What you need to know
Each International Driving Permit costs £5.50 plus £2 administration fee per application. An IDP is valid for one year. An IDP can only be issued to applicants who: a) hold a full* UK driving licence covering the type of vehicle for which the IDP is required b) are permanently resident in the UK c) are at least 18 years of age. An IDP cannot be issued to holders of foreign driving licences, except holders of EU driving licences who are resident in UK. Holders of driving licences issued in Guernsey/Jersey must apply to the relevant licensing authority for an IDP: Guernsey: States Traffic Committee, tel 01481 243400** . Jersey: Driver and Vehicle Standards Department, tel 01534 833244** . An IDP cannot be issued more than three months in advance. An IDP cannot be issued retrospectively. Normally a 1949 Convention IDP will be provided but for Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia a 1926 Convention IDP is required. These countries are printed in orange in the list of countries requiring an IDP. You should take your UK driving licence with you when driving abroad, even if you hold an IDP. You will need to present it when hiring a car and may require it to show the authorities if requested. Counterfeit IDPs Counterfeit/illegal IDPs are available via the internet. Motorists are reminded to ensure that IDPs are only purchased from officially delegated organisations, e.g. RAC or AA in the UK.
Photocard UK licence It is believed the new photocard UK licence will be accepted almost anywhere in Europe. Remember to also take the paper counterpart. You will need to present both parts when hiring a vehicle. Please check your UK driving licence is correct in all respects. Any errors or changes in personal details, including change of address, must be notified to the DVLA in Swansea, or DVLNI in Coleraine for licences issued in Northern Ireland.
Travel services from RAC
As well as providing advice and special documents for motoring abroad the following services can all be arranged for you:
RAC European Breakdown Cover
Includes roadside assistance, spares despatch, replacement vehicle, additional accommodation expenses, replacement driver, vehicle repatriation, etc. Call Travel Sales free on 08000 726 999** quoting IDPL.
International Driving Permit application form
RAC Travel Insurance
Don’t forget your travel insurance. We provide a choice of annual multi-trip and single trip travel insurance, which provides extensive cover with a wide range of optional extras including personal baggage, winter sports, scuba diving and golfing cover. For a competitive quote please call 0800 404 6346** .
How to apply
Please carefully read the application form in this leaflet and complete it in full. Ensure you have attached all the necessary documents/photocopies, photograph(s) and appropriate fee to your application. Please note: Electronic applications and scanned photographs are not accepted. Post your application to the address indicated on the application form. Please allow up to 10 days from the date of posting application to receipt of your IDP which will be sent first-class mail. If it is necessary to arrange special delivery to get your IDP to you in time, this will be charged at £4.45 against your credit or Switch account. If you cannot send a photocopy of your UK driving licence or complete details on the application because the original is lost or with the DVLA for re-issue etc, you should contact the DVLA. If they are unable to send your licence in time you can give your permission for the DVLA to release your relevant driver information to us in order to issue an IDP. Under Data Protection regulations the DVLA will not give us your details without your permission. The DVLA telephone number to call is 0870 240 0009** . Please note, however, there may be delays in getting through at busy times and we cannot accept responsibility if such delays prevent us issuing an IDP in time.
Vehicle on Hire Certificate
Required if you are taking a hired or leased vehicle abroad and are not in possession of the original Vehicle Registration Document/Certificate. Call Travel Sales free on 0800 550055** quoting IDPL.
Camping Card International
Recommended if you are camping or caravanning abroad. The CCI includes up to 2,500,000 Swiss francs, third party insurance and is essential in Denmark. It is valid for one year, however, RAC can only sell the card to its members. Call Travel Sales free on 0800 550055** quoting IDPL.
Leaflet information
All information contained in this leaflet is believed to be correct at the time of printing, July 2008, but is subject to change without notice.
An International Driving Permit (IDP) is internationally recognised and normally allows the holder to drive a private motor vehicle without additional formality. RAC is authorised to issue both 1949 and 1926 Convention International Driving Permits to eligible applicants.
