Driver's license ?
 

Hi, I am an Australian holding a South Australian Driver's License. Do I need to get myself an International Driver's Permit (issued by our local motoring association) or will my Australian Driver's License be accepted within the USA as is the case in many other countries ? Help please, thanks.

Hello Family Travels, I personally do not know. I know that in Italy we got the IDP (being from the US). I would check with your local motoring association. They should know I would think. And welcome to the USA!

Are you renting a car while you're here? If so, call and ask your car rental company; I'll bet they'd know.
You may also want to check with a travel agent.

The IDP has no legal standing by itself; it must be accompanied by a valid driver's license and serves primarily as a translation. So there's be no need for one if you're traveling between countries that use (roughly) the same language.

This got me wondering. So I spent 3 minutes looking on-line. Info I found in several places seemed to indicate that US govt. thinks your Australian licesne is OK, but some car rental companies may require an International License.

I've done my share of driving rental cars outside my U.S. homeland, so I am somewhat familar with what the IDL can and can't do.

The IDL is what it says it is, and nothing more. It is a translation in a couple dozen languages that the bearer is licensed to drive in his/her own country. It has absolutely no legal standing on its own, and quite clearly says so. Without your own country's license, an IDL is worthless.

I am not aware of any country that requires non-citizens to carry an IDL in order to legally drive. You ARE required to carry the license issued by your government, but (as far as I am aware) you are not required to carry a translation card (which is all the IDL is).

If you are worried that a local police officer will not recognize your original driver's license in its own language; an IDL is a good idea. Coming from Australia to the U.S., this should not be an issue. It MIGHT happen that a local police officer would not recognize an Australian license as valid; but, if s/he did not, an IDL wouldn't help one bit.

Nevertheless, some car companies require that non-citizens present an IDL in order to rent from them. That's up for the rental company to decide; some do, some don't. So the decision on whether to get an IDL may rest as much on the rental car company as the legal issues.

There have been several reports on the Europe board that Italy requires foreigners to carry an IDP, including anecdotes about police encounters.

Thanks to everyone for all of that information.
The comments re International Driver's Permit for Europe/Italy were interesting too - we are travelling there too, however we won't be driving.
I reckon I'll go without for the USA (as I won't need the translation re holding an Austrlian License), as (hopefully) we won't have to rent a car but will be able to use relatives.
Thanks again to all. I am looking forward to my time in the USA - where all the people always seem to be so very happy and helpful - just like you guys ! If any of you ever come to Oz I hope we all do the same for you. Cheers.

IDL's seem like a waste of time/money.

I've driven in Italy, France, & Switzerland and have never had an IDL (being a U.S. native).

Seems superfluous.

Though coming to the U.S.A. - who actually knows what the small-print of the "Patriot Act" says. Seems like we've given up plenty of personal rights as U.S. citizens - so maybe we're also encroaching on rights of visitors even more.

In case you are visiting California,

California recognizes any valid driver license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license holder is a resident.

The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a valid driver license.

The IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver license and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California.