International Driving Permit - IDP.

[walt4it]

In view of the email I received today from the Post Office - twisting my arm to use their send and check passport renewal and the offer of an International Driving Permit as their so called Checking system clearly states you 'MUST ' have one to drive in the USA and strangely enough they are the only people you can get one from!



You don't need one as evidenced in all of these threads that I found as they really had got me to thinking that the law had changed without anyone noticing or Car Hire Companies asking

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...&highlight=IDP

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...&highlight=IDP

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...&highlight=IDP


There are loads more too, but just in case anyone else gets the email touting for unneeded products from the Post Office you at least have the knowledge that the answer is crystal clear on The Dibb - unfortunately just looks like a money grab by the Post Office

[ChrisS]

Thanks for the warning Walt, unfortunately it may cause concern/panic in some who'll make a beeline to the PO and buy a superfluous IDP for driving in Fl, which is intended to translate your dl from English to, err, English! Our Cze friends don't bother with IDP either as their dl's are written in Cze and English.

Edited to add, apparently some states require an IDP. I don't know if THIS site is up to date but lists States who apparently required IDP as of Oct 2019.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Thanks for the warning Walt, unfortunately it may cause concern/panic in some who'll make a beeline to the PO and buy a superfluous IDP for driving in Fl, which is intended to translate your dl from English to, err, English! Our Cze friends don't bother with IDP either as their dl's are written in Cze and English.

Edited to add, apparently some states require an IDP. I don't know if THIS site is up to date but lists States who apparently required IDP as of Oct 2019.

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Chris. That website sad to say is nonsense. An IDP is not required in any of the States.

I do note however that the Post Office recommends an IDP for the Isle of Man! Talk about ripping the customer off.

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Chris. That website sad to say is nonsense. An IDP is not required in any of the States.

I do note however that the Post Office recommends an IDP for the Isle of Man! Talk about ripping the customer off.

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For the Isle of Man? Now they really are taking the pee!

Before you ask, it's the Australian Open

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

For the Isle of Man? Now they really are taking the pee!

Before you ask, it's the Australian Open

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Ha ha. I know you do like your tennis Chris.

[Tetrarch]

I must say that this looked like blatant profiteering from the Post Office. Words like “or recommended” are often masks for a bit of skullduggery.

However, following this official gov.uk link...

https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit#content

...it would appear that an IDP IS required

Regards

Gary

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Please no! I cannot cope with all the worrying and panicking if this thread kicks off.

An IDP no matter what any website says is not required for the USA.

Thank you and good day. I'm off.

[mick]

I hope they're not telling us to show our DVLA code and paper D/L counterfoil at the car hire desk as well.

Mick

[Tetrarch]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Please no! I cannot cope with all the worrying and panicking if this thread kicks off.

An IDP no matter what any website says is not required for the USA.

Thank you and good day. I'm off.

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I agree, but why do the UK government insist on telling me that I do, when I don’t?

I’ll happily ignore any commercial invocations, but when the official government website says unequivocally it does make me wonder.

Follow up, IF it is true, then whose liability is enforcement and why would a car hire company flout a requirement?

Regards

Gary

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by Tetrarch

I agree, but why do the UK government insist on telling me that I do, when I don’t?

I’ll happily ignore any commercial invocations, but when the official government website says unequivocally it does make me wonder.

Follow up, IF it is true, then whose liability is enforcement and why would a car hire company flout a requirement?

Regards

Gary

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Gary.

I despair at some of the nonsense on the official Govt. website. I will accept that 99% of the time it's accurate and pertinent. But sometimes they get it badly wrong. This is one of those occasions.

Maybe they haven't updated it since 1976 when I first drove in America and an IDP was required back then.