An International Driving Permit (IDP), also called an International Driving License (IDL), is an identity document that allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle in any country that recognises IDPs. To be valid, the IDP must be accompanied by a valid driving licence.
The IDP, which is slightly larger than a passport, is a multi-language translation of the driver's licence from the issuing nation, complete with photograph and vital statistics.
Video International Driving Permit
Driver information
The 1968 convention (as amended in 2011)
The main regulations about driving licences are in Annex 6 (domestic driving permit) and Annex 7 (International Driving Permit). The currently active version of those is in force in each Contracting Party since no later than 29 March 2011 (Article 43).
Article 41 of the Convention describes requirements for driving licences. Key of those are:
- every driver of a motor vehicle must hold a driving licence;
- driving licences can be issued only after passing theoretical and practical exams, which are regulated by each country;
- Contracting Parties shall recognize as valid for driving in their territories:
- domestic driving licence conforms to the provisions of Annex 6 to the Convention;
- International Driving Permit conforms to the provisions of Annex 7 to the Convention, on condition that it is presented with the corresponding domestic driving licence;
- driving licences issued by a Contracting Party shall be recognised in the territory of another Contracting Party until this territory becomes the place of normal residence of their holder;
- all of the above does not apply to learner-driver licences;
- the period of validity of an international Driving Permit shall be either no more than three years after the date of issue or until the date of expiry of the domestic driving licence, whichever is earlier;
- Contracting Parties may refuse to recognise the validity of driving licences for persons under eighteen or, for categories C, D, CE and DE, under twenty one;
- an International Driving Permit shall only be issued by the Contracting Party in whose territory the holder has their normal residence and that issued the domestic driving licence or that recognised the driving licence issued by another Contracting Party; it shall not be valid for use in that territory.
The 1968 convention (original)
The Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 72 countries. Examples of countries that have not ratified the Convention include Chile, Taiwan (Republic of China), Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Holy See, Indonesia, Ireland, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Venezuela.
The Convention had amendments on 3 September 1993 and 28 March 2006. There is a European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic (1968), which was concluded in Geneva, on 1 May 1971.
Note that before 29 March 2011 the Article demanded Contracting Parties to recognise as valid for driving in their territories:
- any domestic driver's licence drawn up in their national language or in one of their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language, accompanied by a certified translation;
- any domestic driver's licence conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to the Convention; and
- any International Driver Permit conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to the Convention.
Prior to 29 March 2011, Annex 6 and Annex 7 defined forms of driver's licences that are different from those defined after that date. Driving licences issued before 29 March 2011 that match older edition of the Annexes are valid until their expiration dates (Article 43).
The 1949 convention
The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic has been ratified by 96 states. The 1949 Convention's description of a Driving Permit and International Driving Permit are located in Annexes 9 and 10. Switzerland signed but did not ratify the Convention.
There is a European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, in addition to the 1949 Protocol on road signs and signals, concluded in Geneva on 16 September 1950.
- "Permissible maximum weight" of a vehicle means the weight of the vehicle and its maximum load when the vehicle is ready for road.
- "Maximum load" means the weight of the load declared permissible by the competent authority of the country of registration of the vehicle.
- "Light trailers" shall be those of permissible maximum weight not exceeding 750 kg (1,650 lbs).
The 1926 convention
The 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic is the older IDP Convention. It is only required in Iraq, Somalia and Brazil. International Driving Permits according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic are also valid in Liechtenstein and Mexico which also didn't ratify any of the above-mentioned later conventions. Mexico also recognizes the Inter-American Driving Permit according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943. This convention also contains regulations about driving licences and an international driving licence in its Articles VI and XIII and its Annex B and thus gives an alternative opportunity for a valid driving permit based on a convention between several sovereign states. Article XIII paragraph 2 says "the international driving licence issued in accordance with the international Convention of 1926 shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this Article" (which defines the requirements of the international driving licence according to the Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automotive Traffic 1943). For states that have ratified the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic but did not ratify the 1. Convention on Road Traffic (1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic) (e. g. Germany) or the 19. Convention on Road Traffic (1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic) (Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Spain, India, Ireland, Iceland, Lebanese Republic, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand and the Vatican City State [eventually via the Holy See as contract party]) the number of states in which the International Driving Permit according to the 1926 Convention on Motor Traffic is valid, is higher.
Both 1949 and 1926 Conventions are authorised for issue to people over the age of 18 holding valid UK driving licences.
Validation
According to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue, with a grace period of six months. However, according to the Vienna Convention, an IDP remains valid for no more than three years from the date of issue, or until the expiration date of national driving permit, whichever is earlier. An IDP is not valid for driving in the country where it was issued.
Maps International Driving Permit
Countries that are parties to 1949 Geneva Convention
The current parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention are listed below. These countries issue International Driving Permits.
Asia, Oceania (19) Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Republic of China (Taiwan), Thailand
Americas (15) Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Venezuela
Europe (36) Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City (Holy See)
Middle East, Africa (32) Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Lesotho, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe
Countries that recognize IDP
Following is a map of countries that recognize the International Driving Permit
See also
References
- Text of the 1949 Treaty
- U.N. Conference on Road Traffic - Final Act (Vienna, 7 October - 8 November 1968)
- More Information about International Driving Permit Scams
- IDP information for UK drivers
Notes
External links
- IDP Requirements by Country -- shows 1926 or 1949 IDP status and special requirements to use an IDP in each country
- Full text of Vienna 1968 Road Traffic Convention
- List of Contracting Parties to the Convention on Road Traffic - Vienna, 8 November 1968
- FTC vs William Scott Dion, et al. Legal action against PT Resource Center for selling bogus IDP's and related identification documents
- Washington Post story about a person without an IDP in Spain
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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