If you are annoyed by the buses, trains, and plains, maybe it’s the perfect time to learn more about acquiring IDP or international driver’s permit. What you will need to provide and how much it costs will depend on your country of residence and your license. It will also depend on the location that you are visiting if you will need one or not.
The reason why you would need it is to have a document that translates the information from your original license once you get stopped by their police. It’s worth getting one even if the trip is for a couple of days because it’s quite easy to obtain and it can mean a lot.
What It Represents?
It will be almost 100 years when it was first introduced to the public in Paris. Many things have changed from then like where you can travel with it, where you don’t need it, how to get one, and how long it lasts. It represents a translation of the driving license you acquired in your country and it’s used for motor vehicles meaning that it won’t work for boats.
It is issued by the government in most countries but some institutions have permission to do it also. There are 3 types with different kinds of passes including the 1926 convention, 1949, and 1968.
The 1926 Paris convention isn’t very popular among other countries and you would like to go with the other two. But, the one you choose will depend on the location you are visiting. Also, the 1968 convention lasts for 3 years while the 1949 convention lasts for 1 year only.
What Are The Requirements?
Most young people don’t know anything about needing an international driving license in Europe so they won’t be able to rent a vehicle once they arrive at their destination. Besides being over 18 which is the legal age for driving in Europe, they will need to have their primary license with them.
In the USA, you are able to drive when you are 16 but you won’t be able to do it in Europe. So, besides having your license, you will need to have a passport photo and a few bucks. The amount you will need to spend is ranging from 5 to 15 euros depending on the country.
When the individual is from the US and visits the UK, Ireland, or Wales, they won’t need a permit. There are also a few more destinations where you will be able to drive but some of the most popular locations like Spain, France, and Germany will request one.
Going On a Euro Trip
Some of the countries that will request to see an IDP are: Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Greece, Serbia, and Bosnia. It’s not guaranteed that they will request it if you get in a certain situation but it is required to have one. There is a hefty fine in almost every country that requires it.
The US has come to be a great resource when it comes to traveling abroad so it won’t be hard to get well informed about the laws and rules in the country you are visiting. A more important thing is to check what the COVID regulations are because they may influence your travel schedule the most.
Most of the information about getting an IDP can be found online but for detailed information, you can contact the embassy. Business travels are a bit different so you should get in contact with the post office in the UK or the office that issues your license if you are from any other country in Europe.
Application Tips
One of the most important things is to avoid scams because there are plenty of them when you need to provide personal information. Most of the scams are websites that are not authorized by the government to issue IDPs. They will request pictures of your license and other information which they can use. In order to know if they are legitimate, you either need to have a reputable source or contact the office that provides licenses.
Another great tip is to plan ahead because sometimes it may take much longer to get one, especially during COVID. Everything changed during the epidemic and every single business has slowed down. You should have a couple of options when getting a new IDP, so figure out in advance what will benefit you the most.
The last one is more like something that you must-have instead of being a tip and that’s to carry both licenses. Even if you have the IDP which is the translation of your driver’s license, you will need to show them both so they can confirm some basic information.
It’s always useful to follow their rules and regulations because in some countries in the EU, the fines can get very expensive. For example, not wearing a seat belt in Germany would cost you around 60 euros. Crossing the speed limit on some roads in Germany isn’t possible but many people make a mistake once they are off the highway and still drive fast.
Renting a Car in Europe
One of the best tips is to find a provider that has multiple spots where you can leave your car. This is important if you want to choose another provider or you won’t need their car anymore. If you would want to leave the country with their vehicle, you will need to pay a fee which goes from 15 to 50 euros depending on the border.
Make sure you get your green card which will cost you around $3 per day when you are vising the countries in the Balkans. You should be able to get more information from your insurer when it comes to green cards. The difficulty of obtaining one will depend on the country you are going to. Gas is much more expensive in Europe compared to the US and you will have to fill it up once you are returning the car.