See overleaf for countries requiring IDP. Phone lines are open Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 10am-4pm. * An IDP can be issued to a holder of a provisional licence who has passed the UK Driving Test, provided their valid certificate of competence to drive is also submitted with their application. A photocopy should be sent with postal applications, not the original certificate. ** Calls may be recorded and/or monitored.
DATA PROTECTION ACT – INFORMATION USES For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, the data controller in relation to the information you supply is RAC Motoring Services (RACMS), (Company No: 1424399), 8 Surrey Street, Norwich, NR1 3NG. RACMS will share the information you provide, together with other information, with our group companies. We (RAC group companies) may use this for administration, marketing, customer services and profiling your purchasing preferences. We may disclose your information to our service providers and agents for these purposes. We may keep your information for a reasonable period to contact you about our services. It may be transferred to any country, including countries outside the European Economic Area for any of these purposes and for systems administration. Where this happens, we will ensure that anyone to whom we pass your information agrees to treat your information with the same level of protection as if we were dealing with it. When you give us information about another person, you confirm that they have authorised you to act for them, to consent to the processing and use of their personal data in the manner described in this notice and to receive on their behalf any data protection notice. You have the right to ask for a copy of your information (for which we will charge a small fee) and to correct any inaccuracies. We may record telephone calls for staff training and evidential purposes.
Ensure you carefully read the information inside before completing the application.
Sensitive data
By returning this form, you give us consent to use your sensitive personal data e.g. health data for your registration under the Motability Scheme (if appropriate), solely for the purposes for which you submit it.
APP_FRM_IDP 08.2008
NOTE: IDP WILL BE SENT TO THIS ADDRESS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED
We offer motoring and travel related products such as breakdown services, vehicle inspections, sales and leasing. We also offer financial products such as Insurance and loans. We may also share your information with our business partners. By providing us with your contact details, you will be indicating to us and our business partners, your consent to us and them contacting you by mail, telephone, fax, email, SMS/MMS to let you know about any goods, services or promotions of our own, our business partners or other third parties, which may be of interest to you unless you indicate an objection to receiving such messages by ticking the box.
Informing you about products and services
(last 3 digits on reverse of card)
An IDP is required or recommended in the following countries unless shown otherwise in Important notes
Countries covered by 1949 Convention are in black, 1926 Convention are in orange.
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Anguilla 13. Antigua 13. Argentina Armenia Australia 16. Austria 4. Bahrain 3. Barbados 9. Belarus 17. Benin Bhutan Bolivia 3. Brazil 18. Brunei 1. 15. Bulgaria 7. Burkina Faso 1. 2. Cameroon 1. Cape Verde Isles 1. Cayman Isles Central African Rep. Chad Chile 7. Colombia Comoros Curacao Djibouti 1. Dominica 9. Egypt El Salvador 1. 2. Equatorial Guinea French Guiana 1. Gabon 1. 7. Gambia 2. Ghana 1. Greece 6. 7. Grenada 13. Guinea Guinea-Bissau 1. 2. Haiti Hong Kong 1. Iceland 7. India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel 1. 15. Italy 7. Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Japan Jordan 5. 15. Kampuchea Korea (South) Kuwait (or 2. 8. 15.) Laos 1. Lebanon 1. 2. 15. Leeward Islands 13. Lesotho 1. Liberia 1. 2. Macao Malaysia 6. 7. Martinique 1. Mauritius 1. 2. Mexico 11. Morocco 1. Mozambique 1. Myanmar (Burma) 9. Namibia 1. 7. 15. Nepal 12. Nevis 13. New Caledonia 1. Nigeria Oman 3. 14. Pakistan Philippines Portugal 7. Qatar 9. Reunion 1. Russia 3. Rwanda Sabah (East Malaysia) 1. 6. Sao Tome and Principe 1. Saudi Arabia 1. Senegal 7. Serbia and Montenegro 1. Singapore 14. Somalia South Africa 7. 15. Spain 7. Sri Lanka 1. 2. St. Christopher 13. St. Lucia 13. St. Vincent 13. Sudan 1. 2. Surinam Swaziland Syria Taiwan Tanzania 15. Thailand Tunisia 17. Turkey 10. Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay 19. U.S.A. 1. Vietnam Western Samoa 9. 15. Windward Islands 1. 2. 13. Yemen Republic 1. 2. Zaire Zambia 1. Zimbabwe 17.
