The International Driving Permit (IDP) is a document that provides important information from your driver’s license in eleven different languages, including English. This document came into existence by virtue of a treaty signed in 1949 by the United States and other foreign countries. International driving permits issued in Ireland are only available to Irish residents with a current full driving licence. There are two types of international driving permit issued in Ireland: A 1949 Convention International Driving Permit, which is the most commonly issued driving permit. International driving permit (IDP) Recognised internationally, an IDP allows you drive a private motor vehicle abroad when accompanied by a valid full Irish driving licence. It is valid for one year from date of issue. An IDP is also available to EU/EEA. Licence holders who are also resident in Ireland.
When traveling abroad, some folks like to rent a vehicle—nothing affords more freedom for your trip than being able to hop in the car and go wherever you choose!
If you plan to rent a car while in a foreign country, you'll likely need an International Driving Permit.
What Are International Driving Permits?
The International Driving Permit (IDP), often (and incorrectly) referred to as International Driving License, is a document that, along with your valid home driver's license, allows you to legally drive a motor vehicle while abroad.
Understand that an IDP does NOT REPLACE your U.S.-issued driver's license; rather, it acts as a language translation of your driver's license and features your:
The following requirements and restrictions apply:
Apply for an International Driving Permit
For citizens of the United States, the U.S. government requires you apply for an International Driving Permit with either the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA).
Again, you must be 18 years old or older with a valid U.S. driver's license to apply for an IDP.
Both agencies thoroughly outline their application requirements on their forms, but basic application instructions include:
Additionally, you might be able to apply while you're already abroad. Contact the agency for details.
Avoiding IDP Fraud
Unfortunately, numerous organizations sell fake International Driving Permits, and most of them charge much more than the regular fee; so, by falling prey to these scam companies, not only will you lose money, but also you'll end up with a fake document—something you don't want to show up with after traveling to your destination country.
Remember, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) are the only organizations approved for issuing IDPs.
If you believe you've been sold a fake International Driving Permit, report the fraud using the FTC Complaint Assistant.
NOTE: Many couriers offer delivery services for authorized issuers of IDPs. If you choose to utilize these services, make sure the courier runs your application through AAA or AATA.
Learn the Rules of the Road
As a driver in a foreign country, it's crucial you understand the local rules of the road. Naturally, actions like drunk driving and distracted driving are dangerous anywhere in the world, but what about other specific laws?
Gathering such information from across the globe can seem intimidating, so your safest bet is to check with the country's embassy or consulates within the United States. You can find the appropriate embassy on the State Department's guide to Web Sites of Foreign Embassies in the U.S., and if these agencies can't provide you with driving regulations, they can point you in the direction of where to find them.
Foreign Drivers in the United States
You must have a valid driver license to drive in the United States—especially if you plan to rent a car, which is common among foreign visitors.
However, requirements for holding International Driving Permits and other official documents vary by state; some require them and some don't. Play it safe by contacting the motor vehicle agency for the state(s) in which you plan to drive. These agencies also can help you learn the rules of the road while you're here.
Of course, some IDP and other license requirements depend on how long you plan to stay in the U.S.—such as, for example, if you're a short-time visitor versus a non-citizen resident. We'll help you learn the differences on our guide to driving in the United States.
International Drivers License Northern Ireland
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An International Driving Permit issued by the Republic of China (Taiwan)
An international driving permit (IDP), often (incorrectly) referred to as an international driving licence (IDL), is any valid, legal identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country or jurisdiction that recognises the document. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence issued in the applicant's country of residence.[1]
International driving permits issued by any party who does not have the authority to do so are considered invalid. An international driving permit is invalid if its format largely differs from that of the Vienna Conventions.[2][3][4]
The IDP, whose A6 size (148 × 105 mm) is slightly larger than a passport, is a multi-language translation of the driver's licence from the issuing nation, complete with photograph and vital statistics.
