Do I need International Drivers License

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Safe travels!

Simply answer is yes. It provides the translation you need.

You may never need to show it, however if stopped it will be invaluable. We have been stopped in Italy, Spain and Portugal. each time the police spoke no English, but my driver’s license and the IDP was all I needed.

The stops were random events, in Italy we were driving along a back country road and were stopped.

In Spain we were stopped in a beach town; they were armed with automatic weapons.

So, get the permit, it is a minor cost.

I grab one every time and in fact, just got one today, so I'm happy to share this link with you if you have a brick and morter AAA near you.

https://www.aaa.com/vacation/docs/IDP_Application2a.pdf

You need two passport photos, $20 and 5 minutes. The biggest hassel was that AAA has bank like hours which is not ideal.

I have found that if I need to leave "id" with a muesum (for audio guides), I am more comfortable leaving that then my passport or actual US DL and it has always been taken when that is offered.

It’s so cheap compared to all the money you’re shelling out. Get one and don’t think twice about it.

Only if you’re planning on driving a car.

It's not a license. It's a permit. You still need to have your US driver's license with you.

Get it.

What is meant by 2 passport photos? Are we supposed to bring them with us? My passport has one on it obviously, but I don't have an extra. Do they take the photos there? I hope this doesn't seem like a silly question, but I figured this was as good a place as any to ask. Thanks!

@KRS: AAA is a one-stop shop for the IDP. They'll take the photos on the spot ... for a small fee.

it means passport sized photos. Often when you get a passport photo you get some extra copies.

If you’re not a AAA member the photos will cost $15. Staples takes passport photos too. They are $15. We just got new ones last week. To save time at AAA, you can fill in and print the IDP form at home.

Call ahead to make sure there will be someone authorized to do it when you're there. I was told there was only one person who could do it at the office I went to.

Around here, drugstores (CVS, Walgreens) can take passport photos, as well as Sam's Club & Costco. But I'd do it at the AAA office. Get an extra set (handy just in case you need to replace a passport) and wear a dark top, not white. The clerks at retail shops dont always know that kind of stuff.

Huh? We are in France now, 7 th trip never have had an international drivers license. Hertz desk at CDG only asked for USA drivers license and passport. Since we opted put for insurance we just showed our proof of insurance card and agent said fine.

We printed out road signs w/english translation and have in glove box, have not used yet.

One tip- they are very strict on doing a full stop not a rolling or ‘Hollywood’ stop as we call it in California.

We were in a village in the country in Loire Valley, semi lost (its best not to 100% trust waze here-but they do a very good job. A random policeman was just standing at a very tiny intersection, indicated for us to stop for a chat and advised us to do a full stop. We were going to ask for directions but he did not speak English so thought best to muddle through on our own.

The law says you must have an IDP. That's your responsibility, not the person at the car hire desk. If your licence says you must wear your eye correction to drive they don't ask you if you have your spare glasses with you either, either. They just assume you know the law and will obey it.

It would be interesting to know how it would affect the insurance if you were involved in an accident and it was discovered you were breaking the law by not having an IDP.

Food for thought: You don't need it.....until you need it. As others have said, if it's the law in a country in which you are driving.....just get one. It's a small expense when compared to all that you are spending for your trip.

Do a search on this site. This is debated heatedly and repeatedly on this forum. But I have NEVER SEEN ANYONE post that they had difficulty because they didn't have an IDL IN FRANCE. Not one single person (I've gotten flamed for reporting this fact in the past). Personally, i forego the annual $20 fee for something no one has ever asked for, and no one has apparently ever needed. In other countries your experience may be different (I've heard of issues in Italy).

Look at your current license. It ls likely your U.S. license already has a #1 in front of your last name, an #2 in front of your first name, #3 in front of your date of birth, etc., etc. If so, your state already follows the international protocols for license data.

I've never claimed on the insurance on any of my many cars in 45 years of car ownership. Never needed to. At the moment I pay about 1500€ a year on my cars.

Would PharmerPhil suggest I forego paying insurance and instead do something more productive with my money?

It's simple. The law says you need it. If you don't have it you're breaking the law.

Peace of Mind for $20! You asked so you'll worry if you don't get one. I always buy one when I'm going to drive in Europe - and I've rarely had to show it.

Ius civile vigilantibus scriptum est

Is one IDP valid in all countries in Europe? (ie. France and Germany)?

@PharmerPhil - got a brand new drivers license this week and no numbers. I’ll pay the $20 to get the IDP nobody has ever asked for.

@Are2 - the IDP is in multiple languages, so good anyplace.

Is one IDP valid in all countries in Europe? (ie. France and Germany)?

yes. Even all around the world.

At one point Florida was requiring them.