International Driving Permits (IDPs) now required for renting a car abroad

RSTime

The other issue to consider is whether your car insurance will be valid without an IDP, even if not asked for?

We visited a paypoint at a petrol station last week. The person we spoke to rolled his eyes. I had a chat with him and he explained he could not do them when on his own or when busy, and they were a burden to process. Anyhow, his colleague helped us, took ~10 minutes, photo had to be trimmed, IDP card filled in using a good old fashioned pen, photo stuck on with a Pritt stick, and then stamped. They had actually run out of one of the cards (USA one I suspect). I am still flabbergasted that an online solution is not available 🤷🏻‍♂️

zagfles

RSTime said:

The other issue to consider is whether your car insurance will be valid without an IDP, even if not asked for?

Why, do you know of any car insurance which says you need an IDP in a country where it's not required? 

RSTime

zagfles said:

RSTime said:

The other issue to consider is whether your car insurance will be valid without an IDP, even if not asked for?

Why, do you know of any car insurance which says you need an IDP in a country where it's not required? 

No, but I can well imagine an insurance company wiggling out of a claim if you do not have all your paperwork in order ie. their argument would be you should not have been driving in the country without an IDP thus your insurance is invalid. 

zagfles

RSTime said:

zagfles said:

RSTime said:

The other issue to consider is whether your car insurance will be valid without an IDP, even if not asked for?

Why, do you know of any car insurance which says you need an IDP in a country where it's not required? 

No, but I can well imagine an insurance company wiggling out of a claim if you do not have all your paperwork in order ie. their argument would be you should not have been driving in the country without an IDP thus your insurance is invalid. 

Your imagination is working overtime. Why should you not be driving in a country that doesn't require an IDP? Do you think you need one for the UK too? Maybe you can find a clause from the T&Cs of any insurer that says you need an IDP in a country that doesn't require an IDP by law. Or a story of anyone being refused a claim because they didn't have an unnecessary IDP.

Otherwise, put it down to your overactive imagination. 

RSTime

zagfles said:

RSTime said:

zagfles said:

RSTime said:

The other issue to consider is whether your car insurance will be valid without an IDP, even if not asked for?

Why, do you know of any car insurance which says you need an IDP in a country where it's not required? 

No, but I can well imagine an insurance company wiggling out of a claim if you do not have all your paperwork in order ie. their argument would be you should not have been driving in the country without an IDP thus your insurance is invalid. 

Your imagination is working overtime. Why should you not be driving in a country that doesn't require an IDP? Do you think you need one for the UK too? Maybe you can find a clause from the T&Cs of any insurer that says you need an IDP in a country that doesn't require an IDP by law. Or a story of anyone being refused a claim because they didn't have an unnecessary IDP.

Otherwise, put it down to your overactive imagination. 

If it isn’t required why have they bothered setting up the system? We all make judgement calls, happy to differ.

vacheron

RSTime said:

We visited a paypoint at a petrol station last week. The person we spoke to rolled his eyes. I had a chat with him and he explained he could not do them when on his own or when busy, and they were a burden to process. Anyhow, his colleague helped us, took ~10 minutes, photo had to be trimmed, IDP card filled in using a good old fashioned pen, photo stuck on with a Pritt stick, and then stamped. They had actually run out of one of the cards (USA one I suspect). I am still flabbergasted that an online solution is not available 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yes, It's a sight to behold and a trip down memory lane for us living in the 21st century!

Scissors, glue and ink stamps along with every form and number written in by hand! I had one done for our trip to Tenerife this year after the hire car company insisted I needed one to drive in Spain on a UK licence last year (you absolutely do not) . But considering the £5 to get one before I leave the country as a precaution versus 50 euros to get an emergency one in country like I had to last year, I wasn't taking any chances!

Fortunately they were still being done at the Post Office when I got mine. 

zagfles

RSTime said:

zagfles said:

RSTime said:

zagfles said:

RSTime said:

The other issue to consider is whether your car insurance will be valid without an IDP, even if not asked for?

Why, do you know of any car insurance which says you need an IDP in a country where it's not required? 

