International Driver's License and Insurance Questions
Sep 29th, 2006, 07:50 AM
#1
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International Driver's License and Insurance Questions
Recently some contributors to the European side if Travel Talk raised the question of insurance coverage and the International License. As a related issue, the question was also raised about driving in the US or Canada (where most US insurance policies are valid) with an expired license. Would the insured still be covered if involved in an accident with an expired license under those conditions?
In response the the first question, AutoEurope had this to say about the International Driver's License requirement.
I quote from the response I received:
----------
Thank you for your email. For countries that require an International Driver's License, it is normal policy that the rental agency will not even check the car out to someone who does not have an International Driver's License. That being said, they usually will not even allow secondary drivers to sign on to the rental agreement (and thus be
covered by the insurances as a driver) without an International Driver's
License.
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If that is the case, the question of an expired, missing, or otherwise invalid set of licensing credentials becomes somewhat of a moot point. You cannot rent the car to begin with.
The question of having an accident while driving with an expired license was answered by the senior claims specialist for the Southeastern Office of my insurance company.
Accoreding to him, if the license has expired and the insured has an accident, the insurance is still in effect. (He of course was speaking for his company's policies, but auto insurance policies are similar.)
If the insured is driving on a revoked or suspended license, the coverage picture changes and, depending on the full set curcumstances, the insurance company is not legally obligated. The situation presumes that the insurance would have been sold initially ONLY to the holder of a valid license.
As far as my own insurance coverage is concerned, and similar circumstances are probably true for most of us, my automobile insurance is valid in Canada. It is NOT valid in Mexico.
Those of us who have rented in Europe know that most rental car contracts in Western Europe includes liability insurance. Collision and other coverages such as theft are usually additional expenses.
In response the the first question, AutoEurope had this to say about the International Driver's License requirement.
I quote from the response I received:
----------
Thank you for your email. For countries that require an International Driver's License, it is normal policy that the rental agency will not even check the car out to someone who does not have an International Driver's License. That being said, they usually will not even allow secondary drivers to sign on to the rental agreement (and thus be
covered by the insurances as a driver) without an International Driver's
License.
-------------
If that is the case, the question of an expired, missing, or otherwise invalid set of licensing credentials becomes somewhat of a moot point. You cannot rent the car to begin with.
The question of having an accident while driving with an expired license was answered by the senior claims specialist for the Southeastern Office of my insurance company.
Accoreding to him, if the license has expired and the insured has an accident, the insurance is still in effect. (He of course was speaking for his company's policies, but auto insurance policies are similar.)
If the insured is driving on a revoked or suspended license, the coverage picture changes and, depending on the full set curcumstances, the insurance company is not legally obligated. The situation presumes that the insurance would have been sold initially ONLY to the holder of a valid license.
As far as my own insurance coverage is concerned, and similar circumstances are probably true for most of us, my automobile insurance is valid in Canada. It is NOT valid in Mexico.
Those of us who have rented in Europe know that most rental car contracts in Western Europe includes liability insurance. Collision and other coverages such as theft are usually additional expenses.
Sep 29th, 2006, 09:43 AM
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Liability - aka third party - is the minimum most European states require.
It's also what the insurance company will reduce your insurance to if you have an accident & you are found to be breaking the law - speeding, drunk, tired... - so your personal losses aren't covered just those of people who make a claim against you.
It's also what the insurance company will reduce your insurance to if you have an accident & you are found to be breaking the law - speeding, drunk, tired... - so your personal losses aren't covered just those of people who make a claim against you.
Sep 29th, 2006, 09:51 AM
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Liability insurance over here is linked to the car and not the driver. The owner has to make sure the car is insured, if someone operates the car without insurance the penalty to the owner will be a max. of 1 year in prison.
Sep 29th, 2006, 09:58 AM
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Where's "here".
In the UK insurance is normally linked to a car - though for cheaper premiums most people will only have named (or over a certain age) drivers.
The insurance MAY allow you to drive other cars but, unless you transfer the whole insurance, it's generally at the legal minimum level
In the UK insurance is normally linked to a car - though for cheaper premiums most people will only have named (or over a certain age) drivers.
