International Drivers Permit
Discussion
I was surprised that the Post Office no longer issue these.
I went onto Gov.uk and learned that they are being issued by certain shops that have PayPoint. Asking at my local shop (which was on the list) they told me that they don’t do them. So I’ll have to phone the next ones on the list or face a 20 mile trip with no certainty of getting one.
Surely the Post Office is the place to handle this rather than some random corner shop?
I'd heard that the Post Office would no longer be issuing IDPs after March, so I renewed mine at the end of March.
The sub-postmistress (if that's the correct terminology now?) said that the Post Office had lost the contract to, IIRC, Pay Point, who'd submitted a cheaper tender.
She said that she couldn't see it working, with people going to little shops or garage forecourts for an IDP. No doubt the contract was awarded by people who never go out of an office; strikes me as madness.
Sorry, doesn't help you but explains what happened.
The sub-postmistress (if that's the correct terminology now?) said that the Post Office had lost the contract to, IIRC, Pay Point, who'd submitted a cheaper tender.
She said that she couldn't see it working, with people going to little shops or garage forecourts for an IDP. No doubt the contract was awarded by people who never go out of an office; strikes me as madness.
Sorry, doesn't help you but explains what happened.
It took the woman in the post office 10 minutes to complete mine as I wasn’t allowed to fill it out myself. Can you imagine the queue you’ll be causing in a pay point shop. I only use mine for collecting parcels and that’s a faff but safer than drop in safe place if it’s an expensive item.
Well I managed to get one, a small shop about 20 miles away.
I must have been amongst the first to go there because the guy took quite a while to read up on what to do, where to stamp etc.
Fortunately they had other staff to serve around me as the queue would have been out the door otherwise.
This is my worry. Before, I'd go to the local Post Office, and they efficiently complete the IDP. Now I have to go to a discount corner shop with no parking, two towns away, and in all likelyhood, be the first customer they've ever had for this product. On the basis of available shops in the scheme, its a worsened service. Should have gone to someone like WH Smith, so their airport branches can handle paniced last minute pre-holiday applications.
K50 DEL said:
What's the purpose of an IDP nowadays?
The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
Countries other than the UAE seem to care - I hired cars in Japan and South Korea last month and needed it.The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
TarquinMX5 said:
I'd heard that the Post Office would no longer be issuing IDPs after March, so I renewed mine at the end of March.
The sub-postmistress (if that's the correct terminology now?) said that the Post Office had lost the contract to, IIRC, Pay Point, who'd submitted a cheaper tender.
She said that she couldn't see it working, with people going to little shops or garage forecourts for an IDP. No doubt the contract was awarded by people who work FROM HOME NOW AND THEREFORE DON'T REALLY OFFER A USEFUL SERVICE NOW, LIKE MOST GOV DEPARTMENTS; strikes me as madness.
Sorry, doesn't help you but explains what happened.
changed that for youThe sub-postmistress (if that's the correct terminology now?) said that the Post Office had lost the contract to, IIRC, Pay Point, who'd submitted a cheaper tender.
She said that she couldn't see it working, with people going to little shops or garage forecourts for an IDP. No doubt the contract was awarded by people who work FROM HOME NOW AND THEREFORE DON'T REALLY OFFER A USEFUL SERVICE NOW, LIKE MOST GOV DEPARTMENTS; strikes me as madness.
Sorry, doesn't help you but explains what happened.
List of places who like one:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-dr...
https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-dr...
K50 DEL said:
What's the purpose of an IDP nowadays?
The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
Sterling work sir!The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
CraigyMc said:
K50 DEL said:
What's the purpose of an IDP nowadays?
The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
The fThe Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
k?None of those accidents were my fault btw - the record was 15 minutes after collecting a hire car I was on the phone to Budget requesting a new one as the Lancer they had just given me now had the rear end of a landcruiser embedded in the bonnet (queueing for valet parking at MoE the driver put it into reverse and simply reversed up my front end) - in fact there's a bit of a theme here as I was stationary for 4 of them and I'm mistaken it's actually 6 accidents there in hire cars, several more (non-fault) in my own cars when I was actually living there.
As an aside, Jordan, The Seychelles and Qatar are all noted as needing one and I was never asked when I hired cars there either (no accidents in those 3 though so can't comment on the Police)
Edited by K50 DEL on Thursday 9th May 16:13
RicksAlfas said:
List of places who like one:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-dr...
It is also good to know that are actually 3 different types of IDP, which one you need depends on the country you are going to.https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-dr...
K50 DEL said:
What's the purpose of an IDP nowadays?
