Is any translation of driver’s licence valid for international driving?

2/23/2022 8:31:13 AM

their “international permit” is only valid for 1 year so they can get more money every year, but that forces me to return to my country every year just for that.

In some countries one can ask the IDP issuer to indicate the IDP validity start date to be sometime in the future. This way one can buy two IDPs, which together are valid for more than one year. E.g., in the United States, with the AAA, one can get an IDP up to six months before its validity start date, which means that if one purchase two IDPs at 20 USD each, one can stay abroad for 1.5 years. (which is still ridiculously expensive and short compared to France, which gives free 3-year IDPs. FYI: why didn’t the United States sign the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic?)

One can also sometimes purchase the IDP when abroad e.g., still for the US with AAA, https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html#four (mirror).

2/22/2022 10:36:59 PM

Technically, what the 1949 or 1968 conventions say is that an IDP must be issued by a competent authority or authorised organisation. It does not say it has to be issued by the same country that issued your driving license. For example, the ANWB says they will issue an IDP based on a licence from another EU country, not only the Netherlands.

In practice, the EU is a bit of a special case and I would not expect most authorities to entertain a request based on licenses from the other end of the world. But you could always try with the local authority wherever you are at the moment. If they are OK with it, there is nothing illegal about it.

2/22/2022 6:34:49 PM

If you have a translation that doesn’t conform to Annex 10 of the 1949 convention, then you do not have a 1949 convention IDP. Some countries (including France) will accept a translation that isn’t an IDP under certain conditions, but if you’re going to a country that requires a 1949 convention IDP then you’ll need to get it from the organization you mention.

The one-year period of validity is specified in Annex 10; it is not an effort on the part of the organization to boost its revenue.

Whether you can use a translation other than a 1949 IDP depends on the country that issued your license and on the laws of the country where you intend to drive.

2/22/2022 4:20:08 PM

get more money every year

A International Driving Permit (as outlined in Nate’s answer) is almost always free to be issued (France, Germany…);

but that forces me to return to my country every year just for that.

If you’re abroad in the same country for more than 6 months, you might be required to exchange your license for a local one, or pass the local license exams, and IDP might not be accepted for such a stay

Everything is down to local laws and regulations

2/22/2022 2:55:00 PM

No, it has to be issued by your country’s government, or an organization they have authorized to issue them.

Article 24 of the 1949 Geneva Convention (emphasis mine):

The international driving permit shall, after the driver has given proof of his competence, be delivered by the competent authority of a Contracting State or subdivision thereof, or by a duly authorised Association, and sealed or stamped by such authority or Association.

The 1968 Vienna Convention, which supersedes the Geneva Convention in the 83 countries that signed it, has a similar provision in Article 41:

  1. Contracting Parties shall recognize: […] (c) Any international permit conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to this Convention;
    and
    as valid for driving in their territories a vehicle coming within the categories covered by the
    permit, provided that the permit is still valid and that it was issued by another Contracting Party or
    subdivision thereof or by an association duly empowered thereto by such other Contracting Party    .

"Contracting Party" here means "one of the countries that signed the treaty"; specifically, the government of such a country.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

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Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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