Please verify that mother does in fact know something!!! Traveling to.France and Germany in April this year.. My son is doing the driving and has an IDP he got for his trip to Italy last September. I mentioned the IDP (International Drivers Permit) forgetting he had just been to Italy. He is sure he needs one for each individual country. He travels around the world for work but is not a seasoned casual traveler. Please advise him who is right. Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6879 posts
Sounds like mom is right in this case.
You don't need multiple, separate IDPs for multiple countries - you only need one, and it's good for a long list of countries. So if he has a (still valid) IDP that he got for driving in Italy, then that same IDP (along with his valid state drivers license) will cover France, Germany or any place else the IDP is required and valid.
They're only good for one year so check the expiration date carefully. I got three trips out of my last one in 2024: Colombia, Japan (Kyushu) and France (Corsica). Got my money's worth on that one!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2448 posts
And an IDP is only valid when carried with your US State Driver’s License. Make sure both are valid for the period of time you’re in Europe.
Posted by
1122 posts
Why is this a question? Mother's are always right! Just have him double check the date it was issued; to make sure it's still valid. Valid for one year from date on the front.
Posted by
Schwerin
3513 posts
Even bureaucracy world champion Germany would not demand a separate IDP just for Germany. And with such ideas your son is highly welcome to study here in Germany, also cheaper with better beer by the way. :-)
Be aware that IDP is not outdated and as mentioned that it is valid only with the corresponding driving license. For driving in Germany a driver must be 18+ years old.
Travelers shall take care knowing the country specific traffic signs and rules, e. g. right-lane rule on German Autobahn.
And greetings to your son: in my case it needed to my age around mid 30s until my mother considered that I am right. She is now 82 years old and still driving Autobahn as fast as her small car can do - in younger years she liked driving up to 250 km/h (155 mph) on an empty Autobahn.
Posted by
Cornwall
569 posts
Even bureaucracy world champion Germany
Surely France has held that title since the sixteenth century?
Posted by
Schwerin
3513 posts
Maybe this explains the selection of travel destinations?
Possibly true with our French neighbors but we have these wonderful looong German words which explains everything in one term.
One of the longest terms for a law was buried 10 years ago: "Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz".
Of course there was an abbreviation to communicate easier: RkReÜAÜG.
Travel related: I recommend DeepL app for the son to translate best to / from German and other European languages.
Posted by
Normandie
368 posts
Given that an IDP is simply a limited translation of one's own drivers license in a standard format and,
Given that the French government issues IDPs that are good for three years, rather than AAA's miserly one,
...I wouldn't be too concerned about presenting an IDP that may be a bit more than one year in age, as long as it's for the same driver's license for which it originally was issued. I doubt a Gendarme or a member of the Police would care at all.
And in your case, it sounds as if it will still be less than a year old. A veritable IDP infant.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8089 posts
The “International” in IDP shows that one permit is valid around the world. If a separate permit was needed for each country, then he’d need individual French and German permits, which don’t exist.
And why pay for more permits than necessary?
Posted by
Vancouver
186 posts
On my last trip rented a car in Croatia, France, and Portugal for extended periods of time and was never asked once for the international licence I got from CAA in Canada.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32419 posts
Gail,
As the others have mentioned, only one IDP is required to operate in multiple countries - https://internationaldrivingpermit.org/how-to-apply/ . These are used in conjunction with your home D.L. and IDP's are valid for one year.
In addition to IDP's, it would be prudent for him to do some research on things like Highway Tax Vignettes (I can't recall if those are applicable in France or Germany), tolls, speed cameras, etc.
Mom is indeed right in this case!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34604 posts
Highway Tax Vignettes (I can't recall if those are applicable in France or Germany)
no, and no (unless you are a heavy truck)
Posted by
Freedonia
16770 posts
On my last trip rented a car in Croatia, France, and Portugal for extended periods of time and was never asked once for the international licence I got from CAA in Canada.
The only time you need it is if you are pulled over by the police or involved in an accident. Whether or not you have one may be of no concern to the rental car agency. They won't get in trouble if you don't have one.
And it is not a license. It is a permit. You still have to have your own home driver's license with you.