International Drivers Licesce

[lilchappy]

I am needing an International Drivers Licence in about 6 days. I have found some websites throught google. Anyone got one before online? How long did it take? How much did it cost? I found one for 21 bucks through 55 bucks.

thanks
cya...lilchappy

[tumblezweedz]

Uh, why not go down to your local AAA and get one for $10 in 15 minutes? You have to pay extra for the photo, but they do it right there. We've gone to AAA (we're not members) for this service twice, and renewed once on line. No problemo.

[LiveFreeorDie]

^ Yup - AAA is definately the ticket for an Int'l drivers license. I grabbed one last year before a trip as well.

[futboller]

How long does it take to get it once you apply?

And if you have this AAA license, you can really drive in the countries it says you can?

[chasing a dream]

Be carefull with AAA. I used to think they were the sh*t, untill they left me stranded in chicago in a truck with no front brakes. Said I never renewed my membership, got the canseled check to prove I did. However, the others are right, AAA is probobly the fastest way to get an IDL. If you get one on line, who knows how long it will take to be snail mailed to you.

[tumblezweedz]

We've never been AAA members, we just walked into the office in Virginia and said, "We'd like the licence please". Snap, snap, glue, glue, sign, sign. Done. 10 minutes maybe. My husband drove in Lithuania with that licence, no problems. We renewed it through AAA on line the next year, took a while to get, but that was snail mail to Lithuania, sooooooo....

Last year we were visiting relatives in Wisconsin, stopped by an AAA office somewhere in our travels and did the same thing. Walked out the door with it in under 15 minutes.

Yes, you can drive with it in all those places, it really is an international drivers' licence. The only place you can't use it is your home country (and I believe if you live in the US, you can't use it in Canada - you don't need to, of course; not sure about Mexico. Don't need one if you're Canadian to drive in the US, either, natch. Don't know about Mexico.)

Now, to get the IDL, you do have to have a valid local licence, of course, and it doesn't hurt to check out the different road signs, driving regs in the country you're planning on driving in...some of the signs can be quite -- baffling.

[omisan]

Is an IDL really even necessary in most countries? I've never had an issue renting a car abroad using my California driver's license. In some places, the rental agency can sell you a "temporary" local dirver's license for a small fee (I've paid $5) which is pretty meaningless, but makes the local cops happy if you happen to be pulled over. Definitely handy!

[lilchappy]

Thanks guys. I got it today at AAA. Since I was a member, it only cost me 10 bucks and is good for one year. No lamenated card, but a passport looking thing.
Thanks , saved me 45 bucks!!!
cya...lilchappy

[kingcrazylegs]

Originally posted by omisan@Mar 23 2006, 03:12 PM
Is an IDL really even necessary in most countries? I've never had an issue renting a car abroad using my California driver's license.* In some places, the rental agency can sell you a "temporary" local dirver's license for a small fee (I've paid $5) which is pretty meaningless, but makes the local cops happy if you happen to be pulled over. Definitely handy!

[snapback]108547[/snapback]

Usually not necessary. As long as you are 18 most countries will recognise other liscenes for travelers.

[tumblezweedz]

Glad that worked out for you, L-chap.

Usually you don't need an IDL if you're going to be visiting a place short term, but if you plan on living somewhere longer term, it's often recommended. And it's usually way easier to get an IDL than a local license in that case. We have special licenses issued by the military, but we're still supposed to have and IDL when we drive outside of Germany. Never been asked, but it's like insurance, cheaper and easier than dealing with the consequences...

[urOZm8]

I think it is a good idea to have one. I mean my Australian licence is in English only, a bit tough to show if your pulled over in non-English speaking country.

Even if you don't end up using it, it is still a good thing for ID. There was a few times I didn't want to leave my passport with the hostel but they were happy to take this license for collateral instead.

ev

[The Monsignor]

BTW, folks, AAA is just about the only place in the U.S. actually authorized to issue International Driver's licenses!

Since it's essentially just a translation of your state-issued license, it's not a guarantee that you're allowed to drive everywhere, but it certainly helps if you're in another country, pulled over by a non-english speaking cop.

The other sites that claim to produce them really are bogus (and overpriced)

[kingcrazylegs]

If you are planning on staying in a country longer than a couple months its better to get a local liscence than an IDL. I liscences from three different countries at the moment - comes in handy!

[LiveFreeorDie]

There are a few advantages to having an IDL. Depending on who you rent a car from, they may not rent to you unless you have an international DL, or may not let you purchase insurance without it. In many countries the law is that you need the IDL, even though it is not always enforced. Remember, there is no way for a cop in a particular country to be familiar with all different DLs from all different countries. The IDL is a standardized format recognized in many, many countries. Better safe than sorry in my book. This is especially true in countries in regions like SEA where the 'enforced' laws change on a daily basis. Considering it only costs $10 and is good for a year....why not?

[chasing a dream]

Yesterday I was on a few websites from major car rental companies looking at rates for rentals in Spain. They said they STRONGLY recomend an IDL. They said nothing about the leagal end of it though... or if it was required for rentals.