The insurance MAY allow you to drive other cars but, unless you transfer the whole insurance, it's generally at the legal minimum level
Sep 29th, 2006, 01:25 PM
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Bob Brown, thanks for checking that out, but Auto Europe is giving us a lot of "bull" here. We have rented through Auto Europe a dozen or more times -- including in Italy where an IDP is required. As we all know, you don't get the car at Auto Europe, you get it through Avis, Hertz, Europecar or whomever. But we have NEVER been asked to show an IDP when picking up a car, and dozens of other posters have posted here saying that they were never asked for an IDP. So they really haven't answered the question. If the renter hasn't been asked if he has an IDP and he doesn't, but has a wreck -- will Auto Europe come back at him and say he was driving illegally and he wasn't covered? Saying that the person without an IDP couldn't rent the car to begin with is just ignoring the question -- as we all know, one can easily rent without one -- including where they are required by law.
Sep 29th, 2006, 02:16 PM
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I probably haven't read all the details, but the IDP thing isn't really the issue of the question, is it? The question is will they cover you if you don't even have a valid driver's license. I haven't rented in Italy, so don't know, but even if a place doesn't make you show an IDP there (though supposedly required), they do at least make you show your regular driver's license, don't they? Every place I've rented has, regardless of country.
NOw I think I do understand your point, Neapolitan, that even if you are entirely legal with a valid driver's license, will their insurance company try to claim you were illegal just because you don't have an IDP? They should answer that question, if you just tell them -- sorry, but I have rented cars without showing an IDP, so I know you can do it. Anyway, an IDP isn't any kind of legal document and doesn't bestow any driving privileges itself, so I don't see how they could not pay because of that, I think you could sue them if they did.
NOw I think I do understand your point, Neapolitan, that even if you are entirely legal with a valid driver's license, will their insurance company try to claim you were illegal just because you don't have an IDP? They should answer that question, if you just tell them -- sorry, but I have rented cars without showing an IDP, so I know you can do it. Anyway, an IDP isn't any kind of legal document and doesn't bestow any driving privileges itself, so I don't see how they could not pay because of that, I think you could sue them if they did.
Sep 29th, 2006, 02:29 PM
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Christine, that's right. This question came up on another post when someone asked if you didn't have an IDP in a country where one is required and you had an accident, would the insurance cover you.
That's what bob was presumably trying to get answered here, but I guess Auto Europe bypassed the question all together.
I think we all know that if you are driving without a valid license at all that you probably wouldn't be covered. The question is if you don't have an IDP where one is required by law.
I'd question you last couple of statements about an IDP not being a legal document. If a government REQUIRES that you have such a document and you don't, I'm not sure what ground you would have to stand on in a lawsuit, since you were clearly breaking the law.
That's what bob was presumably trying to get answered here, but I guess Auto Europe bypassed the question all together.
I think we all know that if you are driving without a valid license at all that you probably wouldn't be covered. The question is if you don't have an IDP where one is required by law.
I'd question you last couple of statements about an IDP not being a legal document. If a government REQUIRES that you have such a document and you don't, I'm not sure what ground you would have to stand on in a lawsuit, since you were clearly breaking the law.
Oct 26th, 2006, 02:03 PM
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A legal document issued by the motor club, that's a good laugh (in Germany at least!) An IDP can never be a legal document over here, nor can it be required to have one. An "international drivers license" otoh is a vaild document, but US americans can't provide one, because their states don't issue those documents. 
Oct 26th, 2006, 02:19 PM
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From the US State Dept. web site:
International Driving Permits
Although many countries do not recognize U.S. driver's licenses, most countries accept an international driving permit (IDPs). IDPs are honored in more than 150 countries outside the U.S. (See AAA’s application form for the list of countries. They function as an official translation of a U.S. driver's license into 10 foreign languages. These licenses are not intended to replace valid U.S. state licenses and should only be used as a supplement to a valid license. IDPs are not valid in an individual’s country of residence. Before departure, you can obtain one from an automobile association authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs. Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic (1949) authorizes the U.S. Department of State to empower certain organizations to issue IDPs to those who hold valid U.S. driver’s licenses. The Department has designated the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance as the only authorized distributors of IDPs.
International Driving Permits
Although many countries do not recognize U.S. driver's licenses, most countries accept an international driving permit (IDPs). IDPs are honored in more than 150 countries outside the U.S. (See AAA’s application form for the list of countries. They function as an official translation of a U.S. driver's license into 10 foreign languages. These licenses are not intended to replace valid U.S. state licenses and should only be used as a supplement to a valid license. IDPs are not valid in an individual’s country of residence. Before departure, you can obtain one from an automobile association authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue IDPs. Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic (1949) authorizes the U.S. Department of State to empower certain organizations to issue IDPs to those who hold valid U.S. driver’s licenses. The Department has designated the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance as the only authorized distributors of IDPs.
