Using International Drivers Permit (IDP) for driving in USA
I had an email a few days ago from an interviewing IMG asking if an International Driving Permit (IDP) - also known as the International Driver's License - can be used to drive or rent a private vehicle in the United States.
The answer is Yes - and here are some more facts to know:
1. The International Drivers License Alone is not acceptable, it must be accompanied with the original drivers license from your country. This is because the IDP is merely a English language translation of the original license and is not a license document by itself
2. The IDP is valid up to one year from the date of entry into the United States.
3. The IDP must be issued by your own country to drive in the USA. The IDPs issued in USA are for US Citizens to drive in other countries
4. The IDP can be used to drive both an owned vehicle or a rented car in the US.
5. The IDP was a result of a 1949 UN convention on Road traffic that was signed by about 140 or so countries - which basically means these countries will respect and recognize an IDP from other endorsing countries for a year. Check with the Motor vehicle driving license office in your country to check if their IDP is recognized in the United States.
6. Some countries have separate agreements with the United States and do not need their citizens to have an IDP to drive in the USA.
7. If renting a car in US (e.g. Enterprise.com) , before booking, check with them if they will accept an International Driving Permit from your country.
8. Also read this article on USA.gov for foreign visitors driving in the USA.
9. Despite what the above gov site says, each state might have its own variations of the rule - its best to check up the rules with the drivers license offices. It's easy to get that on Google - for Ohio, search with this - Ohio DMV - Replace the state name for any other state.
And by the way - here's how an International Driving Permit Looks, but can vary by country of issue.
Air, Train, Bus, Cars are the traditional traveling options in the USA for the interviewing candidate - and depending on the distance and the renters charges, driving may turn out the cheapest option while traveling for residency interviews.
Related Products:
- USA Road Driving Atlas (Less than $25)
- US Road Driving GPS Navigators
- How to Pass a Road Test for Your Driver's License
Search keywords to this article:
- "Can International drivers permit be used to rent car in USA"
- "can students and people on visitors visa drive vehicle in USA using license from own country"
- "how to get an international drivers license / international driving permit"
The answer is Yes - and here are some more facts to know:
1. The International Drivers License Alone is not acceptable, it must be accompanied with the original drivers license from your country. This is because the IDP is merely a English language translation of the original license and is not a license document by itself
2. The IDP is valid up to one year from the date of entry into the United States.
3. The IDP must be issued by your own country to drive in the USA. The IDPs issued in USA are for US Citizens to drive in other countries
4. The IDP can be used to drive both an owned vehicle or a rented car in the US.
5. The IDP was a result of a 1949 UN convention on Road traffic that was signed by about 140 or so countries - which basically means these countries will respect and recognize an IDP from other endorsing countries for a year. Check with the Motor vehicle driving license office in your country to check if their IDP is recognized in the United States.
6. Some countries have separate agreements with the United States and do not need their citizens to have an IDP to drive in the USA.
7. If renting a car in US (e.g. Enterprise.com) , before booking, check with them if they will accept an International Driving Permit from your country.
8. Also read this article on USA.gov for foreign visitors driving in the USA.
9. Despite what the above gov site says, each state might have its own variations of the rule - its best to check up the rules with the drivers license offices. It's easy to get that on Google - for Ohio, search with this - Ohio DMV - Replace the state name for any other state.
And by the way - here's how an International Driving Permit Looks, but can vary by country of issue.
Air, Train, Bus, Cars are the traditional traveling options in the USA for the interviewing candidate - and depending on the distance and the renters charges, driving may turn out the cheapest option while traveling for residency interviews.
Related Products:
- USA Road Driving Atlas (Less than $25)
- US Road Driving GPS Navigators
- How to Pass a Road Test for Your Driver's License
Search keywords to this article:
- "Can International drivers permit be used to rent car in USA"
- "can students and people on visitors visa drive vehicle in USA using license from own country"
- "how to get an international drivers license / international driving permit"
Labels: Interview Travel
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posted by Digitaldoc, MD at 2:18 PM
Comments on "Using International Drivers Permit (IDP) for driving in USA"
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Anonymous said ... (November 16, 2007 8:18 AM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (November 16, 2007 5:28 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (November 16, 2007 10:43 PM) :
Post Your Comment !I must warn you that driving license rules vary from state to state. Many states will not allow you to drive even with the driving license permit. you have to go to the DMV website of each state to confirm that you can use your international license/permit to drive in that state. To my knowledge only New york state allows you to do that. Most of the other states will either not allow or need you to apply for an additional permit as well e.g. tennessee
I read the Tennessee DMV manual PDF and they do allow IDP but only when accompanied by the original foreign country license, for upto a year.
Here are some more state driver license link about IDP policies- shall try to get all state links slowly:
Connecticut
California
Wisconsin
if one books cars thru hotwire.com rather than directly from sites like enterprise etc., it would be cheaper as one would get discount from hotwire web site.