An International Driving Permit (IDP) allows an individual to drive a private motor vehicle in another nation when accompanied by a valid license from their home country. The document is slightly larger than a standard passport and is essentially a multiple language translation of one's own existing driver's license, complete with photograph and vital statistics. It is not a license to operate a motor vehicle on its own.
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The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic was not ratified by all signatory parties. Notable cases of countries that refused or delayed ratification include Chile, Republic of Ireland, Republic of China (Taiwan), Israel, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Holy See, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
The main regulation about driving license is in Annexs 6 (domestic driving permit) and 7 (international driving permit).
Following article 41:
There is a European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic (1968), which was concluded in Geneva, on May 1, 1971.
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Motor cycles |
| B | Motor vehicles, other than those in category A, having a permissible maximum weight not exceeding 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) and not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. |
| C | Motor vehicles used for the carriage of goods and whose permissible maximum weight exceeds 3,500 kg (7,700 lb). |
| D | Motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and having more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. |
| E | Combinations of vehicles of which the drawing vehicles is in a category or categories for which the driver is licensed (B and/or C and/or D), but which are themselves in that category or categories. |
The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic is accepted in a majority of the nations; major non-signatory countries include Germany, which did not have a government yet at that time. The main regulation about international driving licence is in Annexe 9. Switzerland signed but did not ratify the Convention.
There is a European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on road traffic and the 1949 Protocol on road signs and signals, concluded in Geneva, on 1950-09-16.
The Paris Convention on Motor Traffic is the more obscure IDP Convention; it is only required in the following nations: Iraq, Somalia and Brazil .
Both 1949 and 1926 Conventions are authorised for issue to people over the age of 18 holding valid UK driving licences.
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Motor vehicles of which the laden weight does not exceed 3,500 kg. |
| B | Motor vehicles of which the laden weight exceeds 3,500 kg. |
| C | Motor-cycles, with or without side-car. |
According to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, an IDP remains valid for one year from the date of issue. 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.
Following is a list of countries that recognize the International Driving Permit[3]
* Not party to 1949 convention; International Driving Permit honored
** Requires presentation to local police and payment of special registration upon arrival
** IDP must be exchanged for a local driving licence.
In the United States, the Department of State has authorized two private entities, the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance's National Automobile Club as the only entities in the United States to issue IDPs. They advise against purchasing IDPs from unauthorized outlets, as these are sometimes fraudulent.[4]
The United Nations does not issue International Driving Permits (sometimes called "International Driving Documents" or "International Driver Licenses" by fraudulent outlets). The depiction of the UN emblem or the name "United Nations" is not required nor authorized by either the 1949 or 1968 United Nations Conventions on Road Traffic.[5]
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