Getting an International Driving Permit since Post office stopped issuing them.

[theageofthetra]

Has anyone had any luck since this appalling change? There is not one Paypoint issuer in Central London and all the rest are in high crime hell holes I've no intention of visiting.

Is there any other alternative.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Sadly PayPoint only option I think.

If it helps we have recently been on a road trip through the Balkans and never got asked for an IDP at the car rental places, borders, insurance places etc. but obviously your mileage may vary!

 

[stuu]

There's one off Victoria Street, which, like all the rest of London, isn't a crime ridden hellhole. Certainly no worse than most countries which require an IDP

 

[Undaunted]

I tried to get an IDP from a PayPoint in Weymouth earlier this year, and was told that the person who deals with them was on two weeks holiday! No-one else in the shop knew how to issue them.

I was planning a trip to Canada. According to gov.uk I needed an IDP to drive there. Further research, particularly with hire car companies in Canada, indicated that an IDP was not necessary unless your domestic driving licence was not in English or French.

Last year we visited New Zealand. It had never occurred to me to check if we needed an IDP and, as we hired three cars at different times to cover huge distances, our holiday plans would have been seriously compromised if we had needed one. We were never asked for one, but according to the gov.uk website (checked retrospectively) we needed one.

So the gov.uk website is misleading. I would check with car hire companies in the country you are visiting (and doing so might help even if you are using your own car).

The 'outsourcing' of issuing IDPs looks like an absolute shambles.

 

[The exile]

Last year we visited New Zealand. It had never occurred to me to check if we needed an IDP and, as we hired three cars at different times to cover huge distances, our holiday plans would have been seriously compromised if we had needed one. We were never asked for one, but according to the gov.uk website (checked retrospectively) we needed one.

So the gov.uk website is misleading. I would check with car hire companies in the country you are visiting (and doing so might help even if you are using your own car).

It’s not misleading if it’s a legal requirement, whether or not you’re actually asked to show it. In a similar vein, in my years as a British resident of Germany, I “needed” to have my passport with me every time I crossed a border, despite the fact that it was not checked once. I might have got away with not carrying ID in the country I was resident in - the consequences of not doing so in another one (especially where I didn’t speak the language) could have been extremely awkward.

 

[Undaunted]

It’s not misleading if it’s a legal requirement, whether or not you’re actually asked to show it. In a similar vein, in my years as a British resident of Germany, I “needed” to have my passport with me every time I crossed a border, despite the fact that it was not checked once. I might have got away with not carrying ID in the country I was resident in - the consequences of not doing so in another one (especially where I didn’t speak the language) could have been extremely awkward.

The key word is 'if' in your first sentence. The information regarding the need for someone with a UK driving licence to be in possession of an IDP for hiring a car in Canada came from FAQs on car hire companies websites. If it were a legal requirement for an IDP to be held by someone from abroad who was in possession of a driving licence in English or French, I suggest it would be remarkably misleading of them to be so clear that it was not a requirement for the purposes of hiring a car. They could, after all, have chosen a response such as 'we do not require to see an IDP when you hire a car if your licence is in English or French, but it is a legal requirement in Canada for you to hold one'. After all, these companies are gatekeepers for non-Canadian drivers to drive on Canadian roads and you would have to ask why their government would not make possession of an IDP a requirement for hiring a car car.

I used the word 'misleading' rather than 'wrong'. There may be people resident in this country who do not hold a licence in English or French. There is perhaps scope for the government to qualify what is currently a black and whie statement. And think again about how IDPs are currently issued.

 

[simonw]

Never needed one to hire a car in Canada and never asked when stopped by the police to produce one.

 

[The exile]

The key word is 'if' in your first sentence. The information regarding the need for someone with a UK driving licence to be in possession of an IDP for hiring a car in Canada came from FAQs on car hire companies websites. If it were a legal requirement for an IDP to be held by someone from abroad who was in possession of a driving licence in English or French, I suggest it would be remarkably misleading of them to be so clear that it was not a requirement for the purposes of hiring a car. They could, after all, have chosen a response such as 'we do not require to see an IDP when you hire a car if your licence is in English or French, but it is a legal requirement in Canada for you to hold one'. After all, these companies are gatekeepers for non-Canadian drivers to drive on Canadian roads and you would have to ask why their government would not make possession of an IDP a requirement for hiring a car car.

