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Original poster

To not know what to do re International Driving License

83 replies

narisha99 · 02/04/2019 15:39

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!

OP posts:
Karwomannghia · 02/04/2019 21:14

Butteredghost the gov website informed me I needed one if travelling to Spain after 28th March. Other European countries don’t need one though. www.gov.uk/guidance/international-driving-permits-for-uk-drivers-from-28-march-2019#driving-abroad-in-countries-outside-the-eu-and-eea-from-28-march-2019

legolimb · 02/04/2019 21:19

Glad you got sorted OP

What a palaver though. Another reason for me to hate all the Leave voters.

Angry
Butteredghost · 02/04/2019 21:29

Fair enough Karwomannghia, I guess each country can make their own rules. Seems an unusual decision given that anyone else from any other (including non EU) country can drive in there on their home licence! But up to them I suppose.

Lifecraft · 02/04/2019 21:53

This thread is a complete misunderstanding of what an international driving permit is. It isn't a licence or permit in itself. It's simply an official translation of your normal licence in to a few different languages.

It is meant to help if you interact with police or car hire staff that don't speak English, but it has no legal standing.

It does have a legal standing in so much as any country can say to another country that their licence holders must have an IDP alongside their actual driving licence, in the same way any country can say UK licence holders must wear red socks whilst driving in their country. That's their choice. In due course, the UK govt will no doubt strike a deal with the EU to get over all this, but we won't have one the day after we leave with no deal.

Jamiefraserskilt · 02/04/2019 22:07

These forms should be online. They are like hens teeth in some areas and it seems ludicrous that they are only in hardcopy from Post Offices.

Gilbert1A · 03/04/2019 08:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Buster72 · 03/04/2019 09:06

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

Karwomannghia · 03/04/2019 10:16

Buster72 it’s not scaremongering it’s advice from the government because of brexit.

dementedma · 03/04/2019 10:22

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

twofingerstoEverything · 03/04/2019 10:43

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 Hmm, 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.

Lifecraft · 03/04/2019 12:28

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.

doIreallyneedto · 03/04/2019 12:32

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

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

Mistigri · 03/04/2019 12:39

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?)

Mistigri · 03/04/2019 12:40

Ah, should have RTFT lol.

Check your medical cover though!

Buster72 · 03/04/2019 12:52

@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.

Lifecraft · 03/04/2019 14:14

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 · 03/04/2019 15:34

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?

DogInATent · 03/04/2019 16:01

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

twofingerstoEverything · 03/04/2019 16:02

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

BlueJava · 03/04/2019 16:13

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.

cardibach · 03/04/2019 16:28

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.

cardibach · 03/04/2019 16:28

Renegotiating*

Buster72 · 03/04/2019 16:28

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....

FishesaPlenty · 03/04/2019 16:33

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.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 03/04/2019 16:47

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?