Driving In Florida

[R500POP]

Now, I've had two pieces of conflicting information about license requirements for driving in Florida.

The people who we are renting the villa from say we need an International Driving Permit as from 01/01/2013, but the agency we are using for rental are saying just a UK license is all that is required.

Can anybody shed any light on the situation please?

[Heff]

R500POP said:

Now, I've had two pieces of conflicting information about license requirements for driving in Florida.

The people who we are renting the villa from say we need an International Driving Permit as from 01/01/2013, but the agency we are using for rental are saying just a UK license is all that is required.

Can anybody shed any light on the situation please?

International permits are required if you're driving over there for extended periods, I think a year. Or from some countries, the UK is one of them.

If you're a tourist, on holiday your UK license is fine. Just remember to take both parts.

[Deva Link]

Well...Florida has introduced its own legislation (as US States often do) saying you must have an IDP. What's currently unclear is whether this over-rides the Federal legisation which says you don't need one.

[Heff]

Deva Link said:

Well...Florida has introduced its own legislation (as US States often do) saying you must have an IDP. What's currently unclear is whether this over-rides the Federal legisation which says you don't need one.

Oh right, didnt know that.

[bigandclever]

Well, I didn't know that.

http://news.tripwheels.com/2013/02/11/internationa...

For the sake of £5.50 I'd just get one. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-driving-...

[Deva Link]

It's been quite funny to watch TheDibb on this - they love a good panic and anyone who posts anything remotely sensible gets torn apart!

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=6...

[nickdrinkwater]

So without reading that long debate, can anyone advise what the bottom line is? Is this needed or not? We go out on the 24th for a week.
Thanks in advance!

[R500POP]

Even Alamo can't enlighten us, so none the wiser.

For £5.50 I'm going to get one just to avoid any potential issues.

[surveyor]

Have you seen the list of Post Offices that can issue these things? Closes to Doncaster = Sheffield.

Bloody miles.

[Matt Harper]

Who needs the permit - the car rental company or the 'authorities'?

Just asked my daughter, who's an Orange County Sheriffs Deputy - all they would want to see is a valid UK license and the rental agreement. Nothing else.

[R500POP]

Matt Harper said:

Who needs the permit - the car rental company or the 'authorities'?

Just asked my daughter, who's an Orange County Sheriffs Deputy - all they would want to see is a valid UK license and the rental agreement. Nothing else.

Nobody can say if the rental company require it, but it would appear to be a Florida only thing & the Police will want to see it if they stop us.

[Matt Harper]

I absolutely guarantee that the police will not want to see it. See above - my daughter is a FL Sheriffs Deputy. They stop/bust "Tourons" (their word, not mine) all the time. Anything other than a valid license from the home country and the rental agreement, showing the vehicle as being insured they don't care about.

[nutsytvr]

Thanks for cleasring that up Matt. We go to FL next week and only plan on taking my UK licence. My prebooked Avis form doesn't say anything about needing an international permit.

NutsyTVR

[bigandclever]

You can see why there's confusion though, can't you. From my link:

Deputy Communications Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said:

When did the law change, and why?
January 1, 2013. The purpose of the permit is for the English translation. Obviously, a license issued in the UK is already written in English, so the permit is admittedly a little redundant but that is technically the law at this point.

What will happen to British drivers who drive without an IDP?
Without an IDP, a driver is therefore driving without a valid license and if stopped, law enforcement has the option of
1/ arresting the driver and taking him/her to jail
2/ giving the driver a citation with a mandatory court appearance.”

I guess the "technically the law" bit is what would make me get one.

[nutsytvr]

Well what a bugger. Thanks for the heads up guys - I go next week.

[HOGEPH]

http://blog.usrentacar.co.uk/index.php/2013/02/13/...

[Matt Harper]

Never say never, but you are not going to be asked to produce an IDP by any agency local to me:- Orange County Sheriffs Dept, Orlando PD, Seminole County Sheriff, Osceola Co Sherrifs Office, Kissimmee PD, Polk County Sherrifs Office, Tampa PD, Hillsboro' County Sheriff, Lake County Sheriffs Office or FL State Troopers Cental FL, any time soon.
If your license is printed in English, the LAST thing they want is another non-US issued piece of paperwork to dick around with.

[audidoody]

"R – USA (Florida) compulsory IDP – 1 January 2013
A law introduced in Florida, USA, on 1 January 2013 requires all persons who hold a licence issued outside of the US to carry an International Driving Permit along with their national driving licence. Without an IDP, a driver is therefore driving without a valid licence. If stopped, law enforcement has the options of:

Arresting the driver and taking them to jail
Or giving the driver a citation with a mandatory court appearance"

[Matt Harper]

audidoody said:

If stopped, law enforcement has the options of:

Arresting the driver and taking them to jail
Or giving the driver a citation with a mandatory court appearance"

Naturally, this assumes that law enforcement is aware of this. Currently they appear not to be.

[audidoody]

Well, if I was going to Florida and it was the law I'd rather spend the £8. I'm not aware that Florida LEO's have a particularly highly-developed sense of humour and/or discretion.

Easy enough to get one.


http://www.theaa.com/getaway/idp/idp-application-f...

Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 13th February 18:45