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International driver's licence required in Spain?



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 6th, 2004, 02:14 AM
cliff
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Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

hi there

Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March.
Would a Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's
licence required?

cliff
  #2  
Old January 6th, 2004, 08:32 AM
Mike @ www.lefkada-homes.com
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Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

(cliff) wrote:

hi there

Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March.
Would a Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's
licence required?

cliff


Have a look at
www.carjet.com

--

Mike @ www.lefkada-homes.com
  #3  
Old January 6th, 2004, 05:43 PM
Bruce in Calif
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Default International driver's licence required in Spain?


"cliff" wrote in message
m...
hi there

Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March.
Would a Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's
licence required?


Hi.
We have been sucked into that Intl Drivers Lic thing a few times and after
multiple trips to all over Europe renting cars all the way, finally decided
not to get one again.
To answer your question, I'd be surprised. We rented a car recently in
Malaga which might be where you're flying into. My Calif license was fine
with them. I can't imagine a Canadian licence giving them a problem. Just
to be sure, you might try to get a straight answer from the company you're
renting from--possibly easier said than done..
Cheers.

Bruce


  #4  
Old January 6th, 2004, 07:24 PM
B Vaughan
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Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

On Tue, 6 Jan 2004 08:43:18 -0800, "Bruce in Calif"
wrote:


"cliff" wrote in message
om...
hi there

Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March.
Would a Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's
licence required?



We have been sucked into that Intl Drivers Lic thing a few times and after
multiple trips to all over Europe renting cars all the way, finally decided
not to get one again.


What, you fell for that big $10 scam perpetrated by Triple A?

Seriously though, several European countries, including Italy, require
international driving licenses ALONG WITH your American license unless
you come from one of the countries that has a license format
conforming to EU requirements. That doesn't mean that a rental company
will ask to see it, because basically your American license is the
valid document for driving and the IDP is just an official translation
of it. However, if you get stopped by a policeman, you may very well
be faced with a big fine or worse if you just have that California
license. Also, I saw on this newsgroup recently an account that a
rental car agency in Italy had required the IDP along with the
American license to rent a car.

I don't know what the Spanish law is, but an Austrian poster here
reported that an IDP is also required in Austria.
-----------
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
  #5  
Old January 6th, 2004, 10:20 PM
Carole Allen
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Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

You are going to spend a ton of money to fly to and explore parts of
Spain and are too cheap to pop for the $10? I don't know about Spain,
but we rented cars in Greece and Croatia and the agencies all required
an IDL.

Besides, it's a fun little souvenir of the trip (all those
languages!).


(cliff) wrote:
Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March.
Would a Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's
licence required?

cliff




  #6  
Old January 7th, 2004, 07:15 AM
Glenn
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

Bon Giorno Barbara,
2 points:
First: If the IDL was available from a government agency, (like your
regular drivers license) or at least openly available from a
competitor at your corner convenience store, then I would find it more
acceptable... the fact that a FOR PROFIT corporation {AAA} seems to
hold a monopoly on that market, borders on the un-American!

Second: In my last 25 trips to Europe, I have rented cars numerous
time in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain, (and been pulled over by the police in
half of those countries, including Italy ;-), and not once have I
ever required an IDL.

So I usually just advise people to go with their own comfort level
(or, whatever their rental car company's policy may be...)

Ciao,
Glenn

B wrote:

On Tue, 6 Jan 2004 08:43:18 -0800, "Bruce in Calif"
wrote:


"cliff" wrote in message
. com...
hi there

Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March.
Would a Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's
licence required?



We have been sucked into that Intl Drivers Lic thing a few times and after
multiple trips to all over Europe renting cars all the way, finally decided
not to get one again.


What, you fell for that big $10 scam perpetrated by Triple A?

Seriously though, several European countries, including Italy, require
international driving licenses ALONG WITH your American license unless
you come from one of the countries that has a license format
conforming to EU requirements. That doesn't mean that a rental company
will ask to see it, because basically your American license is the
valid document for driving and the IDP is just an official translation
of it. However, if you get stopped by a policeman, you may very well
be faced with a big fine or worse if you just have that California
license. Also, I saw on this newsgroup recently an account that a
rental car agency in Italy had required the IDP along with the
American license to rent a car.

I don't know what the Spanish law is, but an Austrian poster here
reported that an IDP is also required in Austria.
-----------
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


--
Glenn
--
Reply addresses should be corrected
for Auntie Spam!
  #7  
Old January 7th, 2004, 09:17 AM
B Vaughan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 06:15:12 GMT, Glenn
wrote:

Bon Giorno Barbara,


That's "Buon giorno".

2 points:
First: If the IDL was available from a government agency, (like your
regular drivers license) or at least openly available from a
competitor at your corner convenience store, then I would find it more
acceptable... the fact that a FOR PROFIT corporation {AAA} seems to
hold a monopoly on that market, borders on the un-American!