Please complete and post to: RAC Motoring Services, Travel Administration, PO Box 1500, Great Park Road, Bristol BS99 2LH Telephone 0870 333 2784 (8am - 9pm Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm Saturday, 10am - 4pm Sunday) and ask for Travel Administration or hand it to a representative at the above office.
Recent passport size photographs(s) with your name written and signed on reverse. A photocopy of your complete driving licence (not the original licence) if applying by post. A photocopy of the page from your passport showing your photograph and identification details. Fee: £5.50 for one IDP or £11.00 for two IDPí s plus £2 processing fee per application, and £4.45 special delivery charge if required within two working days. (Make cheques payable to RAC Motoring Services.) Please put ‘x’ here if special delivery is required. Please note, a signature will be required on delivery. Or please charge the above amount to my credit card/Switch account (put ‘x’ in box). Please note that we no longer accept Amex or Diners cards.
Security no.
If you plan to drive in any of the following countries please contact the embassy or consulate for details of driving licence requirements: Moldova; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan. In Azerbaijan a valid UK driving licence is accepted if accompanied by a certified translation into Azerbaijani. In China a temporary driving permit must be obtained on arrival.
In Bermuda visitors are not allowed to drive. In Ethiopia an IDP is not recognised but a temporary licence is available from the local authority on presentation of a valid UK licence. In Poland a valid UK licence is accepted for stays of up to six months. For longer periods a Polish licence is required. In Qatar an IDP is not recognised but a temporary licence from the local authority can be applied for.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the above information is accurate, RAC cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions, or any subsequent changes.
Important notes
1. IDP not a legal requirement but recommended. 2. Temporary licence available from local authority on presentation of a valid UK licence. 3. Oman: On arrival, IDP must be endorsed by Oman Automobile Association – Bahrain: IDP must be endorsed by traffic authorities – Bolivia: after three months IDP must be endorsed by ‘Servicio Nacional de Transito’ – Russia: certified translation accepted instead of IDP. 4. In Austria a pink format or photocard UK licence accepted. Otherwise a UK licence accepted only if accompanied by identity document carrying a photograph e.g. passport. 5. Visitors cannot drive vehicle with normal Jordanian plates without Jordanian driving licence. 6. IDP required by some car hire companies. 7. Pink format or photocard UK licence accepted but IDP required if green licence held. 8. Letter from sponsor required for issue of temporary licence. 9. Licence or IDP must be presented to authorities on arrival for issue of local licence. 10. IDP required for visits over three months. 11. IDP required only if driving a locally registered vehicle. 12. IDP valid for 15 days, after which local licence required. 13. Leeward Islands are: Antigua, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla. In Montserrat, IDP not accepted and temporary locally issued licence required. Windward Islands are: Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent. 14. IDP recognised for three months. 15. IDP required to hire car. 16. IDP required in some states and recommended in all. 17. In Belarus UK photocard licences are accepted. For other UK licences an IDP is required. In Tunisia, UK photocard licences are accepted for up to 90 days. For longer periods or other UK licences an IDP is required. In Zimbabwe UK photocard licences are accepted. For other UK licences an IDP is required. 18. In Brazil a UK licence is accepted if accompanied by Portuguese translation available from Brazilian consulate. It is believed that a 1926 may be accepted in practice. 19. UK licences are accepted up to 90 days if presented to authorities, otherwise 1926.
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