International Driving Permits (IDP) (2 Viewers)

[John745]

The contract for the issuing of International driving permits has as of the 1st April been moved from the Post Office to Paypoint outlets.

On the face of it this seems like not much of an issue as there are many outlets across the country, and we live in a large town (in the home counties) with lots of shops, super stores and local satellite shopping centres and when looking up outlets there are lots with many close by.

The problem arises when you then narrow down these sites to those that actually issue IDP’s and that’s when the shock faces you that you need to drive 30minmurtes to get to one that issues IDP’s.

This is a complete diminution of what used to be easy to use at post offices.

So if you may need one in the future, I suggest you have a quick search online to find your nearest paypoint that actually does IDP as not many do.

 

[Figaro]

I had no idea about that so thanks for raising awareness.
I got my IDP a couple of years ago as my license is the pink type on parchment it's so old

 

[pagey]

Why would you need one?

 

[John745]

Why would you need one?

For countries outside of the Schengen area.

 

[David and Sally]

Why would you need one?

If you don’t have a photo licence.

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[Just smiffy]

I doubt if anyone in another country knows what a IDP is….

 

[Figaro]

Why would you need one?

I was advised to get one as I have the old paper license and continental plod expect to see a photo license.
So the thinking was it might save some confusion and time in the event of being stopped and asked for my license.
I've no idea if that's sound reasoning, but for the fiver the IDP costs it seems worthwhile to get one.

 

[royandsharont]

I’ve not checked up since they were no longer needed all the time, so didn’t replace my two, but I thought we no longer needed one in any EU member state, not just Schengen ones.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you do need one forget there two different ones depending on which countries you are going to.

 

[peterc10]

For countries outside of the Schengen area.

USA is not in the Schengen area and I can still use my UK photo driving licence there. Same in South Africa.

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[dash300]

USA is not in the Schengen area and I can still use my UK photo driving licence there. Same in South Africa.

UK photo Licence works just fine in Vietnam too!

 

[peterc10]

If you don’t have a photo licence.

I agree. But I have never understood why people have not changed to photo licence. Is there any advantage not changing? AFAIK they will have to change when their licence runs out at 70.

 

[Figaro]

I agree. But I have never understood why people have not changed to photo licence. Is there any advantage not changing? AFAIK they will have to change when their licence runs out at 70.

If you've not moved house and changed address why would you update to a photo license ?
Apart from anything else, they have to be replaced every 10 years

 

[David and Sally]

I agree. But I have never understood why people have not changed to photo licence. Is there any advantage not changing? AFAIK they will have to change when their licence runs out at 70.

I kept my paper licence for many years until I needed my new one at 70.

 

[peterc10]

If you've not moved house and changed address why would you update to a photo license ?
Apart from anything else, they have to be replaced every 10 years

But without it you need to have an IDP for foreign travel and they only last 3 years. So what's the the advantage?

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[Figaro]

But without it you need to have an IDP for foreign travel and they only last 3 years. So what's the the advantage?

Looked at like that, there's probably no advantage, lazyness I suppose and a desire not to have to deal with DVLA
I just looked, it's free to update to a photo license, they use the photo they have from your digital passport renewal, can apply online and so it looks pretty painless.

I think I'll probably do it over the weekend

I'll be sorry to say goodbye to the paper one though which has been with me through so much

 

[JRT]

Looked at like that, there's probably no advantage, lazyness I suppose and a desire not to have to deal with DVLA
I just looked, it's free to update to a photo license, they use the photo they have from your digital passport renewal, can apply online and so it looks pretty painless.

I think I'll probably do it over the weekend

I'll be sorry to say goodbye to the paper one though which has been with me through so much

I wanted to swap from paper to photo card but wanted to keep the paper licence for sentimental reasons so I conveniently 'lost' my paper licence.

The cost is the same at £20.

 

[Figaro]

I wanted to swap from paper to photo card but wanted to keep the paper licence for sentimental reasons so I conveniently 'lost' my paper licence.

The cost is the same at £20.

