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Wherever you are, you definitely need a driver’s licence to operate a vehicle, but you usually don’t have to apply for a new licence in the country you’re visiting. In most countries, your licence from home will work, along with an international driving permit. No matter where you are, you must be authorised for the class of vehicle you are trying to drive.
There are a few countries that require a locally issued license – Vietnam, for example. For these countries, you’ll need to do a written test in the local language as well as take a driving test. Of course, this isn’t much help to visitors staying for a short time.
What to know about the international driving permit
Most countries require you to have an international driving permit (IDP) plus your valid driver’s licence from Australia to drive a car or motorbike. An IDP isn’t a licence in itself – it’s an authorised translation of your domestic driver’s licence. You just have to make sure both your IDP and licence allow you to operate the vehicles you intend to use.
It’s best to get your IDP before you go overseas, as you’ll need to have it issued through an authority in your home country. You can apply for one from abroad but getting it can take a while.
How do I get an international driving permit?
You can get an IDP from anywhere that is an associate member of the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). You can also apply online at AAA’s website.
Is it compulsory to have an IDP?
Many destinations require you to have an IDP, and for others it is recommended you have one. You can check the requirements of various countries here.
Some countries only require you to have an official translation of your licence in their language (Italy, for example). A DIY translation could do the job, if notarised by a lawyer, JP, or public notary, but an IDP will save you a lot of questioning (and probably cost less than an appointment with your solicitor!).
Why should I get an international driving permit?
1. Many rental companies, especially in European countries, insist you have an IDP and they won’t hand over the keys until they see one. Because you can’t use an IDP in the country where it’s issued, that’ll mean swapping your self-drive holiday for a bus tour.
2. The IDP translates your license into English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Greek, German, and Japanese, so you’re not resorting to hand signals and shouting to explain yourself when you’re pulled over.
3. It will make any interaction with a police officer smoother than not having one and is a big time-saver should you get pulled over. Also, there are many places in the world that require you to have a form of ID on you at all times, and this is a bit safer than carrying a passport.
Do I need a license and IDP to drive a motorbike overseas?
In most cases, yes (be sure to check the licensing laws for wherever you’re travelling), and it needs to be for the class of motorbike you’re riding.
You may have heard tales about travellers bribing their way out of trouble with police – usually in poorer countries. In fact, “license checks” have been a lucrative side income for poorly paid traffic cops in Thailand, Indonesia, Peru, and eastern Europe. But these countries are beginning to understand lax license enforcement is partly to blame for the high road-death tolls and are conducting genuine license checks – in these instances handing over “tea money” with your invalid license will get you into even more hot water.
Don’t forget, if you have an accident and need medical assistance (sadly, very likely in Southeast Asia) your insurer will want to see your driver’s license before paying thousands of dollars in hospital fees.
I’ve heard you can “buy” a licence!
Yes, there is a black market in fake licences. They are not legal documents and do not make it legal to drive/ride and we discourage their use.
It’s actually fairly easy for investigators to spot a fake – if you don’t have a licence of the same class from home and you were able to ‘jump a three-month waiting list and ‘magically’ obtain a licence, expect to answer a lot of questions and be able to prove the licence is legitimate.
Travel insurance
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