4 Important Facts About Getting an International Driving Permit
Our lives at home are made so much easier, more efficient, and richer by our cars. They are one of the things that international travelers most miss – so while some complain about spending much of their vacation time waiting for public transport or paying exorbitant amounts for taxis, others get an International Driving Permit and decide to take matters into their own hands. Today we are looking at how to get an International Driving Permit, and 4 important facts relating to driving overseas and your travel insurance that travellers should know.
1. In Australia, IDPs are issued by the same authority that issues your license
If you do an internet search, you will turn up quite a few results offering International Driving Permits for sale, with just the completion of an online form. These are not valid IDPs – the only body that can issue you with an international license is the same body that issued you with you home license. IDPs are basically multiple-language translations of your driver’s license, and simply state that your driving license is valid in your home country. A random website obviously can’t make that guarantee, and you may end up with hefty costs relating to the incorrect documents (cancellation or curtailment of your trip, etc), if you buy one of these. Costs which a travel insurance won’t reimburse.
2. Some countries don’t recognize IDPs
There are some areas of the world where if you want to drive, you will need to obtain the relevant local permit. The countries that have not subscribed to the IDP convention, and do not honor an IDP, are:
- Brazil
- China
- Mongolia
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Ethiopia
- Eritrea
3. Having an IDP does not guarantee you know the local road rules
This seems obvious, but many travelers fail to inform themselves of the local driving regulations before heading overseas. You will need to learn a variety of phrases in the native language of your destination, because you will need to be able to read road signs to stay safe. Travel insurance may not be able to cover you if you are doing something blatantly unsafe when you are engaged in an accident (such as the common mistake of driving on the wrong side of the road!). In matters that are legally-related like this, always contact the relevant authority in the country you are visiting rather than relying on internet research. You can usually track the authority down using the tourism websites for the country, or through their consulate.
4. IDPs can be useful if you are asked to surrender your passport
Sometimes immigration officials or police in other countries will ask you to surrender your passport. If you need to be without it for a period of time, an international driving permit can help relieve the hassle of being without recognized identification. As a side note, travelers should not surrender their passports to accommodation providers, no matter what they say their ‘rules’ are. If you voluntarily give up your passport, travel insurance may not cover you if your accommodation ‘loses’ it.
