To not know what to do re International Driving License

[narisha99]

We are going on holiday on Friday and won't be back until mid April - We are driving across Europe so potentially need an International Driving License if we leave the EU when we are away.

Tried my local post office last week, they had run out of forms and assured me they would have them by today. Tried today and now they estimate Thursday, we leave Friday at 7.30am! I'll try a few other local branches to see if they have them (post office lady thought that was unlikely). So what do we do if there are no forms on Thursday!

What are the implications of driving in Germany, Netherlands & France without an international license? Have got no idea what to do if we can't get the form - cancelling the holiday seems a little extreme!

[Buster72]

@mistgri
On the contrary, if renting a car in RSA with an old style license (paper) you must take a photographic ID. According to that gov website you need a IPD , my own experience is you do not.

[Mistigri]

The same websites says you must have an IDP for USA and RSA

That's not what the UK gov website says though.

You only need an IDP in SA if you have an old style paper U.K. licence - and that is what the U.K. govt site says.

For the USA rules may differ between states. I have a number of US friends here in France and their right vary depending on the US state which issued the licence.

[RedForShort]

😂

No one knows for sure? No shit Sherlock.

Don't think anyone else one the thread has notice no one knows what will happen to many different current arrangements and after Britain leaves the EU.

For the OP of this thread she's away on th 12th and seeing Britain MIGHT leave without a deal it'll mean she MIGHT need a IPD. (Because non-EU licences holders do.)

So she sensibly got one just in case. It could turn out that she doesn't need it. (As documentation for travel within EU states are part of the deal - that might or mightn't happen - this seems to be the part you're struggling to grasp. )

[Buster72]

@redforshort I'll give you a minute to rtt and catch up.
Everyone is up in arms over uk gov advice the IDP is necessary if we brexit without a deal.
The same website says you MIGHT need an IDP after 12 April if in Europe.
The same websites says you must have an IDP for USA and RSA. My own experience says you don't.
US car hire firms say they only want an IDP if your licence is printed in a different alphabet ie chinese or Cyrillic.
So who do we believe? No one knows for sure is the point I am getting at.

[RedForShort]

You can drive without one currently so any advice for the current moment is correct.

Did the rental companies advise that if Britain leave the EU without a deal you won't need a IDP?

[Buster72]

@redforshort the flux capacitor was shot never buy a used car from a running a ironmongers
The idp treaties were ratified in 1968...before I was born.
My own experience and current advice from car rental companies says otherwise..

[RedForShort]

*Buster72: "I have happily rented cars in france Spain USA south africa without a international drivers license, scaremongering..."
Do you own a Delorean you purchased from a Dr. Emmett L. Brown? If not it's a little unclear how your happy renting without a IDP is proof of scaremongering.

[Blueowls]

You used to be able to get IDPs online from AA/RAC in the UK but you can't anymore, only from the Post Office.

[DontCallMeCharlotte]

Why the sudden need post Brexit, or is this another one of those Chicken Licken scaremonger stories doing the rounds?

Nope. As you can probably now see, this one is real. In fact probably everything that was dismissed as being part of "Project Fear" is real. We'll have to wait and see won't we?

[FishesaPlenty]

Just get it online from the AA //www.theaa.ie/aa/motoring-advice/driving-in-europe/international-driving-permit.aspx# you can download the IDF there.

That's the Irish AA site.

[Buster72]

Advice from the car rental companies say no IDP required.....unless your licence printed in a different alphabet ie chinese Cyrillic etc.
So who to believe?
My own experience? A car hire company? The UK website which insists I might need one? or mumsnet?
Seems no-one can be definitive on this....

[cardibach]

Renegotiating*

[cardibach]

You will still be able to in S Africa and the USA. That's because we have a deal with them
But is our deal with them through the EU? Because if so, it will go too. So many people do t realise that it is t just stuff directly connected to the EU which will be a problem post-Brexit (and especially in case of no deal). Many of our relationships in the world were negotiated through the EU and will need renogotiating if we leave.

[BlueJava]

Just get it online from the AA www.theaa.ie/aa/motoring-advice/driving-in-europe/international-driving-permit.aspx# you can download the IDF there.

[twofingerstoEverything]

Well, Buster, anecdotes trump government advice anytime, don't they?

[DogInATent]

And as I pointed out that list insists that I need IDP for USA and south Africa. On recent trips I hired cars and that was not a requirement. So how reliable is the gov advice?

Not sure about SA, but in the US the requirement varies from state to state. HMG guidance does note that the requirement varies by circumstance even within those countries they identify as requiring an IDP.
www.usa.gov/visitors-driving

[Buster72]

Sorry the traffic law isn't a "might" it's a black or white affair.
And as I pointed out that list insists that I need IDP for USA and south Africa. On recent trips I hired cars and that was not a requirement. So how reliable is the gov advice?

[Lifecraft]

You do need an IDP for EU countries if we leave with no deal. You MIGHT be asked to produce it, you MIGHT not.

My most sincere apologies if I misspelled licence.

That's ok, don't beat yourself up over it.

[Buster72]

@lifecraft FFS indeed. I have read the advice and noted that you MIGHT need an IDP.
The advice also states that you will need an IDP if renting a car in South Africa and the USA. My own experience in both countries was that a IDP was not required. Hence why should I believe it.
My most sincere apologies if I misspelled licence.

[Mistigri]

Ah, should have RTFT lol.

Check your medical cover though!

[Mistigri]

I think for peace of mind I'd look for a post office that has the forms.

It probably wouldn't matter if you didn't have one, and we may not have left anyway, but if you had an accident it could leave you without cover because you'd be driving without a valid license.

(You do have your green card? And health cover other than the EHIC?)

[doIreallyneedto]

@Lifecraft - And it's LICENCE in the UK. Two Cs, no S.

Unless you're using the verb 'to license'....

[Lifecraft]

I have happily rented cars in france Spain USA south africa without a international drivers license, scaremongering....

Ohh ffs. You will still be able to in S Africa and the USA. That's because we have a deal with them. And they are English speaking so a translation of an English licence isn't really an issue.

You didn't need one in the past for France and Spain, because we had a deal with the EU. But if we leave with no deal, we won't have a deal, because we'll have left without a deal, sans deal, zero deal, no deal in existence.

If you don't believe me, check the dictionary. Deal means an agreement. No is negative. So when you combine the words no with deal, it means you don't have a deal.

I'm sorry if this is too much for Leavers to grasp, but not surprised.

And it's LICENCE in the UK. Two Cs, no S.

[twofingerstoEverything]

They haven't taxed or MOTd their fleet of knackered and dangerous old LHD Romanian cars in years.
Furious - you seem to know an awful lot about your neighbours , but if you really think this is the case you could actually report them if the vehicles have been on the road in the UK for longer than 6 months.

[dementedma]

Got mine here in Fife no problem at all. Post Office guy had to instruct staff what to do as they hadnt been asked for one before