Traveling the world is fun. Many people decide to do so by using their car. This is a great way to do it, as you rely only on yourself and your iron horse. But, this could prove to be a complicated venture if you don’t know what you’re doing. To drive a car abroad you might require various permits and documents. Do you know which ones they are? If the answer is no, you’re in the right place. To be a world traveler you’ll be needing an International Driver’s Permit. Some countries do not require it, but most of them do.
If you do not have one, you might be forbidden from driving your car. What this means is that you’ll need to either walk, use public transportation or have someone give you a lift. To avoid these unpleasantries you’re better off attaining an IDP. Before we tell you how to get one, we need to tell you a few things about what it is in the first place. Its biggest advantage is that it is telling people it is a driver’s license above all else, and it uses ten languages to do so with English being the eleventh, and the one in which the document is written.
Of course, the license you have from your country is the one in de facto function. The international one is just there to confirm that you have one back in your home country. To drive a car abroad you’ll need an IDP which will show your picture, name, details of you as a driver, and other data contained on your original permit. This permit holds a lot of power as it is recognized as a valid document in more than 175 countries. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Asia or Europe it is a valid piece of documentation nonetheless. Of course, there will be countries that don’t require one, but all of the major ones do, so you’re better off having it. Now, let’s see how to get an international driving permit (IDP) in four easy steps.
Step 1 – Collect The Documentation
This is the initial step in any instance required to attain an international document. Don’t worry it’s nothing complicated, but you need to get things right. You don’t want to have to do this procedure more than once. Most of the documents are easy to get as you need to talk to your local automobile association. If you want to handle things internationally right away you can click here, and find all the help you need with one click of your mouse. So, the first thing that you need is an International Driving Permit Application which is handed to you by your local automobile association(in America it is the AAA). Next in line are the two passport photos, recent ones, and some cash. It all depends on the country in which you live but it is a sum that translates roughly to $20. Last but not least is your own driver’s license. When you’re applying for an IDP your driver’s license mustn’t be older than six months. This is a bit of a rough condition but it needs to be met to get your International Driver’s Permit. Once you have this part handled we can move on to the next step.
Step 2 – Filling The Application
This is the second step in this process. The form you picked up in your local automobile association needs to be properly filled out. There are not many holes to fill in this department as it is a pretty straightforward application. Once you finish this part and have all the documents we listed with you and with the application we can move on step three.
Step 3 – Submitting The Application
You’re almost there. This is one of the final steps in this journey. All that is left when you are sure that everything is right – that you have the valid and proper documentation and that the form is filled the way it’s supposed to be, you must submit your application. There are two ways you can do this. The first one is in person and the second one is via mail. When you’re doing it in person there’s still time to check if everything is in order. If you’re mailing in your application you need to ensure that all the data is there and that the documents you mailed in are good.
Step 4 – Receiving The Permit
This is where all of it is said and done. The best part of the whole ordeal is to receive your International Driver’s Permit. What’s even better is that if you submit your application in person you’ll receive your IDP in a matter of twenty minutes. This is why we always recommend that you do this in person if you have the possibility. If you opt for the mail-in version for whatever reason there’s a waiting period. In this case, you’ll be receiving your IDP in two weeks. But it’s good to know that this is not a set waiting period. It will not take less than that but it could take a few days more.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there’s nothing complicated in receiving an International Driver’s License. It’s quite a straightforward process. One thing you must know is that to receive it, you must have at least eighteen years of age. Now that we’re closing in on this article it’s worth reminding you that it also takes to have a driver’s license in your home country which is valid. All of this is quite logical, and as you can see it’s not that hard to obtain an IDP. If you are planning to be a driver abroad you’re better off equipping yourself with this type of license as it secures you on foreign roads. You don’t want to get into trouble with foreign officers of the law when you know that a license is awaiting you after completing these four easy steps.
