Do You Need An International Driving Permit?

It's been a while since I've gone out of the country and decided to drive. Aside from a few trips to Vancouver, the last time I drove outside of North America was a trip to Ecuador in 2009. I needed an International Driving Permit then, but it also was a small cardboard folder with my name and information on it. It didn't even have a photo.

Last week, Eric and I went to our local AAA to pick up some current IDPs, because they are only valid for up to 3 years and he needed one this time, too. The process is quick and easy. You can do it through the mail, or you can take, literally, 20 minutes out of your day to fill out the paperwork, get your picture taken, give them $25 (if you have your own passport-size photos, then it's only $20), and then leave with your permit to driving in a ton of different countries.

Why do you need an IDP? 

Honestly, I didn't know the answer to this. Apparently, it translates your identifying paperwork into different languages. You still have to have a valid driver license, so you will need to carry both if you are in a country that requires an IDP. If you are unfortunate enough to get pulled over while driving, an IDP is extremely helpful in showing you are serious about driving laws and for the officer to correctly identify you and your information.

Though we'll be driving in a country where our own language is fairly common, not everyone does speak English, so this small bit of insurance is nice to have, especially since we'll be renting a car (through Turo, but some car rental companies require you to present your IDP, as I had to when we rented a car in Ecuador). It's one of those things that you don't think you need it until you actually need it and you can get fined for not having one. Some countries, like Andorra, require you to present yourself and a registration fee at the local police station.

Where can you get an IDP?

I have only gotten mine through a AAA office, but you can get them other places as well. You do not need to be a AAA member to use this service. You don't get a discount by being one.

What is it valid for?

You can drive a motorcycle or passenger vehicle, as well as larger vehicles or those with trailers. You still need to be aware of driving laws in other countries and obey them to your best ability. In some cases, if you have to present yourself at the local police station, you will exchange your IDP for a local driver license. There are very few of these, but Cambodia is one of those countries. 

It's always smart to do research into any country you're planning to visit and for any situation you plan to be in. I have been looking up toll road information and whether or not they have rest areas. That may seem weird, but these are important things for me to know. The answer is yes, they have toll roads, but you can use your credit card to pay for all of them and don't need an app or a permit, and yes, they have rest areas that are most often coupled with a gas station. 

Have you ever needed to have any special paperwork to travel?