, 12:01 pm, wrote:
I think I have seen this debated here before but not for a couple of
years.

Are there any countries where you MUST have an International Drivers
License?

YES - An awful lot! See http://www.theaa.com/getaway/idp/motidp005.html

Has anybody had a situation where they had to show it to somebody who
would not accept their home drivers license?

YES. Several situations (see below).

Last I recall of the debate was that Nobody had first hand experience
of actually needing one but several people had heard of somebody who
knew somebody that actually had to produce it.

The other conclusion from the debate seemed to be that they are
relatively cheap and easy to get so why wouldn't you just get one?
Even if you never need it. That same arguement could probably be made
for a dog license even if you don't have a dog.

No. I don't need an international DL if I don't drive outside my home
country. But if I do I would definitely get one. What if someone
replies to you and says that no from personal experience you don't
need one, and there you are driving in some backward village in
Slovenia and the para military police don't accept your DL and fines
you $1,000 EUR? Who are you going to complain to then?


So, what is the current concensus and experience?

We will be driving in Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland,
Hungary Croatia, Italy, Austria, France at least.


My standard green (non-photo) UK licence has always been fine in THE most
backward of villages in Slovenia, Poland, Hungary ,Croatia, Serb & Monty,
Bos & Herz and Macedonia - and with car-hire companies in most (if not all)
of those countries. However, I do also have an IDP (International Driving
Permit - to give it its correct name) as a back-up - which has proved VERY
useful in Russia, Bulgaria and the Ukraine.

An IDP bears a photograph of the licensed driver together with driver
particulars written in 8 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, German,
Russian, Chinese, Arabic & Japanese). I purchase mine on-line from a
UK-based motoring organisation for a fiver (GBP 5.00). The cost is
negligible - but bear in mind, however, that an IDP is only valid for a
period of 12 months.

My advice, simply put, would be:-
For EU countries, if you're an EU citizen, you probably won't need one
For anywhere else, especially if you're not an EU citizen - GET ONE!

Regards
Gerry

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:43:57 +0000, Gerald Oliver Swift
wrote:

On 21 Feb 2007 12:06:17 -0800, PeterL wrote:

On Feb 21, 12:01 pm, wrote:
I think I have seen this debated here before but not for a couple of
years.

Are there any countries where you MUST have an International Drivers
License?

YES - An awful lot! See http://www.theaa.com/getaway/idp/motidp005.html

Has anybody had a situation where they had to show it to somebody who
would not accept their home drivers license?

YES. Several situations (see below).

Last I recall of the debate was that Nobody had first hand experience
of actually needing one but several people had heard of somebody who
knew somebody that actually had to produce it.

The other conclusion from the debate seemed to be that they are
relatively cheap and easy to get so why wouldn't you just get one?
Even if you never need it. That same arguement could probably be made
for a dog license even if you don't have a dog.

No. I don't need an international DL if I don't drive outside my home
country. But if I do I would definitely get one. What if someone
replies to you and says that no from personal experience you don't
need one, and there you are driving in some backward village in
Slovenia and the para military police don't accept your DL and fines
you $1,000 EUR? Who are you going to complain to then?


So, what is the current concensus and experience?

We will be driving in Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland,
Hungary Croatia, Italy, Austria, France at least.


My standard green (non-photo) UK licence has always been fine in THE most
backward of villages in Slovenia, Poland, Hungary ,Croatia, Serb & Monty,
Bos & Herz and Macedonia - and with car-hire companies in most (if not all)
of those countries. However, I do also have an IDP (International Driving
Permit - to give it its correct name) as a back-up - which has proved VERY
useful in Russia, Bulgaria and the Ukraine.

An IDP bears a photograph of the licensed driver together with driver
particulars written in 8 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, German,
Russian, Chinese, Arabic & Japanese). I purchase mine on-line from a
UK-based motoring organisation for a fiver (GBP 5.00). The cost is
negligible - but bear in mind, however, that an IDP is only valid for a
period of 12 months.

My advice, simply put, would be:-
For EU countries, if you're an EU citizen, you probably won't need one
For anywhere else, especially if you're not an EU citizen - GET ONE!

Regards
Gerry


Thanks Gerry,
Your IDP is the very same thing as our IDL available in Canada. And
about the same price.

It's good to know that there are some countries where it has been
useful. You are the first to make such a statement.

Gord

wrote on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:56:44 GMT:

g It's good to know that there are some countries where it has
g been useful. You are the first to make such a statement.

In 40 years of trips from the US to Europe I was never asked to
produce one tho' I used to religiously buy them for the first 10
years. I suspect that if I were going to drive in a country that
did not use the Roman alphabet I might think again.

Slovenia is a rather bad choice for threatened encounters with
para-militaries. It is about as civilized as Austria and stayed
out of the Balkan insanity; now Croatia, perhaps!

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:56:44 GMT, wrote:

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:43:57 +0000, Gerald Oliver Swift
wrote:

On 21 Feb 2007 12:06:17 -0800, PeterL wrote:

On Feb 21, 12:01 pm, wrote:
I think I have seen this debated here before but not for a couple of
years.

Are there any countries where you MUST have an International Drivers
License?

YES - An awful lot! See http://www.theaa.com/getaway/idp/motidp005.html

Has anybody had a situation where they had to show it to somebody who
would not accept their home drivers license?