The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
Sterling work sir!The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
K50 DEL said:
CraigyMc said:
K50 DEL said:
What's the purpose of an IDP nowadays?
The Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
The fThe Gov't website notes that you need one in the UAE yet I've had 5 different accidents in hire cars there over the years and the police have never asked for anything other than my UK license.
k?None of those accidents were my fault btw - the record was 15 minutes after collecting a hire car I was on the phone to Budget requesting a new one as the Lancer they had just given me now had the rear end of a landcruiser embedded in the bonnet (queueing for valet parking at MoE the driver put it into reverse and simply reversed up my front end) - in fact there's a bit of a theme here as I was stationary for 4 of them and I'm mistaken it's actually 6 accidents there in hire cars, several more (non-fault) in my own cars when I was actually living there.
As an aside, Jordan, The Seychelles and Qatar are all noted as needing one and I was never asked when I hired cars there either (no accidents in those 3 though so can't comment on the Police)
In Thailand, car hire places rarely ask to see any proof of driving licence. But you sign an agrement thats in English and Thai, that will say someplace you have all that. Its not their problem. Its your problem if you get in a wreck or are stopped by the police.
The IDP is a translation of a licence, or rather, it renders your entitlements into a standardised format.
In Thailand, vehicle checkpoints are relatively common. The on the spot "fine" is random, it might be 400/500/1000 Baht. You can guess where it goes. Its not a huge amount, but you can guess you will end up with the fastidious cop who makes you walk home. Or, they might suddenly get interested in whats in your bag, on your phone.
I don't rent a car there; I have my own car over there.
But if you are in an accident, no IDP, no insurance cover.
Beware of scammers selling online IDPs.
The IDP is a translation of a licence, or rather, it renders your entitlements into a standardised format.
In Thailand, vehicle checkpoints are relatively common. The on the spot "fine" is random, it might be 400/500/1000 Baht. You can guess where it goes. Its not a huge amount, but you can guess you will end up with the fastidious cop who makes you walk home. Or, they might suddenly get interested in whats in your bag, on your phone.
I don't rent a car there; I have my own car over there.
But if you are in an accident, no IDP, no insurance cover.
Beware of scammers selling online IDPs.
I remember the first time I went to the USA, my ex wife had read that we required an IDP so she forced us all to get one. We ended up traipsing around town on a Saturday afternoon trying to get one of these each from the post office.
When we arrived at Florida airport to collect our hire cars I handed over the IDP which we had spent hours getting in the UK.
He looked at me like I had taken a dump on his desk and asked me for my UK driving licence.
Never bothered with one since.
When we arrived at Florida airport to collect our hire cars I handed over the IDP which we had spent hours getting in the UK.
He looked at me like I had taken a dump on his desk and asked me for my UK driving licence.
Never bothered with one since.
K50 DEL said:
As an aside, Jordan, The Seychelles and Qatar are all noted as needing one and I was never asked when I hired cars there either (no accidents in those 3 though so can't comment on the Police)
Details....we need details. Can't leave us hanging. I have a feeling they are gonna be good stories 😁Edited by K50 DEL on Thursday 9th May 16:13
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
I remember the first time I went to the USA, my ex wife had read that we required an IDP so she forced us all to get one. We ended up traipsing around town on a Saturday afternoon trying to get one of these each from the post office.
When we arrived at Florida airport to collect our hire cars I handed over the IDP which we had spent hours getting in the UK.
He looked at me like I had taken a dump on his desk and asked me for my UK driving licence.
Never bothered with one since.
US doesn't require IDP (mostly, it depends on the State). If an IDP is presented, it must be accompanied by a national driving licence.When we arrived at Florida airport to collect our hire cars I handed over the IDP which we had spent hours getting in the UK.
He looked at me like I had taken a dump on his desk and asked me for my UK driving licence.
Never bothered with one since.
I’ve only ever been asked to show mine once, and I’d forgotten to take it with me. This was when hiring a bike from a small place outside Geneva. They took my word that I had one and that I scanned and sent the main pages when I got back to my hotel.
Otherwise never been asked to show it or had it looked at when I’ve had it out ready, even with my foreign license and British passport combo.
That said, they’re cheap and easy to get (albeit not now in the uk by the sound of it) so not something I’m inclined to abandon.
Otherwise never been asked to show it or had it looked at when I’ve had it out ready, even with my foreign license and British passport combo.
That said, they’re cheap and easy to get (albeit not now in the uk by the sound of it) so not something I’m inclined to abandon.
Drawweight said:
Surely the Post Office is the place to handle this rather than some random corner shop?
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