Whathello

My driving license is in 4 languages and I guess standardized.
I have never had a problem anywhere in EU obviously.
Like I don't need a passport but am ok with national ID card.
So it seems the problem is US only ;-)

Heimdall

Hi goof1972,

I prefer getting my advice on matters that could have legal implications from an official source. In the case of Canadians it is https://travel.gc.ca . Select the countries you will travel in, and click on the "Laws and Culture" tab. The paragraph on "Road Travel" will specify the IDP requirements for that country.

I believe the Government of Canada website "recommends" an IDP for the countries you are likely to be in, but doesn't say one is mandatory. Please check for yourself, though. An IDP would be nice to have, but if you re already in Europe it's too late to get one.

In some countries, e.g. Greece, an IDP is mandatory for drivers with Canadian licenses, so don't assume laws are the same everywhere.

AtlTravelr

We rented our car in Zagreb this May and were not asked for the IDL. When I researched this before our trip, I did have my husband get one as we would be traveling in Slovenia where it was required but I also drove and didn't have one. We were never asked for the IDL at any time, including the border crossings (Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina). You will know immediately if the car rental agency requires it as they will ask you for it. We have rented cars in Europe for 20 years and have never had a rental agency ask us for this.

ekscrunchy

All right. Convinced. Will get one for next trip. Which reminds me that I still have not booked car nor air for trip in late October. Things were touch and go due to medical issues but those seem to be resolving.

tom_mn

>>US driving licenses need to be supplemented by the IDP because the US isn't party to the Vienna convention on road traffic.

Reading the convention, http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/t...n/crt1968e.pdf
there's no chance the US will ever sign this as it mandates specific driving laws and each US state sets its own driving laws, there's no national driving law. Anyway, all the requirements (on my license, anyway) of the convention are met with a few exceptions:

1. Fields are not numbered.

2. Does not say in French ""permis de conduire" [Really, the French need to get over the fact that French is not the international language anymore.]

3. Place of birth [???]

4. Does not say country of issuance (because there isn't one).

Also, on my license Class D restricts vehicles driven by weight and in the convention Class D restricts by number of occupants. Having an IDP doesn't resolve this conflict, but it translates it.

Surprised the convention does not require whether corrective lenses are needed, I thought that was an important field. Also, sex is not required, or height, or eye color.

So the IDP issued at AAA in the US is not a translation of the license per se, but satisfies Vienna convention requirements: it numbers the fields, adds place of birth, and identifies the country where the state is that issued the license, and adds the French wording "permis de conduire."

goof1972

Hi guys,

Thank you for your replies....they have been very helpful.

I was successful renting the car in Zagreb, Croatia without it. So far so good. I just drove into Bosnia Herzegovina and also have no problem.

I am going to travel into Slovenia and Austria later. I will update if I enounter any problems . Cross my fingers!

Cheers!

Huggy

I would like to report that the cost of the IDP has risen to almost $30 (including the 2 photos for $7.50) at a Cincinnati AAA office. I felt like I was held up.

Rented in Salzburg for a grand total of 1 days drive here in Austria (The Grossglockner.) Traffic was medium heavy with a great presence of crazy, death defying motorcyclists. This group has never seen a curve in which they believe that they can pass safely. For this reason, I believe that an accident was only inches away and I sure did not want to answer "no" to the police question of "where is your IDP.? So to err on the side of caution, I decided to secure one prior to leaving for Europe. (I still have 3 days of car rental transpiring the Grande des Alpes in France ahead.

After 30 years of driving in Europe, I find my self more cautious. After all, I do not need any more reasons for someone wanting to hassle me. It is your choice alone to get one or not. It is like insurance to me, I wish I would have purchased prior to leaving home if I have an accident here. (Of course, accidents are a hassle even with insurance and they cannot insulate me from the dreaded flash of light from those irritating speeding cameras.)

jubilada

If the 7.50 for the photos makes you feel held up take them on your smart phone .

It baffles me however that even $30 over the cost of a trip to Europe from the US is such an issue .
It may be a stupid law, but it's a law .
I'm way more offended by all the taxes and fees tacked on by the airlines, but I accept all of this as part of the deal.
Don't sweat the small stuff .

halfapair

Hi Goof1972 - thank you for the update on your progress. I'm glad it's all working out well so far and that the rest of your trip is as smooth.

Huggy

Frankly Jubilada, I have little sympathy for your complaint. Taxes are not the responsibility of the airlines. Governments are. As far as fees, the airlines have finally found a profit model that works for them. If you do not like the fees, you have a choice. I have no issue with fees, it is a cost of doing business that someone must absorb.

As someone once said, "it's the economy stupid."

After a couple of million miles of air travel, starting well before airline deregulation, i see a greater amount of the population that can afford air travel as evidenced by the lack of space available on the planes (as well as fewer flights to a particular destination.)

My issue with IDP's is their limited shelf life. My drivers license is good for 4 years, why isn't my IDP?

Whathello

My driver license is valid for 10 years because I renewed it - I have it now under a credit card format.
My wife who takes more care still has her original driving license. So had my father in law. Dating from 196?
So 30 used per year for someone teaveling all time is 1500 U.S. spent compared to my Fil. For nothing.
1400 euros is 100 bottles of good cotes du rhone.
So glad I am not US. But if I were I would not take an IDP.
But don't follow my advice.
I spent 2 years without driving license and 1 year without ID.
My anarchist side.

Huggy

What:

I cannot wait to grow up and be just like you.

H

Whathello

Huggy

You are hired to run my fan club !
First task : to find them...

Have a good day.

jubilada

Huggy, it is a good point but it is also the government that requires the IDP.

IMDonehere

My wife who takes more care still has her original driving license. So had my father in law. Dating from 196?
_____________________
Very impressive. What was the license plate number on his chariot?

Whathello

No driving license at the time. The name of the dinosorus was mentioned though. But the are all dead now.

goof1972

Hi Guys,

Another update here. I finished my trip an drove through Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. I had no issues with the police or at the borders. Nobody asked for my license. The only issue was in Croatia with my passport. They thought I was deported from Thailand. They confused the word DEPORTED with DEPARTED.

No problems with not having an IDP...but I recommend people get one just in case you have an accident and have to interact with the authorities. I won't forget next time .

Cheers,
Brian

greg

When you said " I had no issues with the police," was it because

-You had no encounter with the police?
-The police stopped you, but did not bothered to ask you an IDP?
-The police stopped you, you said no IDP, but they said it was ok?

The border is a different jurisdiction.