International driving licence

[spaximus]

Hi All, wasn't sure where to put this so apologies if it is in the wrong place.

I am off to the states in July and have hired a car for two weeks. They have not asked for an international driving licence but there appears to be conflicting views as to the need.

Apparently the individual states can have differing rules. We fly into LA, down to San Diageo, Palm Springs and back to LA.

So can anyone point me in the right direction to confirm if I need one. We went to California 10 years ago and had no need of one then or never had one in Florida.

Thanks in advance

[Rushjob]

For 5 and a half quid, is it really worth it do I need one, don't I need one? you'll tip more than that after your first beer FFS!

https://consumer.paypoint.com/international-drivin...

[Truckosaurus]

If you have a photocard licence then I'd not bother.

[K50 DEL]

I hire cars all over the US multiple times a year from many different agencies and have done so since 2002, have never once been asked for anything other than my UK license... I've never even been asked for a check code so no, you don't need an IDL!

[vonhosen]

Rushjob said:

For 5 and a half quid, is it really worth it do I need one, don't I need one? you'll tip more than that after your first beer FFS!

https://consumer.paypoint.com/international-drivin...

I'd go with this, for the sake of a few quid.
You don't need one right up until someone asks for it, then it's too late.

[Truckosaurus]

I'm not convinced that any rental desk in an American tourist area will turn their nose up at a government issued licence (that is the same size/shape as the American licenses (sic)) in favour of some scrap of paper knocked up in your local corner shop with a shoddy passport photo Pritt-Sticked onto it.

[x5tuu]

K50 DEL said:

I hire cars all over the US multiple times a year from many different agencies and have done so since 2002, have never once been asked for anything other than my UK license... I've never even been asked for a check code so no, you don't need an IDL!

Same. Totally unnecessary.

[Alickadoo]

It's not a licence. It's a permit.

HTH.

[captain_cynic]

Alickadoo said:

It's not a licence. It's a permit.

HTH.

This.

There is no such thing as an international driving license. There is an international driving permit but that is just a translation of your UK (or other national) driving license into several other languages.

You don't need one for the US because they (ostensibly) speak English.

[Alickadoo]

captain_cynic said:

Alickadoo said:

It's not a licence. It's a permit.

HTH.

This.

There is no such thing as an international driving license. There is an international driving permit but that is just a translation of your UK (or other national) driving license into several other languages.

You don't need one for the US because they (ostensibly) speak English.

And just to get it straight, there is no such thing as a UK driving license either.

How many more times?

[Truckosaurus]

captain_cynic said:

You don't need one for the US because they (ostensibly) speak English.

It might have been a thing when UK licences (with a C) were just paper based, so the IDP gave you something with a photo. Some American states probably aren't in a rush to update their list of countries with non-photo ids so the UK is on there for historic reasons.

The only places worth getting an IDP for are ones that use a non-Roman alphabet. (eg. Greece, the Balkans, parts of Asia, etc)

[captain_cynic]

Alickadoo said:

captain_cynic said:

Alickadoo said:

It's not a licence. It's a permit.

HTH.

This.

There is no such thing as an international driving license. There is an international driving permit but that is just a translation of your UK (or other national) driving license into several other languages.

You don't need one for the US because they (ostensibly) speak English.

And just to get it straight, there is no such thing as a UK driving license either.

How many more times?

You better tell these guys.

https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/driving-licences

[Ganglandboss]

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-dr...

"United States
1949
If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident."

[Truckosaurus]

Ganglandboss said:

"You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident."

I'm not sure you would be using your own vehicle in the USA

[Alickadoo]

captain_cynic said:

You better tell these guys.

https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/driving-licences

Well, I have had a word with them and we all shook our heads, because we don't know what you are on about.

[Nibbles_bits]

Alickadoo said:

It's not a licence. It's a permit.

HTH.

This.

As a local hire company found out, an IDL doesn't exist.

[Nibbles_bits]

captain_cynic said:

Alickadoo said:

captain_cynic said:

Alickadoo said:

It's not a licence. It's a permit.

HTH.

This.

There is no such thing as an international driving license. There is an international driving permit but that is just a translation of your UK (or other national) driving license into several other languages.

You don't need one for the US because they (ostensibly) speak English.

And just to get it straight, there is no such thing as a UK driving license either.

How many more times?

You better tell these guys.

https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/driving-licences

Spelling

[djc206]

x5tuu said:

K50 DEL said:

I hire cars all over the US multiple times a year from many different agencies and have done so since 2002, have never once been asked for anything other than my UK license... I've never even been asked for a check code so no, you don't need an IDL!

Same. Totally unnecessary.

I believe it’s technically required in some states, Georgia is one if memory serves in the event of an accident/insurance claim but in practice not asked for because it serves no purpose. I have one but I only got it for Chile not the US. I’ve driven in over 20 states and hired from probably 10 and never once been asked for an IDP so I’d gladly drive there without one and take my chances. They’re laughably antiquated in nature and I suspect that they’ve just not been removed from the books in some States.