An IDP is not required if the driver's domestic licence meets the requirements of the 1968 convention; the domestic licence can be used directly in a foreign jurisdiction that is a party to that convention.
Driver information[edit]1968 convention (as amended in 2011)[edit]
The main regulations about driving licences are in Annex 6 (domestic driving permit) and Annex 7 (International Driving Permit). The currently active version of those is in force in each contracting party since no later than 29 March 2011 (Article 43).
Article 41 of the convention describes requirements for driving licences. Key of those are:
1968 convention (original)[edit]
The Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 72 countries/jurisdiction. Examples of countries/jurisdictions that have not ratified the Convention include Chile, Taiwan (Republic of China), Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Holy See, Indonesia, Ireland, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Venezuela.
The Convention had amendments on 3 September 1993 and 28 March 2006. There is a European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic (1968), which was concluded in Geneva, on 1 May 1971.
International Driving License Application Ireland
Note that before 29 March 2011 the convention demanded contracting parties to recognise as valid for driving in their territories:
Prior to 29 March 2011, annex 6 and annex 7 defined forms of driver's licences that are different from those defined after that date. Driving licences issued before 29 March 2011 that match older edition of the annexes are valid until their expiration dates (article 43).
1949 convention[edit]
The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 96 states.[6] The 1949 Convention's description of a driving permit and international driving permit are located in Annexes 9 and 10. Switzerland signed but did not ratify the Convention.
There is a European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, in addition to the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, concluded in Geneva on 16 September 1950.
1926 convention[edit]![]()
The 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic is the older IDP Convention. It is only required in Iraq, Somalia[8] and Brazil.[9] International Driving Permits according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic are also valid in Liechtenstein and Mexico[10] which also didn't ratify any of the above-mentioned later conventions.[11][12] Mexico also recognizes[13] the Inter-American Driving Permit according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943.[14] This convention also contains regulations about driving licences and an international driving licence in its Articles VI and XIII and its Annex B[15] and thus gives an alternative opportunity for a valid driving permit based on a convention between several sovereign states. Article XIII paragraph 2 says 'the international driving licence issued in accordance with the international Convention of 1926 shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this Article' (which defines the requirements of the international driving licence according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943).
For states that have ratified the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic[16] but did not ratify the Convention on Road Traffic (1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic) (e.g. Germany) or the Convention on Road Traffic (1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic) (Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Spain, India, Ireland, Iceland, Lebanese Republic, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand and the Vatican City State [eventually via the Holy See as contract party]) the number of states in which the International Driving Permit according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic is valid, is higher.
Validation[edit]
According to the 1968 Vienna Convention, an IDP must have an expiration date of no more than three years from its issue date or until the expiration date of national driving permit, whichever is earlier, and it is valid for a period of one year upon the arrival in the foreign country. The previous convention (1949 Geneva Convention) stated that an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue, with a grace period of six months.
The IDP is not valid for driving in the country or jurisdiction where it was issued, it can only be used in foreign countries, and it must be shown with the carrier's original driver's license.
Countries and jurisdictions that are parties to 1949 Geneva Convention[edit]International Driving License Dubai
The current parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention are listed below.[18] These jurisdictions issue International Driving Permits.
Asia, Oceania (19)Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (Republic of), Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Intel 965 express driver.
International Driving License Northern Ireland
Americas (15)Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Venezuela
Europe (36)Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City (Holy See)
Lithuania accessed in 2019[19].
Middle East, Africa (32)Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Lesotho, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe
International Driving Licence Insurance IrelandCountries and jurisdictions that are parties to 1968 Vienna Convention[edit]
The current parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention are listed below.[20] These jurisdictions issue and recognize International Driving Permits.
Countries and jurisdictions that recognize IDP[edit]
* Requires presentation to local police and payment of special registration upon arrival
** IDP must be exchanged for a local driving licence. References[edit]Notes[edit]
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Driving_Permit&oldid=915224211'
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