I heard that there is such a thing available for a few hundred dollars and that any Canadian tickets or infractions incurred while driving with one does not stick to your driving record. Anyone have the scoop on this and where one can be had?
International Drivers Licence?
- Thread starter to-guy69
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goodtime
Travelaholic
Yeap, you can get one at CAA.
If you are CDN landed or citizen, you will required a Provincial licence. Another word, Int. licence won't off the hook for infraction if you are Canadian. Same goes for U.S.
If you are CDN landed or citizen, you will required a Provincial licence. Another word, Int. licence won't off the hook for infraction if you are Canadian. Same goes for U.S.
A quote from the pages of MTO. http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/visiting.htm
"If you are a visitor to Ontario and want to drive while you are here, you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's licence from your own province, state or country. If you are from another country and visiting Ontario for more than three months, you need an International Driver's Permit from your own country or you may have to apply for an Ontario driver's licence, depending on your length of stay. You should also ensure your automobile insurance coverage is sufficient."
I carry one when I travel to other countries and I find that most police officers will not bother to give out a ticket when you have one of these. Too much paper work to process or they just don't know what it means except that it's official looking.
It costs $15 at CAA http://www.caa.ca/e/travel/id/idp.shtml
Won't help you much if you have a Canadian or Amerian DL though.
"If you are a visitor to Ontario and want to drive while you are here, you must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's licence from your own province, state or country. If you are from another country and visiting Ontario for more than three months, you need an International Driver's Permit from your own country or you may have to apply for an Ontario driver's licence, depending on your length of stay. You should also ensure your automobile insurance coverage is sufficient."
I carry one when I travel to other countries and I find that most police officers will not bother to give out a ticket when you have one of these. Too much paper work to process or they just don't know what it means except that it's official looking.
It costs $15 at CAA http://www.caa.ca/e/travel/id/idp.shtml
Won't help you much if you have a Canadian or Amerian DL though.
flyingdgn said:
In which countries did it help you and which language did you have it issued in, as it is available in:
'10 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, Arabic, Italian, Scandinavian and Portuguese.)'
I travel a fair bit and this may help me too, thanks for you helpful post!
Damn straight!
I am driving around using my British DL and I've been caught for speeding, over and over again, and every single time the copper asks for my license, he lets me go, coz really, it's not worth the effort LMAO.
Just don't drive around drunk and into lolipop women, that would get you into a lot of trouble. Speeding, parking in no parking spots etc., they're all fine.
Regards,
Daniel
I am driving around using my British DL and I've been caught for speeding, over and over again, and every single time the copper asks for my license, he lets me go, coz really, it's not worth the effort LMAO.
Just don't drive around drunk and into lolipop women, that would get you into a lot of trouble. Speeding, parking in no parking spots etc., they're all fine.
Regards,
Daniel
The purpose of an international driver's licence is to translate your existing licence into the local language of wherever you are. That's why it's so cheap to get one - it's just a translation of an already more or less standard document. Ontario licences are in English and in French - that's why we don't need an international licence to go to France or other French speaking locales. Ditto for English language countries. Ultimately Canadians really only need an international licence for travel to places where the alphabet is different, such as Arabic countries, Russia / EE, China etc.
The international driver's licence does not convey any extra priviledge. The fact that a cop liekly won't give you a ticket is more related to the fact that you are an obvious tourist. Most cops are sensible enough to let the tourists off with a warning.
The international driver's licence does not convey any extra priviledge. The fact that a cop liekly won't give you a ticket is more related to the fact that you are an obvious tourist. Most cops are sensible enough to let the tourists off with a warning.
RogerRabbit said:In which countries did it help you and which language did you have it issued in, as it is available in:
'10 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, Arabic, Italian, Scandinavian and Portuguese.)'
I travel a fair bit and this may help me too, thanks for you helpful post!
I had mine issued in english but the licence is a small booklet that has translations in many languages. The booklet is very confusing official document that is a pain to go through.
I got caught for speeding in S. Korea and the officer couldn't weed through the booklet to figure out what to do.
I had a friend that got caught in El Salvador and his IDL got his bribe (to get off the ticket) reduced significantly.
In Europe, most cops will let you off as a sign of good will to a visitor.
The main point is that it makes it legal for you to drive in certain countries with this IDL. If you're trying to follow the laws of the country that you are visiting, the cops will be nicer to you when you 'mistakenly' break another.
Bad News
THe IDL is only vaild, if you are not a resident of that country you visit, you hold a valid Drivers License from tyour country of residence, and you obey the laws of all foriegn countries you drive in.
I have found it more useful when renting cars than anything else. In England, the coppers ticket you, in Hong Kong, they drag you down to the goal, and you pay right there.
But even more important, is you are involved in an accident, you likely would not be allowed to leave the country, until after the court date.
THe IDL is only vaild, if you are not a resident of that country you visit, you hold a valid Drivers License from tyour country of residence, and you obey the laws of all foriegn countries you drive in.
I have found it more useful when renting cars than anything else. In England, the coppers ticket you, in Hong Kong, they drag you down to the goal, and you pay right there.
But even more important, is you are involved in an accident, you likely would not be allowed to leave the country, until after the court date.
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