Greekgazoo

What is the process i need to take to get an International Drivers License?

I plan on picking up a car in Munich and dropping off in Salzburg several days later. I realize i will be changing countries on this trip. How easy is it to change between countries with a car in europe. What sort of identification or special ticket would i need to travel in Germany and Austria.

Thanks

janisj

it is not a license. It is an International Driver's Permit and is merely a translations of your own license. You will need it in Austria. Are you in the States? If so just go to the local AAA office. They cost $15

Budman

janisj is correct about the $15 to get the permit at AAA. That's what it cost me since I had brought in my two photos. My wife went, and it cost her a little over $25. $15 for the permit and $10 + tax for the two photos.

Take a couple of digital photos of yourself with the proper background/size, and take it to your local drug store and print them out for about .50 cents.

kerouac

You only need it in Austria and Italy. The other countries have learned to read foreign licenses, particularly the ones in English.

ira

Hi GG,

Are you planning on picking the car up in Munich, visiting the castles and driving to Salzburg?

If so, you will have a large drop off fee.

OTOH, if you pick up in Munich, drive to Salzburg, go to the castles and drop off in Munich, you won't.

In addition to the required IDP, you will need a road tax sticker (vignette) to drive on Austrian highways. Almost every road at the border is a highway, so pay the 7E for a 10-day vignette.

>How easy is it to change between countries with a car in europe. <

You just drive. It's like going between States in the US.

ira

PS,

See
www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp#idp

JN

I just bought an IDP from AAA this week. $15 for the permit, $12 plus tax for the photos they took. You could bring your own and save the latter cost. For me, the convenience was worth the 12 bucks.

chartley

I had always assumed that one of the advantages of E.U. membership for British drivers is that our driving licences should be accepted in all member states. The AA site (www.theaa.com) would seem to confirm that, although the new licences with a photo are preferred.

I am not sure why a British licence written in English should be OK, while an American licence is not. Perhaps it is a question of standardisation and familiarity.

Incidentally, the AA says that an International Driving Permit is recommended for British drivers in the USA.

kerouac

I was stopped for speeding a few time in the US and I allowed the police officers to suffer with deciphering my French license. Two out of the three three times, they preferred to let me off to avoid looking stupid. Same thing in Australia. (No, I am not really a speed maniac, but on empty desert roads where you see one car per hour, it is quite difficult to drive the posted limit.)

JoyC

We recently did this scenario a couple of weeks ago - picked up the car in Munich and dropped it off in Vienna instead of Salzburg. Two things that differed from the experience of some of the posters here: (a) the drop-off fee wasn't that excessive ~€85 for a 5 day rental. I calculated our train fare from Munich to Salzburg and for 3 people it practically evened out, train fare was even higher. (b)maybe an exception instead of a rule, but the very kind lady in the rental office said that if a car with Austrian plates was available, she would give it to us to avoid the drop off fee.

The vignette for 10 days cost €7,6.

tcreath

Sometimes you can find a decent drop-off rate, particularly if you are close to the border of the country where you picked the car up from, but unfortunately this is not always the case. It pays to do research ahead of time and make your arrangements accordingly. I have received quotes for drop-off fees in excess of $500...yikes!

Tracy