Oct 26th, 2006, 02:57 PM
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I think people are mixing apples and oranges. An IDP is just a translation of someone's drivers license, it is not a license to drive. In the US, it is issued by AAA, and it is honored in Germany. In Germany, they are issued by ADAC, the German equivalent of AAA. When you are driving in a foreign country, they are of great assistance to local authorities in the event of an accident or traffic violation.
Oct 26th, 2006, 03:09 PM
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>In Germany, they are issued by ADAC
Surely not!!!
Only the state has this authority, plus since Germany hasn't signed the treaty there is no IDP in Germany. We have an "ID License" which is not officially accepted in the US, but in many other countries. The result, since our IDL and your IDP are "incompatible", our autorities simply accept your national license for up to one year. In the US there's always the risk, that some police officers aren't aware of this. But a translation is always nice to have.
Surely not!!!
Only the state has this authority, plus since Germany hasn't signed the treaty there is no IDP in Germany. We have an "ID License" which is not officially accepted in the US, but in many other countries. The result, since our IDL and your IDP are "incompatible", our autorities simply accept your national license for up to one year. In the US there's always the risk, that some police officers aren't aware of this. But a translation is always nice to have.
Oct 26th, 2006, 03:15 PM
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From the German Embassy web site in the US:
Driving in Germany with a U.S. Driver's License
Anyone who holds a valid driver's license which has been properly acquired during a stay in the United States of at least 185 days is entitled to operate a vehicle in Germany temporarily -- regardless of age. "Temporarily" means a maximum of six months. The six-month grace period begins when "ordinary residency" has been established in Germany. During this period, the driver is to carry a translation, including the driver's class, along with the actual license. The translation is issued for a fee by the ADAC* (the German equivalent of the American Automobile Association) and other institutions.
Driving in Germany with a U.S. Driver's License
Anyone who holds a valid driver's license which has been properly acquired during a stay in the United States of at least 185 days is entitled to operate a vehicle in Germany temporarily -- regardless of age. "Temporarily" means a maximum of six months. The six-month grace period begins when "ordinary residency" has been established in Germany. During this period, the driver is to carry a translation, including the driver's class, along with the actual license. The translation is issued for a fee by the ADAC* (the German equivalent of the American Automobile Association) and other institutions.
Oct 26th, 2006, 03:22 PM
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From the US Embassy website in Germany - advice to German Travelers to US.
Is my German driver's license valid in the U.S.? Do I need an international driver's license to rent a car?
The U.S. has an agreement with most countries whereby the renter's full national driving license may be used for a period of up to one year in the U.S.A. This applies to the full German driving license.
Is my German driver's license valid in the U.S.? Do I need an international driver's license to rent a car?
The U.S. has an agreement with most countries whereby the renter's full national driving license may be used for a period of up to one year in the U.S.A. This applies to the full German driving license.
Oct 26th, 2006, 03:26 PM
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Correct Jack, this isn't an IDP or IDL, no official document, just a translation. IDLs for Germans are ONLY issued by the state, IDP's are not avialable to Germans. You will get a one year grace period, when you apply for this btw..
Oct 26th, 2006, 03:54 PM
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I've been following this thread and I don't understand how you came to that conclusion. It seems like the opposite is true.
p.s. The form that I used to get my IDP from AAA in the US says that it is honored in Germany
I've been following this thread and I don't understand how you came to that conclusion. It seems like the opposite is true.
p.s. The form that I used to get my IDP from AAA in the US says that it is honored in Germany
Oct 26th, 2006, 04:09 PM
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I't's honored just like a translation written by yourself. Point is, there's no legal basis for the IDP in Germany. You can show it to the police, just that they can't ask you to provide one if you're a US citizen. The government can't pass a law to make an IDP nessesary an Germany, without signing the treaty on which it is based. And they can't treat documents from foreign motor clubs as legal documents, they're just a piece of paper. No legal basis, nothing the executive can do.
Oct 26th, 2006, 04:28 PM
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logos,
I don't think anyone here is saying that an IDP is any kind of an official driver's license. They are simply saying it is an official translation of a person's driving license, and as such, IDPs are accepted (as a translation of of a person's license) by law enforcement authorities in over 150 countries, including Germany. For that reason, it is well worth carrying one with you when you travel.
I don't think anyone here is saying that an IDP is any kind of an official driver's license. They are simply saying it is an official translation of a person's driving license, and as such, IDPs are accepted (as a translation of of a person's license) by law enforcement authorities in over 150 countries, including Germany. For that reason, it is well worth carrying one with you when you travel.