I believe it's free to upgrade if you have your paper license and £20 if you don't.
I'm attached to it, but not 20 quids worth of attachment.
I have it scanned so I can look at that if I get nostalgic

 

[Spriddler]

I'll be sorry to say goodbye to the paper one though which has been with me through so much

Mine too, for 60 years.

and my one and only driving indiscretion six days before getting my full licence (I was driving on my green 'Pass' slip).......

 

[JRT]

I believe it's free to upgrade if you have your paper license and £20 if you don't.
I'm attached to it, but not 20 quids worth of attachment.
I have it scanned so I can look at that if I get nostalgic

No.

It's only free with a change of some details.

If you are doing a straight swap with no changes the cost is £20, the same as if you have 'lost' your paper licence.

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[Figaro]

Mine too, for 60 years.

View attachment 890434

View attachment 890436

and my one and only driving indiscretion six days before getting my full licence (I was driving on my green 'Pass' ticket).......

View attachment 890438

Nice one !

Mines not that old, 1996 I think when I moved to present address

 

[Figaro]

No.

It's only free with a change of some details.

If you are doing a straight swap with no changes the cost is £20, the same as if you have 'lost' your paper licence.



View attachment 890442

This is what it says on the website . . .

Fees​

It’s free to get a new licence if you’ve changed your name or address and still have your paper licence

It costs £20 to get a new licence if your licence has been defaced, lost, stolen or destroyed or for any other reason.

You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card.

 

[JRT]

This is what it says on the website . . .

Fees​

It’s free to get a new licence if you’ve changed your name or address and still have your paper licence

It costs £20 to get a new licence if your licence has been defaced, lost, stolen or destroyed or for any other reason.

You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card.

Yes, that screenshot I posted was from the DVLA web site.

If you tell them it's 'lost' it costs £20 but you keep your paper licence.

If you do a straight paper licence to photo card swap (with no change of details) it costs £20 but presumably you have to return and therefore no longer have your paper licence.

You indicated you wanted to get a photo card licence but hang on to your paper licence, 'losing it' is a way of doing this.

And the cost is the same however you do it.

 

[Widge]

I doubt if anyone in another country knows what a IDP is….

I have certainly obtained one here in france, we just do it on line, I was going to the states, second time to Australia, normally I wouldn't bother, but as i was renting a camper on each occasion and have a french licence, I thought better to have one than have any problems at the pickup. In fact both times they were happy with my french licence.

 

[John745]

Things with Paypoint is even worse than first thought, I rand a couple of Paypoints to check if the Web site was correct they did IDP, but the answer was No they did not.
So travel distance increased even further!

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[Crazylegs]

I have certainly obtained one here in france, we just do it on line, I was going to the states, second time to Australia, normally I wouldn't bother, but as i was renting a camper on each occasion and have a french licence, I thought better to have one than have any problems at the pickup. In fact both times they were happy with my french licence.

Same here, on two occasions I have purchased a IDP as per advice, once for Eastern Europe and again for a trip from Morocco to The Gambia. When asked for my papers at borders not once was any official remotely interested in the IDP. Begs the question are they relevant any more?

 

[Lampwick]

I always hire a car in France (LeClerk) as we stay at our house for 3 weeks as part of the holiday and using the camper while there is a pain. Last year they asked for an IDP as well as my license even tho I know I don't need one. The supervisor asked if we were Brits and said ok. So just incase I'm getting one this year.

 

[Mike Rivers]

I was advised to get one as I have the old paper license and continental plod expect to see a photo license.
So the thinking was it might save some confusion and time in the event of being stopped and asked for my license.
I've no idea if that's sound reasoning, but for the fiver the IDP costs it seems worthwhile to get one.

Why not just get a photo licence?

 

[gus-lopez]

I've still got mine also .along with some paper ones.

I doubt if anyone in another country knows what a IDP is….

Yiou'd be surprised Years back before I changed they even wanted one with a Uk photo licence.
also needed here when going to non eu countries & available from the DGT

 

[MGDavid]

AIUI, If going along the Croatian cost between Split and Dubrovnik you need an IDP for the 10 mile strip of Bosnia & Herzogovina that reaches the coast.

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