I used the word 'misleading' rather than 'wrong'. There may be people resident in this country who do not hold a licence in English or French. There is perhaps scope for the government to qualify what is currently a black and whie statement. And think again about how IDPs are currently issued.

There could still be a difference between the letter of the law (you need one) and practice at all levels (you’ll normally only need it if our authorities won’t be able understand yours - but make sure you don’t fail the attitude test with one of our officers who knows about the thing’s existence!) Both can coexist for a long time (especially as it is entirely irrelevant to most Canadians) but the uk government can only quote the letter of the law.

 

[Trackman]

It’s not misleading if it’s a legal requirement, whether or not you’re actually asked to show it. In a similar vein, in my years as a British resident of Germany, I “needed” to have my passport with me every time I crossed a border, despite the fact that it was not checked once. I might have got away with not carrying ID in the country I was resident in - the consequences of not doing so in another one (especially where I didn’t speak the language) could have been extremely awkward.

A friend was in Germany just before we left the EU and they had to cross the border by bus, and the bus driver asked him for his passport which he left at the hotel so wouldn't let him on.

 

[ninja-lewis]

There could still be a difference between the letter of the law (you need one) and practice at all levels (you’ll normally only need it if our authorities won’t be able understand yours - but make sure you don’t fail the attitude test with one of our officers who knows about the thing’s existence!)Both can coexist for a long time (esoecially as it is entirely possible relevant to most Canadians) but the uk government can only quote the letter of the law.

Main reason to have one is that someone could choose to make your life difficult if you're supposed to have it but don't. Whether a rental car desk turning you away, a Police officer who has pulled you over for a document check (more common with rental cars as they may be reported as stolen when returned late) or especially an insurance company looking for a way to get out of a claim. It depends how you weigh up the likelihood and impact of those risks vs the hassle of obtaining a IDP.

Maybe try cross-checking PayPoint terminals with Post Offices counters as they may be more familiar with the process than the average PayPoint shop.

 

[12LDA28C]

Has anyone had any luck since this appalling change? There is not one Paypoint issuer in Central London and all the rest are in high crime hell holes I've no intention of visiting.

Is there any other alternative.

It seems the 'other alternative' is simply not to bother. I've driven in plenty of other countries in Europe and North America and never been asked for an IDP by any car rental company or police when stopped.

 

[sh24]

I've rented in probably 60+ countries across every continent (excluding Antarctica ) and have never been asked for an IDP. Had to obtain a local licence in Samoa, but that was just a piece of paper with a stamp on that cost USD10.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Never needed one to hire a car in Canada and never asked when stopped by the police to produce one.

I've booked a car from Toronto Airport next month, and this thread has reminded me I will need an IDP.
The Europcar rules (so probably common to all renters) are:

IDP needed:
- if your licence is not in Latin script
- if your licence is not in English
- if your licence is in English but not from US, Canada, Australia, NZ and the EU

Since Brexit, regular UK drivers need an IDP.
It's another of those "Brexit freedoms" the Tories were always on about.

IF THE NATIONAL DRIVER’S LICENSE IS PRINTED WITH NON-ROMAN ALPHABET (ARABIC, CHINESE, JAPANESE, CYRILLIC, ETC) MUST BE COMPLEMENTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT(IDP). DRIVERS LICENSES THAT ARE IN ENGLISH ARE ONLY ACCEPTED FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. NATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSES FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION THAT IS NOT IN ENGLISH, AS WELL AS COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION, MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVER’S PERMIT. INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS ARE ONLY VALID OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN WHEN PRESENTED WITH THE ORIGINAL NATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE. NATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSES MUST BE VALID AT LEAST 6 MONTHS OUT FROM THE DATE OF RENTAL IN ORDER TO BE USED TO RENT THE VEHICLE. NOTE: CUSTOMER LIVING IN CANADA FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AND HAVING PERMANENT STATUS OR CANADIAN CITIZENS CANNOT USE ANY OTHER COUNTRY’S DRIVER’S LOCAL/INTERNATIONAL LICENCE. THEY MUST OBTAIN A FULL GRADUATE LOCAL CANADIAN DRIVER’S LICENCE IN ORDER TO RENT

 

[jonnycoleraine]

I've booked a car from Toronto Airport next month, and this thread has reminded me I will need an IDP.
The Europcar rules (so probably common to all renters) are:

IDP needed:
- if your licence is not in Latin script
- if your licence is not in English
- if your licence is in English but not from US, Canada, Australia, NZ and the EU

Since Brexit, regular UK drivers need an IDP.
It's another of those "Brexit freedoms" the Tories were always on about.