YES. Several situations (see below).

Last I recall of the debate was that Nobody had first hand experience
of actually needing one but several people had heard of somebody who
knew somebody that actually had to produce it.

The other conclusion from the debate seemed to be that they are
relatively cheap and easy to get so why wouldn't you just get one?
Even if you never need it. That same arguement could probably be made
for a dog license even if you don't have a dog.

No. I don't need an international DL if I don't drive outside my home
country. But if I do I would definitely get one. What if someone
replies to you and says that no from personal experience you don't
need one, and there you are driving in some backward village in
Slovenia and the para military police don't accept your DL and fines
you $1,000 EUR? Who are you going to complain to then?


So, what is the current concensus and experience?

We will be driving in Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland,
Hungary Croatia, Italy, Austria, France at least.


My standard green (non-photo) UK licence has always been fine in THE most
backward of villages in Slovenia, Poland, Hungary ,Croatia, Serb & Monty,
Bos & Herz and Macedonia - and with car-hire companies in most (if not all)
of those countries. However, I do also have an IDP (International Driving
Permit - to give it its correct name) as a back-up - which has proved VERY
useful in Russia, Bulgaria and the Ukraine.

An IDP bears a photograph of the licensed driver together with driver
particulars written in 8 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, German,
Russian, Chinese, Arabic & Japanese). I purchase mine on-line from a
UK-based motoring organisation for a fiver (GBP 5.00). The cost is
negligible - but bear in mind, however, that an IDP is only valid for a
period of 12 months.

My advice, simply put, would be:-
For EU countries, if you're an EU citizen, you probably won't need one
For anywhere else, especially if you're not an EU citizen - GET ONE!

Regards
Gerry


Thanks Gerry,
Your IDP is the very same thing as our IDL available in Canada. And
about the same price.

It's good to know that there are some countries where it has been
useful. You are the first to make such a statement.

Gord

Make your own, not too difficult these days with good printer.

Let is be knownst that on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:21:27 +0100, Martin
writted:

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:43:57 +0000, Gerald Oliver Swift
wrote:

My standard green (non-photo) UK licence has always been fine in THE most
backward of villages in Slovenia, Poland, Hungary ,Croatia, Serb & Monty,
Bos & Herz and Macedonia - and with car-hire companies in most (if not all)
of those countries. However, I do also have an IDP (International Driving
Permit - to give it its correct name) as a back-up - which has proved VERY
useful in Russia, Bulgaria and the Ukraine.

An IDP bears a photograph of the licensed driver together with driver
particulars written in 8 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, German,
Russian, Chinese, Arabic & Japanese). I purchase mine on-line from a
UK-based motoring organisation for a fiver (GBP 5.00). The cost is
negligible - but bear in mind, however, that an IDP is only valid for a
period of 12 months.

My advice, simply put, would be:-
For EU countries, if you're an EU citizen, you probably won't need one
For anywhere else, especially if you're not an EU citizen - GET ONE!

You don't need one in the USA and Australia.

Umm... what did you mean there?
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:47:24 +0100, Martin wrote:

One doesn't need an IDL/IDP in either country, although I can find places on the
web that says one does, just like we found places that said one needed an IDL in
Italy last time around.

The last time I checked, there was at least one state in the US that
required an IDP. Italy has agreements with a number of non EU
countries for exemption from IDP. No one with an EU license needs an
IDP in Italy. In fact, any country that issues a license in EU format,
with the information numbered as it is in on the EU license, should
need an IDP in Italy.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 20:27:37 +0100, Martin wrote:

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:32:11 +0100, B wrote:

In fact, any country that issues a license in EU format,
with the information numbered as it is in on the EU license, should
need an IDP in Italy.

eh? I think you forgot a negative.

It would be the first time.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

On 21 Feb 2007 12:06:17 -0800, "PeterL" wrote:

On Feb 21, 12:01 pm, wrote:
I think I have seen this debated here before but not for a couple of
years.

Are there any countries where you MUST have an International Drivers
License?

Has anybody had a situation where they had to show it to somebody who
would not accept their home drivers license?

Last I recall of the debate was that Nobody had first hand experience
of actually needing one but several people had heard of somebody who
knew somebody that actually had to produce it.

The other conclusion from the debate seemed to be that they are
relatively cheap and easy to get so why wouldn't you just get one?
Even if you never need it. That same arguement could probably be made
for a dog license even if you don't have a dog.

No. I don't need an international DL if I don't drive outside my home
country. But if I do I would definitely get one.

You raise a question I had not thought of before. Maybe the answer is
obvious but do people resident in the EU get IDL's when they travel
outside of the EU? Especially to the Slovenian village mentioned
below where they may be acosted by some paramilitary police?


What if someone
replies to you and says that no from personal experience you don't
need one, and there you are driving in some backward village in
Slovenia and the para military police don't accept your DL and fines
you $1,000 EUR? Who are you going to complain to then?



I guess I wasn't planning to complain to anybody. THese same
paramilitary police sound like they are capable of not accepting my
IDL as well and still charging me 1000 Euros.




So, what is the current concensus and experience?

We will be driving in Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland,
Hungary Croatia, Italy, Austria, France at least.

Gord





PS: I am not really concerned about the paramilitary police and the
1000 euro fine.

Gord