International Driver's License

[edprush]

How could there possibly be a single authority for 'universal' drivers license?

I say there isn't a legitimate International Driver's License.

 

[Lonyo]

There isn't, but there are agreements between some countries to allow a license from one to be valid in another, but it's not totally universal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit

 

[Mo0o]

International Driver's Licence

I fixed your link because it was annoying me.
AnandTech Moderator

 

[compuwiz1]

I've had them before, and driven in the Philippines, as well as in Bulgaria. I've rented cars in both places, using my Int'l DL and my home country DL.

 

[Tobolo]

I had a roommate in college from Denmark. He bought one of the street in Germany before he came to America. He DD one time. I drove home that night.

Nothing like a $5 license from a street corner.

 

[KarenMarie]

I have one. It is expired, but at the time, it was the law.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
I have one. It is expired, but at the time, it was the law.

issued by whom
upheld by what law

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
I have one. It is expired, but at the time, it was the law.

What law?

How is it enforceable in the United States?

So I can dump my present State-issued driver's license and just get an International driver's license? What is the issuing authority for your international driver's license?

 

[TheGizmo]

Originally posted by: Tobolo
I had a roommate in college from Denmark. He bought one of the street in Germany before he came to America. He DD one time. I drove home that night.

Nothing like a $5 license from a street corner.

jesus man.. edit your post and re-type it in english i have no idea wtf you talking about

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
I have one. It is expired, but at the time, it was the law.

What law?

How is it enforceable in the United States?

So I can dump my present State-issued driver's license and just get an International driver's license? What is the issuing authority for your international driver's license?

IMO, you have to be an alien to drive on an international driver licence...

You can drive on it for a year after entering US ...

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
I have one. It is expired, but at the time, it was the law.

issued by whom
upheld by what law

I was living in the UK for about 6 years the first time I needed it. This was back in the early 1990's. I did not have a valid USA driver's License and .... I am trying to remember which agency told me I needed it... but I was told that I needed an international license to drive in the USA. I planned on staying in the USA for about 8 weeks and ... if i remember correctly... there is something like 30 before I had to transfer my license to whatever state I was in. But with the international license, it was valid for a year.

It is a little grey book with a passport type pic in it and all my info. And there are about 10 pages to it and I was allowed to drive in any country who had a page in the book. My info was actually hand written by the official person in the office I went to in Middlesbrough and then there was an official seal stamped on it.

I should go dig it out... I think it was a good pic! hahaha.

 

[kami333]

I used one to transfer my US license to Japan. Its only valid if you have a valid license in another country that recognizes the International Driving Permit and you have to carry your original license with you. Basically just a translation of your original license.

Although these days a lot of countries in Europe recognize licenses that are issued in English so you don't really need it in many places.

AAA will issue one for $20.

 

[pyonir]

I know it wasn't a valid form of ID to prove age when i worked the door at a bar here in AZ.

 

[edprush]

It sounds like many people have/had an international driver's license but they don't have much info on how to get one or the stipulations behind them. I would bet that there is not a state in the U.S. that recognizes them.

Let's say I fail my state driver's license test or I have it revoked, what prevents me from getting one of these international driver's licenses?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
I have one. It is expired, but at the time, it was the law.

issued by whom
upheld by what law

I was living in the UK for about 6 years the first time I needed it. This was back in the early 1990's. I did not have a valid USA driver's License and .... I am trying to remember which agency told me I needed it... but I was told that I needed an international license to drive in the USA. I planned on staying in the USA for about 8 weeks and ... if i remember correctly... there is something like 30 before I had to transfer my license to whatever state I was in. But with the international license, it was valid for a year.

It is a little grey book with a passport type pic in it and all my info. And there are about 10 pages to it and I was allowed to drive in any country who had a page in the book. My info was actually hand written by the official person in the office I went to in Middlesbrough and then there was an official seal stamped on it.

I should go dig it out... I think it was a good pic! hahaha.

Did you ever get a UK license?

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: edprush
It sounds like many people have/had an international driver's license but they don't have much info on how to get one or the stipulations behind them. I would bet that there is not a state in the U.S. that recognizes them.

Let's say I fail my state driver's license test or I have it revoked, what prevents me from getting one of these international driver's licenses?

I got mine from AAA. All that was needed was proof that I held a current state issued DL. Some of you are probably gonna scoff at it, and ask, when did AAA become a licensing agency? They aren't. I imagine there is an agency in Mexico, which creates mexican titles for all the vehicles that have been stolen from the USA too.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
I got mine from AAA. All that was needed was proof that I held a current state issued DL. Some of you are probably gonna scoff at it, and ask, when did AAA become a licensing agency? They aren't. I imagine there is an agency in Mexico, which creates mexican titles for all the vehicles that have been stolen from the USA too.

Many of the AAA offices have deals with state DMVs to be able to process certain things there, such as car registration. It was probably that type of a deal.

 

[krunchykrome]

like the ones in Gran Turismo? :laugh:

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: edprush
It sounds like many people have/had an international driver's license but they don't have much info on how to get one or the stipulations behind them. I would bet that there is not a state in the U.S. that recognizes them.

Let's say I fail my state driver's license test or I have it revoked, what prevents me from getting one of these international driver's licenses?

If you're a U.S. resident, an IDP isn't valid in the U.S.

Here's how to get one and the stipulations on them for U.S. applicants.

 

[MrMajestyk]

I remember in the '80's I needed one to drive in Spain, before they became a member of the EU.

I don't think it was a stand alone license, more a back up to your main one.

Here's a list of countries that still/might require UK licence holders to comply.

IDP

 

[olds]

I had one when I was stationed in Germany.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I had one when I was stationed in Germany.

Who issued it to you?

I'm not saying that people can't get international driver's licenses. I know you can, just like you can get a diploma in the mail.

But how can an international driver's license be valid in multiple countries unless the driving/traffic laws are exactly the same in each country?

 

[thetxstang]

I got one a few years back when I was visiting Europe for a couple of months. As it's already been stated a couple of times, I simply went to a local AAA office, and for a nominal fee was issued an International Drivers License.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: edprush

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I had one when I was stationed in Germany.

Who issued it to you?

I'm not saying that people can't get international driver's licenses. I know you can, just like you can get a diploma in the mail.

But how can an international driver's license be valid in multiple countries unless the driving/traffic laws are exactly the same in each country?

The US Government issued it to me through a class I took while in the the US Army.
Maybe in conjuction with......?

 

[Childs]

I had one in high school. It said I was from Mexico. I used it to buy beer, although I cannot remember where I got it from. Probably from a Rolling Stones ad or something.