Travel writer Michael Gebicki was glad he had bought an international driving permit (IDP) before travelling to Italy in September.
The man in front of him at a Brindisi Airport car rental queue was refused a hire vehicle because he didn’t have an IDP, Gebicki said in an article recently published in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
The staff insisted an IDP was legally required. “No IDP, no car.”
Gebicki checked. Sure enough, to drive in Italy non-EU licence holders are required to have an IDP to drive or to have a translation of their licence in Italian.
“If you’re driving in Europe, be prepared for some surprises because there are very few countries that do not require an IDP,” he wrote.
“The IDP is essentially a translation of your driver’s licence into several major languages, yet even Ireland, where English language proficiency is hardly an issue, car hirers are required to have an IDP.”
A reader responded to the article. In a letter to the editor, she said on a recent trip to South Korea she had been unable to hire a car without an IDP.
Japanese car rental companies are also known to insist on IDPs.
How to check whether you need an IDP
Not all countries require Australian drivers to have IDPs, but most do.
To check whether your next intended overseas driving destination requires an IDP, visit www.aaa.asn.au/international-motoring.
Go to the Driving overseas tool and insert your destination.
(Incidentally, the Australian Automobile Association is the only approved seller of IDPs for Australian driver licence holders – any documents issued by other parties are fraudulent and will not be accepted by oversea authorities.)
Better safe than sorry
Gebicki acknowledged that not all car hire companies will ask for an IDP, even when one is legally required.
“But driving without one where it’s a legal requirement could have an unhappy ending if you’re involved in an accident,” he wrote.
“You might be deemed an unlicenced driver, with unfortunate consequences. All things considered, $50 is a small price to pay.”
An IDP actually costs $51 – plus postage. But Gebicki is right to conclude that an IDP is a cost-effective way to reduce risks related to vehicle insurance, medical insurance and law enforcement.
While an IDP is proof that you hold a current domestic driver’s licence, you must also carry your domestic driver’s licence card with your IDP.
Be aware that your IDP only covers you for the classes of vehicle you are licensed to drive in Australia.
If you hire a motorcycle but don’t have an Australian motorbike license, you could have serious problems with the police and insurers. Many countries don’t make it clear that these rules apply, and some travellers only realise after they have been stopped by police or have had an accident that they face serious consequences.
The Australian Government recommends that travelers obtain a valid IDP before leaving Australia.
An AAA survey of IDP customers showed 77 per cent used their IDP while overseas. The countries where the IDPs were most widely used included Japan, Italy, France and the US.
Don’t risk it. Get the paperwork before you fly.
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