No, but I can well imagine an insurance company wiggling out of a claim if you do not have all your paperwork in order ie. their argument would be you should not have been driving in the country without an IDP thus your insurance is invalid. 

Your imagination is working overtime. Why should you not be driving in a country that doesn't require an IDP? Do you think you need one for the UK too? Maybe you can find a clause from the T&Cs of any insurer that says you need an IDP in a country that doesn't require an IDP by law. Or a story of anyone being refused a claim because they didn't have an unnecessary IDP.

Otherwise, put it down to your overactive imagination. 

If it isn’t required why have they bothered setting up the system? We all make judgement calls, happy to differ.

Because it IS required by some countries! Check where you're going to see if you need one. 

zagfles

vacheron said:

RSTime said:

We visited a paypoint at a petrol station last week. The person we spoke to rolled his eyes. I had a chat with him and he explained he could not do them when on his own or when busy, and they were a burden to process. Anyhow, his colleague helped us, took ~10 minutes, photo had to be trimmed, IDP card filled in using a good old fashioned pen, photo stuck on with a Pritt stick, and then stamped. They had actually run out of one of the cards (USA one I suspect). I am still flabbergasted that an online solution is not available 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yes, It's a sight to behold and a trip down memory lane for us living in the 21st century!

Scissors, glue and ink stamps along with every form and number written in by hand! I had one done for our trip to Tenerife this year after the hire car company insisted I needed one to drive in Spain on a UK licence last year (you absolutely do not) . But considering the £5 to get one before I leave the country as a precaution versus 50 euros to get an emergency one in country like I had to last year, I wasn't taking any chances!

Fortunately they were still being done at the Post Office when I got mine. 

Yeah I remember that when we went to Croatia when they were needed (before they joined the EU, don't think you need one now). I suspect they'll be going obsolete which is why they haven't upgraded the system, now that you can just get a code on the DVLA website which car hire companies etc can use to check your driving licence and any points/endorsements online. 

I still have a UK paper licence which I've never had a problem hiring cars with in various countries round the world. 

eDicky

zagfles said:

vacheron said:

RSTime said:

We visited a paypoint at a petrol station last week. The person we spoke to rolled his eyes. I had a chat with him and he explained he could not do them when on his own or when busy, and they were a burden to process. Anyhow, his colleague helped us, took ~10 minutes, photo had to be trimmed, IDP card filled in using a good old fashioned pen, photo stuck on with a Pritt stick, and then stamped. They had actually run out of one of the cards (USA one I suspect). I am still flabbergasted that an online solution is not available 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yes, It's a sight to behold and a trip down memory lane for us living in the 21st century!

Scissors, glue and ink stamps along with every form and number written in by hand! I had one done for our trip to Tenerife this year after the hire car company insisted I needed one to drive in Spain on a UK licence last year (you absolutely do not) . But considering the £5 to get one before I leave the country as a precaution versus 50 euros to get an emergency one in country like I had to last year, I wasn't taking any chances!

Fortunately they were still being done at the Post Office when I got mine. 

I suspect they'll be going obsolete which is why they haven't upgraded the system, now that you can just get a code on the DVLA website which car hire companies etc can use to check your driving licence and any points/endorsements online.

That system serves a different purpose to the IDP, which will presumably still be needed while certain countries require them - indefinitely..?

It's been a while since I had an IDP myself, if I remember correctly the inner pages consist of translations into various languages. This is likely the reason for the booklet format, and would require a new international convention to produce a condensed digital photo card style, if actually feasible.

IDPs are of course issued by most countries, in the same formats according to the conventions, not only by the UK. i once had one issued in Thailand when I lived there, didn't find much use for it but a friend used one for driving in UK.

In practice I've never found the need for an IDP in the countries I've visited, including some of those listed as requiring one on the gov website. A national licence was always accepted by police and hire firms.

RSTime

Just picked up a car in New Zealand and the company wanted to see the IDP. I asked what would happen if we did not have one and they they send customers to a web site to fill a form (not sure what the nature of this form is or where it is located, NZ I suspect), they also mentioned that not all companies ask for it.