| Our lives at home are made so much easier, more | | | | Iraq |
| efficient, and richer by our cars. They are one of the | | | | Nigeria |
| things that international travelers most miss - so while | | | | Somalia |
| some complain about spending much of their vacation | | | | Ethiopia |
| time waiting for public transport or paying exorbitant | | | | Eritrea |
| amounts for taxis, others get an International Driving | | | | 3. Having an IDP does not guarantee you know the |
| Permit and decide to take matters into their own | | | | local road rules |
| hands. Today we are looking at how to get an | | | | This seems obvious, but many travelers fail to inform |
| International Driving Permit, and 4 important facts | | | | themselves of the local driving regulations before |
| relating to driving overseas and your travel insurance | | | | heading overseas. You will need to learn a variety of |
| that travellers should know. | | | | phrases in the native language of your destination, |
| 1. In Australia, IDPs are issued by the same authority | | | | because you will need to be able to read road signs |
| that issues your license | | | | to stay safe. Travel insurance may not be able to |
| If you do an internet search, you will turn up quite a | | | | cover you if you are doing something blatantly |
| few results offering International Driving Permits for | | | | unsafe when you are engaged in an accident (such |
| sale, with just the completion of an online form. | | | | as the common mistake of driving on the wrong side |
| These are not valid IDPs - the only body that can | | | | of the road!). In matters that are legally-related like |
| issue you with an international license is the same | | | | this, always contact the relevant authority in the |
| body that issued you with you home license. IDPs | | | | country you are visiting rather than relying on |
| are basically multiple-language translations of your | | | | internet research. You can usually track the authority |
| driver's license, and simply state that your driving | | | | down using the tourism websites for the country, or |
| license is valid in your home country. A random | | | | through their consulate. |
| website obviously can't make that guarantee, and | | | | 4. IDPs can be useful if you are asked to surrender |
| you may end up with hefty costs relating to the | | | | your passport |
| incorrect documents (cancellation or curtailment of | | | | Sometimes immigration officials or police in other |
| your trip, etc), if you buy one of these. Costs which | | | | countries will ask you to surrender your passport. If |
| a travel insurance won't reimburse. | | | | you need to be without it for a period of time, an |
| 2. Some countries don't recognize IDPs | | | | international driving permit can help relieve the hassle |
| There are some areas of the world where if you | | | | of being without recognized identification. As a side |
| want to drive, you will need to obtain the relevant | | | | note, travelers should not surrender their passports |
| local permit. The countries that have not subscribed | | | | to accommodation providers, no matter what they |
| to the IDP convention, and do not honor an IDP, are: | | | | say their 'rules' are. If you voluntarily give up your |
| Brazil | | | | passport, travel insurance may not cover you if your |
| China | | | | accommodation 'loses' it. |
| Mongolia | | | | |