International Driving Permit needed to drive a car in Florida from 1st Jan 2013

jackieblack

Originally posted by maemaesmummy on Orlando/Disneyworld thread but I thought it deserved it's own thread as this will affect so many people.

maemaesmummy wrote: »

Interesting developments over the last few days but it would seem that you now need an IDP and a UK licence to legally hire a car in Florida....

http://www.floridastatetravel.com/advicedetails.php?id=%224%22

I emailed Florida DMV for confirmation and received this reply

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

Yes, an international permit is required in Florida as of January 1, 2013.

We hope this information will assist you.

peachyprice

How very strange, as an international permit is only a translation of a driving licence when they already speak English in the US and isn't even a legal document, they are issued by the AA or RAC, not DVLA.

Indout96

hope this does not spread to the rest of the US :-( it seems every year there is something else to get and takr with you. very worrying that its not publisised though.
Just booked our car for LV and nothing on Car hire 3000 about this, just looked again searching for florida and still nothing.

jackieblack

peachyprice wrote: »

How very strange, as an international permit is only a translation of a driving licence when they already speak English in the US and isn't even a legal document, they are issued by the AA or RAC, not DVLA.

Apparently also available 'over the counter' at selected Post Offices

jackieblack

Indout96 wrote: »

hope this does not spread to the rest of the US :-( it seems every year there is something else to get and takr with you. very worrying that its not publisised though.

Indeed
I've now emailed the DMV in each state (7) we're visiting/driving to at Easter to check they've not changed their requirements!

Indout96 wrote: »

Just booked our car for LV and nothing on Car hire 3000 about this, just looked again searching for florida and still nothing.

Apparently websites are only now starting to be updated

Lucy_Lastic

peachyprice wrote: »

How very strange, as an international permit is only a translation of a driving licence when they already speak English in the US and isn't even a legal document, they are issued by the AA or RAC, not DVLA.

Peachy - what do you mean they speak English in the US?, well it's a version of English I suppose. :rotfl:

cubegame

Silly laws like this are one of the reasons that Florida really should be last on the list of the states to visit in an otherwise wonderful country.

The heat sends them all crazy......

claire16c

It wouldn't surprise me if the police and car rental people over there will have no idea about this anyway.

Can you really imagine car rental companies turning away hundreds of people?

What a weird decision.

Bob_the_Saver

peachyprice wrote: »

they already speak English in the US

Ah this could be the problem!!

I get a new one each year over the counter at a large PO. Just take the required documents and a few quid and fight them off trying to sell you Dollars/Euros/Travel Insurance etc.

Pig_Inn

Its going to be like the French breath test kit, abandonded once the implications became apparent

kdband

Pig_Inn wrote: »

Its going to be like the French breath test kit, abandonded once the implications became apparent

Where has that come from? As far as I know, you are still supposed to have them.