You absolutely will not. Just to save you the hassle.

I've also rented in about 50+ countries, including US, Canada, Oz, NZ, SA and a host of smaller nations. And had license/paper work etc checked by police and border staff

A few, eg caribbean islands, will sell you a local permit on arrival, but not ever, EVER, has an IDP been mentioned.

I'd wager that most car rental desk staff would not have the first clue what they are.

Similarly, the code needed from DVLA to hire in the UK is something foreign rental desks are blissfully unaware of.

Simply present your UK plastic card and go enjoy. No need to over complicate.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Oct 2024 ==

I've rented in probably 60+ countries across every continent (excluding Antarctica ) and have never been asked for an IDP. Had to obtain a local licence in Samoa, but that was just a piece of paper with a stamp on that cost USD10.

You sir, have hit the nail on the head.

Good to see a sensible real world reply!

Hopefully save these people from wasting the time and money on an IDP.

 

[signed]

The main IDP requiring country seems to be Japan. Which makes some European licenses illegal (Japan doesn't recognize one format that some European (France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco and Taiwan) countries issue), you have to do some specific things to translate your license.

How to apply for a translation

You can apply online for a Japanese Translation of your driver's license issued by JAF. Please check the documents required for application, fees, etc. from this page, and proceed to the Foreign Driver’s License Translation Application Site.

english.jaf.or.jp

 

[theageofthetra]

The main IDP requiring country seems to be Japan. Which makes some European licenses illegal (Japan doesn't recognize one format that some European (France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco and Taiwan) countries issue), you have to do some specific things to translate your license.

How to apply for a translation

You can apply online for a Japanese Translation of your driver's license issued by JAF. Please check the documents required for application, fees, etc. from this page, and proceed to the Foreign Driver’s License Translation Application Site.

english.jaf.or.jp

So does Korea and Thailand, where I have driven previously and was checked.

My general understanding is that it's mainly required in countries if your issued licence is not in the same type of script as they use.

If you do require and IDP make sure the person issuing it puts the correct vehicle category on it, the last one I got done at a Post Office was incorrect and the idiot also put the expiry not the issue date

Thanks for the Victoria Street suggestion, I didn't notice that on the Paypoint website.

 

[12LDA28C]

I've booked a car from Toronto Airport next month, and this thread has reminded me I will need an IDP.
The Europcar rules (so probably common to all renters) are:

IDP needed:
- if your licence is not in Latin script
- if your licence is not in English
- if your licence is in English but not from US, Canada, Australia, NZ and the EU

Since Brexit, regular UK drivers need an IDP.
It's another of those "Brexit freedoms" the Tories were always on about.

I hired a car from Vancouver back in April. At no point whilst collecting the car, or dropping it off at Calgary, was I asked to provide an IDP.

 

[Red Onion]

I recently hired a car in Toronto and never required an IDP. Not have I ever in the past 20 years I’ve been renting in Canada.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I recently hired a car in Toronto and never required an IDP. Not have I ever in the past 20 years I’ve been renting in Canada.

I don't know how true this is but if you have a prang the insurance people will ask for an IDP as part of their tick-lists.
So I quite understand IDPs are not needed or requested for routine situations, but might matter a great deal if you have an accident.

 

[Red Onion]

I don't know how true this is but if you have a prang the insurance people will ask for an IDP as part of their tick-lists.
So I quite understand IDPs are not needed or requested for routine situations, but might matter a great deal if you have an accident.

Interesting point, which I think I will take into consideration next time!

 

[JonasB]

My general understanding is that it's mainly required in countries if your issued licence is not in the same type of script as they use.

That is certainly an important reason for it. Another big reason for the IDP is to translate the categories of the licence to a standard format. Otherwise it can be a bit tricky for a policeman to know what kind of vehicles you're allowed to drive with a Restriction 5-licence from the Philippines, a Class 4-licence from Manitoba or a Malaysian DA-licence.