There is no monopoly; there are other ways to get an IDL than going to
AAA, but they're all more expensive. You could even go to an Italian
consulate and get an official translation of your American license,
which would also satisfy the requirement but would be a lot more
time-consuming.

Second: In my last 25 trips to Europe, I have rented cars numerous
time in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain, (and been pulled over by the police in
half of those countries, including Italy ;-), and not once have I
ever required an IDL.


I've had liability insurance on my car for over 30 years and never
once had to use it.

I live in Italy and when I came here I inquired about getting an
Italian license and using my American license in the interim. I was
told that I could use my American license PROVIDED it was accompanied
by an IDL. I was never stopped during the time that I was using the
American license, but I know other American expatriates who HAVE been
asked for the IDL. You were just lucky, but there has been a recent
tightening up of all Italian driving laws and I wouldn't advise anyone
to drive without complete legal documentation.

So I usually just advise people to go with their own comfort level
(or, whatever their rental car company's policy may be...)


Which just confirms that there's lots of bad advice circulating on the
internet.
-----------
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
  #8  
Old January 7th, 2004, 03:20 PM
cliff
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

Thanks for all the advice and comments. I think I'll cough up thirty
Canadain dollars to get the IDL's for the missus and myself - one
fewer thing to distract us from enjoying the pleasures of Spain.

cliff
  #9  
Old January 8th, 2004, 12:34 AM
Nige
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default International driver's licence required in Spain?


"cliff" wrote in message
m...
hi there

Planning to rent a car for a week to explore Andalucia in March. Would a

Canadian driver's licence be okay or an international driver's licence
required?
cliff

I would definitely save that 30 bucks and treat yourself to a slap up meal
for two in a good restaurant in Andalucia. Money much better spent IMHO.
And Andalucia is not Italy.




  #10  
Old January 8th, 2004, 06:10 AM
Glenn
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default International driver's licence required in Spain?

B wrote:

On Wed, 07 Jan 2004 06:15:12 GMT, Glenn
wrote:

Bon Giorno Barbara,


That's "Buon giorno".

Grazie for the correction... I can be polite in almost a dozen
languages, but can't spell worth a darn in any of them ;-)

2 points:
First: If the IDL was available from a government agency, (like your
regular drivers license) or at least openly available from a
competitor at your corner convenience store, then I would find it more
acceptable... the fact that a FOR PROFIT corporation {AAA} seems to
hold a monopoly on that market, borders on the un-American!


There is no monopoly; there are other ways to get an IDL than going to
AAA, but they're all more expensive. You could even go to an Italian
consulate and get an official translation of your American license,
which would also satisfy the requirement but would be a lot more
time-consuming.

Mea Culpa ... Just did some research and found that there are "2"
places that a U.S. citizen can get an IDL..(see
"http://www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp").
All the other places that can be found online are just charging $20
(or much more) to pass the application on thru for the $10 AAA IDL.

Apparently, I also have to retract my statement about AAA being a for
profit corporation (even though their national headquarters building
up the road here in Lake Mary, Florida sure shows a lot of conspicuous
profits at work, imho).

But, I still believe that charging $10 to renew an IDL each year is a
monopolistic rip-off. Since my drivers license has not changed in 17
years, I don't see how the translation of the fields is going to
change from year to year.?


Second: In my last 25 trips to Europe, I have rented cars numerous
time in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain, (and been pulled over by the police in
half of those countries, including Italy ;-), and not once have I
ever required an IDL.


I've had liability insurance on my car for over 30 years and never
once had to use it.

Point taken :-)

I live in Italy and when I came here I inquired about getting an
Italian license and using my American license in the interim. I was
told that I could use my American license PROVIDED it was accompanied
by an IDL. I was never stopped during the time that I was using the
American license, but I know other American expatriates who HAVE been
asked for the IDL. You were just lucky, but there has been a recent
tightening up of all Italian driving laws and I wouldn't advise anyone
to drive without complete legal documentation.

Actually, remembering the bureaucratic nightmare I had dealing with
the police in Grado (near Aquileia) a couple of years ago, and that
you had with your citizenship paperwork last year, I think I will take
your advice and carry an IDL with me next time I'm in Italy.

But.. I still refuse to pay AAA, so I'll probably just dig out the
only IDL that I bought back in 1989 before my first trip to Europe...
since the translations haven't changed, it should still be acceptable.

So I usually just advise people to go with their own comfort level
(or, whatever their rental car company's policy may be...)


Which just confirms that there's lots of bad advice circulating on the
internet.


Whadya mean "lot's of bad advice"? With all the great advice out
there, I'm all fired up to go to Salzburg... aren't you???

-----------
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


--
Glenn
--
Reply addresses should be corrected
for Auntie Spam!
 




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